INFERIOR BULLS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3215, 27 October 1915, Page 10

INFERIOR BULLS.

The problem concerning the all too common use of.inferior bulls is admittedly far more difficult than that affecting any other class of sire, and no doubt its peculiar characteristics account for the number of scrub sires seen in many districts in the Dominion. Things are by no means perfect in the kindred pursuits of sheepbreeding and any more than in horse-breeding itself; but the improvement in recent years in the attention generally given in the selection of sires has been far more pronounced in perhaps all the breeds with the exception of cattle. The conflict of interests no doubt has something to do with It. There is less concentrated effort upon a definite purpose as with other stock. Some farmers are

merely fatteners, some both breeders and milk-suppliers, while others are merely suppliers of milk. Deep-milking cattle with good fleshing properties cannot be freely obtained; and, while the dairyman who naturally prides himself upon his high testing and heavy milk-producing cows is to be admired, yet the steers from these herds are prone to be deemed at least poor commercial cattle. It is rather the farmer we have in view who subordinates all other considerations to milk-production by using any class of bull he may come across, and pays small attention to the maintenance of his herd within itself, and consequently welcomes the cheap, inferior bull. His one idea is to keep the cow in milk, and the scrubber bull will answer his purpose well enough. The high-class type of bull is passed over. The quality and breeding which the latter would transmit to his offspring, and which would render the produce of milking herds so valuable for commercial purposes, are counted as nothing—all of which tends to lower the general standard of our cattle. Every opportunity should be taken to discourage the use of inferior bulls. By organised effort great improvement has resulted in our heavy horses. Not so long ago unsound horses were numerous, and on account of low fees, etc., at which they travelled the country, were a hindrance to progress in improving the heavy horses of the Dominion. The various A. and P. Societies, however, kept pegging away in their efforts to bring home to farmers the inherent defects of a policy that gave countenance to cheapness of service in preference to the breeding and quality of the sire employed. It has resulted in measures being taken to vastly improve the Clydesdales of this Dominion, and has brought about a change that must rank among the most noteworthy agricultural achievements of the time. By degrees breeders were brought £o recognise the fundamental error of the course that put convenience and cheapness before the higher principles of heredity, soundness, and utility, and the nondescript sire has been almost starved out of existence, and will in a short time be effectively banned. If as much thought was given to the matter of grading up the commercial cattle in New Zealand, it would be welcomed by all. who cannot but note the lamentable falling away in the grade of cattle obtainable nowadays at any of the provincial markets. The British Government sets us an example in their stock-breeding scheme —a report of ■which for the year 1914 was given in the last issue of the Otago Witness —in the grading up live stock generally. The scheme was made possible by means of grants placed at the disposal of the Board of Agriculture (England). Since its inception 497 bulls have been located for service in various localities, with good effects in discouraging the keeping and using of inferior bulls. The conditions of hire have not evidently conflicted with contending interests, as of the 454 provided only 83 were purchased, the remaining 371 being provided bv arrangement with the owners of the animals. It is of interest, too, to note the breed representations comprising the totals. Of the 497 bulls 337 are Shorthorns, 63 Herefords. 35 Welsh blacks, 33 Lincoln reds, 16 Devons, six South Devons, four AberdeenAngus, two Jerseys, and one British Holstein. The average price paid for these subsidised bulls was £36 5s 4d—the top prices being £IOO and £9O, —and the service fee varied from 5s to 2s 6d, extremely reasonable charges for sires of tne class. As in very many cases, the purebred premium bulls have taken the place of mongrel sires, it does not seem an unreasonable assumption that effects will folloAV that will speedily popularise and strengthen the movement and simplify the store cattle problem.