BRINGING BACK THE SHEEP AND COWS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 77, 29 August 1942, Page 2

BRINGING BACK THE SHEEP AND COWS

BRITAIN TRYING OUT BREEDING PROCESS Britain has begun the Empire’s first large-scale experiments in artificial nsemination, the revolutionary breeding process which after the war will do everything to bring the world’s flocks and herds back to normal.

Britain’s experiments in artificial insemination already successfully practised in Soviet Russia, are being conducted by the Cambridge School of Agriculture and the National Institute for Research in Dairying. They show that in one year a single bull or ram can fertilise 1500 cows or ewes, bringing the best blood in the world to the humblest keeper of livestock from thousands of miles away It is the small farmer, unable to purchase a rood bull, who will benefit most

There has been some doubt about the reaction to the new departure of pedigree breeders with a vested interest n the sal/* of bulls but serious opposition from them is not expected, al‘hough artificial insemination will cer‘ninly lower the prices of second grade bulls

Apart from Russia. Denmark, the Netherlands and Italy had all taken up artificial insemination before the war. dairy breed societies in England have now recognised it and framed re-

flations for registering the animals :o bred Breed societies in the United *ates have actually sponsored the artiflcial insemination societies; and, with he present experiments in England, he outlook for building up the world’s vestock population Is definitely hope.