The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER FRIDAY, JANUARY 5, 1912. A DANISH SYSTEM.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 19, 5 January 1912, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER FRIDAY, JANUARY 5, 1912. A DANISH SYSTEM.

'The Agricultural Department of this Dominion ' :iud the State Departments, of the Commonwealth are importing bulls to improve the settlers* stock 1 . In r. Denmark, however, thei Government has another way of aiding the self-reliant farmer. The various schemes for assisting breeders which have been adopted by. the Danish Government, and especially that of prizes for bulls and their produce, has brought about a new departure in tlie method of buying and selling bulls in that country. This is described in an elabdrhte report on : “Cattle Breeders’, Associations in Denmark.” The last yearly average price published officially for bulls of the Jutland breed puts their value at £B4 14s o*d, “£3l 18s 2d of this being cash, and £52 IGs 3.Vd ‘on condition.’ ”, Similarly, the average for the Red Danish hulls was given as £IOO 3s 3kl, this being made up of £4O 2s 10k! cash and £OO 0s 5d “on condition.” The conditional part is explained. The Government aid to cattle breeding consists of prizes, which depend upon the class into which the bull goes as shown by the number and quality of the calves he gets, the produce (and so the hull) being classed for the amount of premium at the various agricultural shows which are recognised and aided by the Government. Thus, since hulls must be recognised at these shows in order to obtain Government aid in the shape of prizes, it has become common to buy bulls for a certain sum of money payable on delivery, and an additional sum, according to the recognition which the bull and his produce receive in the show ring. As it may take two years before some of the conditions can bo decided, the buyer is, of course, responsible and liable to the seller for the treatment the animal receives up to that time. Also, as a result of the premium system, based on produce results, sellers are required to give a. guaranteed pedigree as well as a health certificate. The latter must certify that the bull has passed the tuberculin test, and is in possession of breeding powers. It is thought that the fact that the greater part of the purchase price of the animals depends upon such conditions, shows how the people value, and are willing to pay for those qualities in the bull which cannot be judged from outward appearance, but which largely determine his value for improving the herd.