RANGITAIKI BOBBY CALVES

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 6, Issue 99, 17 August 1943, Page 4

RANGITAIKI BOBBY CALVES

Sir, —In view of recent complaints appearing in your paper re the handling of bobby calves, my committee feel that perhaps a statement by them may help to prevent some confusion of thought. The. following points should, be noted:— 1. The industry is controlled by the Marketing Regulations and supervised by the Agricultural Department . 2. Members of the Pool have been circularised each year as to weights and conditions until paper restrictions prevented this being done. At each annual meeting the procedure is explained to suppliers of calves —• (a) Farmers must not send calves •less than three days old. (b) Carriers do not collect calves which are below minimum weight or unfit to stand the journey. (c) The agent refuses any calf which in his opinion appears unfit for the journey. (d) All calves arc killed withfn 2G hours after being loaded. (e) My committee receives a report from Auckland on the condition of each consignment of calves which are inspected, both before, and after being 'killed. Since this Pool has been in operation the number of dead calvcs on arrival at destination has been under one per cent. Many improvements have been, made in the handling and collection of calves since the operation first started and my committee feels it is being very well served by the carriers and drivers of truclks in this district. There is an obligation on the individual farmer to see that • only calves fit to undertake a journey are placed in the pens for collection and, observance of such an obligation will leave little, if any, ground's for criticism. I>n conclusion I should like to point out that the writer of the first letter has apologised fo>r his statements which had no foundation in fact. The second letter refers to calves which were loaded outside this committee's pool area. My committee would always welcome any criticism from any source whatsoever which would help in the efficient running of the Pool from any standpoint but cannot undertake to reply to attacks made at. random. Any .information you desire as Editor of the Beac'on and to that extent guardian of free criticism will be gladly supplied to you. Yours etc., C. R. WILSON, Chairman Rangitaiki Bobby Calf Pool.