STUD STOCK FROM BRITAIN.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1329, 5 January 1912, Page 8

STUD STOCK FROM BRITAIN.

DISABILITIES OP IMPORTERS. Two of the main iciisons wiry over moro high-class stock-• is not imported lrom tho. Old Country are,'first,'that fuw breeders are prepared to pay tho prices necessary to securo tho best animals, and secondly,- tho difficulty of getting value tor tho. money paid for good averu<'e(luality. stud-stock to supply the desired change-.of blood or for tho foundation ofii new stud;..' The British Board of Agriculture recently appointed a commission to.imruiro and .report upon tho export trade in livo stock with. the.colonies and other countries, and make recommendations as- to' how' it -might be stimulated. Among tho recommendations lna'do aro the following:— The ..export of inferior or unsuitable pedigreo stock should bo discouraged. In the appointment of consuls' to certain districts a kuowledgo of British livo utock .should bo taken into consideration. . The-Intelligence Division of the Board ! of Agriculture and Fisheries should be i enlarged so as to provide a ■■"Bureau of 1 .Information" for increasing the facilities as tho export of pedigreo 6toek. .* - The. official volnmo entitled "British Breeds of Live Stoclr" should bo supplied to British consuls,: and presented to representiStivu 1 agricultural bodies in certain countries. ' ■ . Official encouragement and assistance shouldilie given to tho system of keeping' milk records. It is-desirable- that, in the capo of countries'.,vlie'ro-exporters .'.of British-live f-toek find difficulties to exist in.connection with the tuberculin and other tests, tho Government of each country concerned should in tho first place lie invited to appoint an official in this country for the purpose of testing animals before exportation, as the American and Australian Governments have already done. In tho event of any Government declining to adopt this proposal,' steps should he t-ukeu to ascertain whether tha authorities concerned would recognise a certificate Rvucd at a Government , testing station in this country, and tho coinjiiitteo recommends that an official testing station (or stations) should bo established accordingly if fhe exportation of live stock now or in tho future would eeoin to "justify tho capital and annual tspcnditnro necessary. . . Export of Inferior Animals. In tho course of tho report it is to-' marked tliat "the deterioration of pedigree stock was recognised as an important factor in relation to tho future dejiiand. Deterioration appears to vary according to circumstances, but, whatever tho extent of tho canscs may be, it was generally admitted that the foreigner must retnrn to this country, to keep up the standard of his stock. The export of inferior animals was reported to have caused considerable injury to the trade at various periods." Regarding the formation of an "information bureau," the report points out that, "wbile tho bureau obviously could ■not undertake agoucy .work witli regard to tho sale of stock, tho existence of the bureau should Iμ mado widely known abroad, and the committee was confident that.it would become a valuablo means of encouraging foreign breeders to purchase stock in this country." ' It is fur.-, ther: remarked:— .-"

"Evidence • had been brought before them to show 'that tho system of keeping 'milk records, was a valuable induce-, jnont to trade, and.the committee advise that tho system of keeping milk records should receive official consideration and encouragement, and that the importance of the subject 'justifies the expondituK: r. public lnrfney'Jh'fls3isting, at'any rate,' in the 'initial- stages,- societies tliafc - enconrago the keeping.of milk records, or testing milk as regards its quality. It .would also be a great advantage if some

official control over the records should bo established, as it would eai-ry very considerable weight with foreign purcbiiiers.' Ortarn factors carry moro weight abroad than in this country, and it was verv desirable that they should bo carefully considered by the breed societies'.for the benefit of the members, but ■ tlm, committee is careful In point out that in suggesting official aid it is intended in no.way to interfere with the duties of these societies, but rather to urge, them to further work as regards the foreign market. "In. reviewing the evidence regarding the establishment of n testing station, the committee admit that it is tho mo-t difficult it has had to consider. Some countries, like the United States of America, and Australia, have already representatives in this country, so that their cese did not arise. They arc vmphiitic on the importance of the fress dom of the country from contagious diseases, and regarding pedigrees and registration they remark that, while breed societies as a whole recoguise their rerponsibilitioJ, and take precautions accordingly, it is obvious from the evidence that the ultimate results nro'r.ot altogether satisfactory, and that reprehensiblo exceptions occasionally occur. The oiius of dealing with tho matter must rest with the breed societies thoniselvos. Strict regulations should be made stricter "till, if necessary, andiho moral punishment which is inflicff, at present should bo niado still moro severe, while the law, if it is at present insufficient'to penalise fraudulent practices, should be strengthened."