BETTER BULLS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18766, 20 January 1923, Page 10

BETTER BULLS

TO THB EDITOB. Sib, —It is a matter of common know* ledge that the use of nondescript bulls m New Zealand has resulted in the average class of our cattle to be seen in any salsyard being of a very low standard. TA the thinking man nothing is more apparent tnan that to use a mongrel bull which cannot have cost less than £5 to rear, rather than a well-bred sire costing, perhaps, £2O as a yearling, is false economy. Yet the immediate saving of outlay obscures me ultimate advantage, and hundreds of farmers and dairymen will use any scrubber rather than pay a. moderate price for a well-bred bull. On the other hand, hundreds of well-bred bull calves are annually killed because mere is not a sure market for them even at £lO a head as yearlings. Uhile the evil and its results are generally admitted, the requisite courage and wisdom to deal with the matter have not yet I been vouchsafed to our legislators. I think they have been afraid of the innuendo being thrust at them that, in endeavouring to enforce the use of well-bred bulls they would, be throwing the poor cockatoo into * r wealthy stud stock breeder. I admit the problem is not an easy one I have myself pondered over it for half a lifetime, but the need of reform is so pressing and obvious that I have now tried In , ,* n . am ate'ur way to draft a suppositious addition to the Stock Act, which. I venture o think, if made law, and even though o some extent evaded, would in a few years add hundreds of thousands to the value of the cattle stock and dairy production of New Zealand. I clo not suppose for a moment that my feeble effort is above criticism. Indeed, it is to invite criticism and wing other more qualified minds than my ov.n to bear on an important subject that i 6 f-® k , y° u to P've publicity to e enclosed, draft of a suggested addition to the existing Slock Act. 7° me ® fc me objection that there are not enough purebred bulls to go round I have devised the standard bull, and hilve allowed for three years during which breeders of purebred stock could prepare to ; meet the demand. • Tu 6 , cn . tic,Bm I anticipates and most fear is that toe enforcement of such on Act would be beyond the capacity of the present stafl of the Stock Department. To this I would reply that much as I should usually deplore any permanent increase to the civil !' 8 !’ . I,6V ® fc £*L the 0061 o{ 50 extra stock inspectors at £JX) per annum would bo repaid by an increase in material wealth Yours eto 6 ’ ° T6r in a v " y few years.— / . •. . . ’ Geo. Gould. Christchurch, .January 19. THE PREVENTION OF THE USE OF MONGREL BULLS

•Pure-bred cow means a cow being the pro- °* a pure-bred. sire and pure-bred cow oi the same breed, Pure-bred bull means a bull being the progeny of a pure-bred sire and a puro-bred cow of the Bime breed, bred bv tne registered owner of a pure-bred herd." Pure-bred herd means not less than one purebred bull and on© purebred cow of the same breed belonging to one registered owner. Standard oovy means a cow registered as provided by this Act as possessing an official record test of not less.than 4001 b butter-fat per annum certified to by s. dairy inspector. Standard bull means a bull being tho progeny of a pure-bred bull and a standard oow registered as provided by this Act. 1. Ervery person who two years after tho passing of this Act shall sell, buy, exchange, or give away a bull over six months old not being either a pure-bred bull or a standard bull is guilty of an offence under this Act. 2. Every person who three years after th» passing of this Act shall own, keep, buy, .sell, exchange, or give away a bull over six months old not being either a pure-bred bull or a standard bull is guilty of an offence under tin's Act. 3. Every person who owns or has in his possession, three years after the passing of this Act, a ball over six. months old, shall, upon demand, produce to any stock inspector proof that it is a pure-bred bull or a standard bull, and onus of proof in every such case shall rest upon every such owner. Failure to produce -such proof shall be an offenoe under this Act.,

,4. Every person who desires to breed a pure-bred bull or bulls, of any breed, shall apply to the stock inspector of his district to register himself as the owner of'a purebred herd. The stock inspector having obtained proof in writing that a herd is of pure origin and descent, shall authorise the Registrar of Brands in his district to register the applicant as the owner of a pure-bred herd of the said breed, and the registrar shall so register the said ovtner. 5. Every person who desires to breed a standard bull or bulls, shall apply to tho fitoeik Inspector of his district to register a standard cow or cows, and the Stock Inspector having satisfied himself that the said cow or cows are standard cows within the meaning of this Act, shall brand same with the Government brand, and shall authorise the Registrar of Brands for the district to register the said cow or cow* as a standard cow or cows and the Registrar snail so register the said oow or cows. 6. The‘Registrar of Brairds for each district shall keep a register of all the purebred herds in such district, and of all the standard cows in the said district, and shall supply the owners of registered herds or cows with a form of breeder’s certificate to be issued with each animal sold from such registered herds or cows. The fee for registration payable by the registered owner to the Registrar of Brands shall be hv© shillings for each registration. 7. Every, registered owner of a purebred herd shall have a registered brand and every animal of the said herd shall b© branded with the- said registered brand before it is six months old.

8. livery breeder of the purebred bull or a. standard bull shall give a certificate of colour, markings, brand, and age of every bull he sells.

9. Every vendor of a purebred or standard bull shall produce and give the breeder’s certificate upon sale and delivery of every such bull. 10. Every person who commits or attempts to commit a breach or violation of any of the provisions of this Act, is liable for .every such offence to a fine not exceeding one hundred pounds, and not less than one pound, and any bull being the subject of a broach of this Act, may be destroyed by order of a magistrate.