ANIMAL RESEARCH

Waikato Times, Volume 195, Issue 22459, 21 September 1944, Page 4

ANIMAL RESEARCH

PROGRESS AT RUAKURA An opportunity to gauge the progress of experimental work at the Ruakura Animal Research Station was given members of the Ruakura Advisory Committee yesterday, when they visited the station and were shown the principle research activities by the superintendent, Dr. C. P. McMeekan. In the afternoon the committee held its six-monthly meeting.

The committee first inspected the recently completed building for the artificial insemination centre, and also the twin calves that have been collected by the station authorities for research work. Altogether 10 sets of identical heifer calves and five sets of bull calves are now at the station. Research work with sheep and dairy cattle was also examined by the committee.

All stock at the station have wintered well and losses in normally fed animals have been light. At present there are 451 head of dairy cattle, 132 beef cattle, 1539 sheep (excluding lambs), and 207 pigs. A further 1000 shelter trees have been planted at the statibn, approximately 800 in new breaks and 200 as replacements. Poplars have been planted at the new insemination centre to provide both posts for overhead tethering wires and shade during summer. On the motion of Mr W. L. Ranstead at the meeting of the committee, it was decided that meetings should be held every three months instead of at six-monthly periods as at present.

Dr C. P. McMeekan presided at the meeting and also present were: Dr. J. F. Filmer, Director Animal Research Division, Messrs H- J- Finlayson, W. L. Ranstead, G. T. Crawley, E. F. Peacocke, W. T. Collins, field superintendent, Auckland, and J. Campbelljfarrnmanager i _