PROBLEM OF THE CULL COW.

Putaruru Press, Volume VI, Issue 243, 28 June 1928, Page 6

PROBLEM OF THE CULL COW.

WEEDING OUT THE HERD. Palming Off Inferior Stock. The period is approaching when Morrinsville farmers will cull their herds, weeding out poor producers and replacing them with useful stock. This practice has been more marked of late years and is a clear indication of better farming, dairymen refusing to retain on the farms other than payable propositions.

Already culls have been seen in Morrinsville saleyards, and the number is steadily increasing. The question then rises : How to dispose of the cull beasts ?' The majority of farmers get rid of cows that missed profit, or indicated producing defects, in the beef pens, where they finish as boners or second-class beef for potting purposes. Unfortunately there are a few who do not avail themselves of this obvious method of disposing of culls, but place them in the dairy yard, where they are palmed off on to other unsuspecting dairymen. This is a practice that cannot be too strongly condemned.

Commenting on the question a few days ago a stock auctioneer well known in Morrinsville said that where cows were guaranteed “ sound and right ” by their owners, and it was desired that they be sold in the dairy ring, the company had no option but to comply. An auctioneer could only judge on appearance, and there was no means of ascertaining whether the beasts were culls or not. Of ' course if it was seen that the animals were not sound they would not be allowed in the dairy section but would be sold for beef.