HEIFER CALVES,

Waikato Times, Volume 107, Issue 17994, 12 April 1930, Page 9

HEIFER CALVES,

(To the Editor.) Sir, —I was very much, interested in reading “P.H.R.’s letter, under the above heading, in' your issue of Wednesday, 9th instant. It certainly is a deplorable state of affairs that in this country, which is rapidly being made the leading dairying country of the world, so many heifer calves are being slaughtered annually from cows producing over 2001 bof butter-fat. To remedy this evil calf marking was devised by the New Zealand Go-opera-tive (Herd Testing Association to establish 'identification of the good calves. The scheme is now in its fifth year of operation and is proving of even greater value than was originally anticipated. Legislation has been granted which fully safeguards the work and, as the scheme is now in the hands of the Dominion Group Herd Testing Federation, it has assumed national importance. Fully 10,000 calves will be marked throughout the Dominion this year. A substantial trade at satisfactory prices has already developed in fortnight-old marked calves which would otherwise have been slaughtered as “bobby” calves, their breeders thus benefiting financially whilst at the same time conferring a benefit on the industry generally. The district associations give valuable help in bringing buyer and seller together, and, so far as this district is concerned, I do not know of a case where the seller of marked calves has been unable to find a buyer. The calf-marking scheme provides that the dam of the calf must have produced as a two-year-old or older animal 3001 b. The sire must be a registered pedigree. I trust my Jotter will convince “P.11.R.” that an organisation is already in existence which is successfully handling this important problem. All that is wanted to obtain the maximum results is for even more farmers to test their herds and to mark all eligible heifer calves. Marking would enhance the value of their own herds and their surplus marked calves would become sound foundation slock the others to build upon. I look forward with confidence to the day, not far distant, when the only young stock which will be regarded as potential dairy stock will be “marked” calves. — 1 am, etc.,

G. M. lIUME, Federation Supervisor of Herd Testing. Hamilton, April li_