IMPROVING DAIRY HERDS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3031, 17 April 1912, Page 21

IMPROVING DAIRY HERDS.

I During his visit to Taranaki recently, ! the Hon. T. Mackenzie was questioned ss jto the practicability of the Government J initiating a more extended scheme for securing to dairy farmers the 'services, at . a moderate fee, of bulls 'with proved and authentic records by percentage for milk and ' butter-fat production. 'lhe question was put by Mr T. M'Phillips, of Hawera (says Town and Country Life), who is himself one of the most progressive of Taranaki dairymen, and a stout advocate of herd-testing, and he, like many others,' feels, some concern as 'to the supply of high-class cows that will be required to take the place of those that are rejected 'as being unprofitable. Speaking to the Minister, Mr M'Phillips maintained that, although there are some good bulls in New Zealand, few have the record of performance which he considers necessary to enable breeders to keep pace with the continuous rise in the price of dairy land. In his opinion ftihe class of bull requisite for ; the purpose of improving the standard o{. herds should be backed up by such performances of his parents as will show an annual yield of at least 4001 bof butter-fat. These bulls he suggested should be bred and reserved by tlhe Government and their services be placed at the disposal of farmers at a minimum fee for the season. The Minister expressed ihimself in fuH sympathy with the 'idea, which h© considered contained the germ of an excellent scheme. At present the Government has no such bulls. Until' they had they oould tako it up. When, by breeding at the State farms, the bulls were available, " he was willing to consider placing some at the disposal of the agricultural societies, who would be held responsible for their safeguarding. They could then place the bulls at. suitable locations in their several districts, and arrange for their services being available to the farmers.