Nelson Evening Mail. WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 22, 1909. THE AGRICULTURAL DEPARTMENT.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLIII, Issue XLIII, 22 September 1909, Page 2

Nelson Evening Mail. WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 22, 1909. THE AGRICULTURAL DEPARTMENT.

COW TESTING AND STALLION STANDARDS. SOME important changes have been been made recently in the Agricultural Department of this Dominion, and in addition to retrenchment there have been numerous alterations and transfers. One of the most noticeable of the Department's educational activities is the establishment of a model Cow Testing Association by the dairy division. Carterton, in the Wairarapa, has been selected as the district where the testing is to be initiated, as being a typical dairy district, and within easy distance of Wellington. The cost to the department of the model leit will he about £100 per annum, *he buik of which, it is expected, will have to be paid for the heavy work of testing. Every opportunity will be taken by the department to disseminate information in regard to results. Names of the owners taking part will not be published. Eaoh one will have a number, a key which will be understood only by those conducting the test. The value of the published results will be in the I differences shown -between higher and I lower yielding cows in the respective herds. It would greatly add to the value of the returns could some idea be given of the cost of production — the cost of grazing and feeding each cow. Then the annual yield would convey_a good idea of the individual profit. « • • • • • Another important and far-reaching action the Department is taking is towards the compulsory examination and registration of stallions. The New Zealand Government, apparently, is being forced into line in this matter by developments, in the States of Australia. Recently, Mr C. T. Reakes, the Chief Veterinary Surgeon, summed up the position here with regard to the relations between the Dominion and Australian States in the interchange of stallions and pedigree stock generally. It appears that at present, under an arrangement between the Victorian and New Zealand Governments, the veterinary officers iri this country examine a good many stallions in various districts intended for export. The Victorian Government agrees to accept the New Zealand official certificates, but the result is that the stallions that are rejected by the veterinary officers remain here, whie the passed animals are sent away. Obviously, by this means we are exporting our best and keeping our worst. Meantime, however, as there is no' arrangement for certification between New Zealand and New South Wales and South Australia, there is nothing to prevent New Zealand rejects being sent to those States, or undesirable horses thence coming into New Zealand. Mr Reakes has said that he waa not at all prepossessed with the Victorian scheme as it existed at the present time. It had two very serious drawbacks: In the first two years Horses "brought forward wero rriven a certificate which would last for life. An animal might be. sound at three years of age, •but by the time it was five years old it might be a veritable object-lesson in hereditary unsoundness. That provision could only be regarded as bad. Another drawback was that there was nothing to prevent an unsound horse travelling for service. That was the worst feature,- and any system ~which did not prevent the use of unsound horses was inadequate. Victoria had furnished them with a good objectlesson. Continuing, Mr Reakes declared ihp-t _ the question could not be dealt with in New Zealand without sgnie legal

enactment-. Sb submitted &, s'cneme whieh would provide for the examinatiort Ol only two or three-yen r-nlds ar, the time of it coming JlHo lorce. Jt would only be compulsory for the coming atftlliO'hs, and not the existing stallions of the* day. In tho second year it would apply to three or four-year-olds? in the third year it would be extienaea to five-year-olds, and so 'on. Therefore) it would be prospective Only SO fat M pss-ent-aay stallions were cohce*rhedi attd owners would not be interfered with. Thero Would have to be some system of licensing. Mr Reakes admits the argument that it would not be fair to compel all horses to be examined at once, as there are many owner* who have Invested much money in stallions or their progeny in good faith, and it Would be hard l on them to hrtve theft animals condemned ter life. But by his scheme of gradtviion he thinks ail would be Satisfied in the long rim-. Mr-feeaekS added that He kne'W a treat deal depended, on the veterinary examiner*, and he did not blame owners for being uneasy as to whether or not the examinations would Be carried oue tactfully. He was sure that they would be done honestly, but he would not commit himself to the statement that veterinary surgeons could not possibly commit errors of -judgment. The very best men would have to be told off to do the work, and he thought that it would be best done by two good men acting in concert. Owners should have the right of appealing, and an appeal court should be set up. That system would be better than a voluntary system. # It is obvious that if New Zealand is to legislate for a stallion standard, it must not.only guard against the exportation of the best horses, but also against the importation of rejects from other places. In Victoria, at present, it is said, the indifferent sires, sorving at 30s a head or so, are doing very Well, While owners of the better class of stallions find that cheapness is preferred to quality. If, under the system of, interchange between New Zealand and Victoria? our best horses go away, and we retain the animals that have not passed for certificates, while the indifferent sires and their progeny from Victoria are permitted to come here under certificate based on a low standard in the country of origin, it is obvious that vcry_ soon there will bo marked deterioration of New Zealand stock. lii the circumstances, arty legislation undertaken her? must be o<* reciprocal, as well. as protective, lines. Australia, doubtless, w'ill look after itself ; her.ee. while wemay B'e quite ready to reciprocate and interchange, wo .must see, firstly that cur best stock does not leave us, and rtoxt that the inferior stock of Australia is hot dumped on our shores .Under a system of misleading low-standard certificates.