QUALITY OF STOCK

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21258, 11 August 1932, Page 16

QUALITY OF STOCK

MOVE FOR IMPROVEMENT

AN OVERDUE REFORM

Only one criticism is permissable in regard to the scheme for the betterment of stock, sponsored by Professor -Alexander, of Canterbury Agricultural College, and approved by the Royal Agricultural Society afc its recent annual meeting. It is very much belated. It is remarkable thai in a country in which the vaunted aim has been to increase the level of live stock production as quickly and as substantially as possible one of the most practical steps to that end has not yet been taken. The country may have achieved a distinction in many aspects of its agricultural and pastoral practice. It may have shown a commendable initiative in the growing adoption of scientific principles in pasture improvement and control and in its increasing interest in the benefits to be derived from herd-testing, but in its neglect of definite measures to inprove the inherent qualities of its livestock it has not even kept abreast of countries which do not enjoy anything like the reputation in primary, production which New Zealand does. Various states in Australia, the Irish Free State, Scotland and our most formidable rivals on the Continent have all realised the necessity for some means or other of enforcing the use of good quality animals in breeding operations and appropriate regulations have been introduced. New Zealand cannot afford to be backward in such a vital matter. Her economic security depends on the\ maintenance of heir position in the overseas markets, and it becomes plainer every day that she must bestir herself very energetically if she is to cope successfully with the challenges of other primary producing countries. Any step which will improve the quality of her livestock will give her a firmer grip on economical production, and this will tend automatically to better her position in competition in the chief markets. Improvement In Stock In any case, producers cannot hope to reap the full benefits of improved pasture management unless it iB accompanied by improvements in stock which will promote a ' more profitable conversion of the country's most valuable raw material into saleable produce, and it is a futile thing to spend money on herd-testing while neglecting the logical sequel of; culling and replacement with a better class of animal. Stock improvement is a natural corollary to both these aspects of primary endeavour. Before the question was submitted for approval at the annual meeting of the Royal Agricultural Society, the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association, as the prime mover in the matter, went to the trouble of ascertaining the attitude of farmers and breeders' organisations throughout the country. Upward of 90 per cent of the bodies approached expressed thomselves in favour of the introduction of legislative authority for the elimination of all male animals incapable of furthering the improvement of livestock production, the various breed societies being unanimous in their favour of the project. The next step was the gathering of information as to what had been done in other countries as a result •of which it was concluded that the schemes being introduced in Britain were the most suitable for New Zealand conditions, offering a greater degree of independence and easier control by stock owners. Suggested Basis o! Scheme The following suggestions have been put forward as the basis of a suitable scheme: — . (1) Legislation to be promoted making it compulsory that all bulls, rams and boars bear an inspection brand of approval before being offered for public or private sale or service. (2) Provision to be made to extend tne operation of the Act to all male animals used for stud purposes after, say, three J6 (3) The stockowners of each provincial district to elect a committee following the provincial districts of the Meat and Dairy Boards, such committee to be the administrative authority for that district. (4) A central body to be elected from the various district organisations which would draw up uniform regulations, and this body would see that the Act was properly administered. This board could be strengthened by the inclusion on it of nominees of the Meat and Dairy Boards, the Department of Agriculture, and the Department of Scientific and Industrial Rcs^iircht (5) The only officers necessary would be a secretary to each district committee and one or more inspectors. The finance is secured in overseas schemes by tho registration fees, which are not heavy. A suggested procedure is that on a specified date after the sanctioning of the scheme, stockowners would be notified by tho district committee that all animals under two years of ago offered for sale or service must be passed by an accredited inspector and bear a brand to bo decided • upon, and that all animals rejected by the inspector be either killed or unsexed. The responsibility of applying for registration would rest with the stockowner, for which purpose forms could be obtainable from convenient places such as post offices, Agricultural and Pastoral Association offices, breed societies, branches of the Farmers' Union, or the ' Agricultural Department offices, all applications to bo accompanied by a feo to be specified. Disposal o! Culls Application forms would provide for the supplying of various data in connection with the animal concerned and the inspector would mark tho form with an acceptance- or rejection endorsement. In cases of rejection cull marks would be applied and a notice served to have the animal killed or unsexed, this notice being returnable by the owner attesting that the order iiad been given effect. A penalty would be enforceable in the event of non-compliance. When an animal was passed by the inspector it would be branded and a certificate would bo issued from the central office. Such regulations are suggested principally in regard to bulls, but substantially the same provisions, with any necessary modifications or amendments, would be made to apply to sheep and pigs. It is anticipated that provision would have to be made for dealing with appeals, especially in the earlier stages of introduction, but it is thought that, as in other countries, these would become less frequent as the schemd progressed. The Royal Agricultural Society has appointed a highly responsible committee to go into the details of the scheme and it is to be hoped that some concrete proposal will eventuate before too long a period.