Boosting Production

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 370, 2 June 1928, Page 27

Boosting Production

WORK OF TESTING ASSNS.

Legislation Against Scrub Bull

HERD TESTING has been responsible for an amazing increase in the average production of New Zealand dairy herds over the past decade. Much more can be accomplished in the future. , Herd testing associations have done great work and the time has arrived for a national campaign against the scrub bull. Lesgislation could well be introduced, as in Ireland and other progressive agricultural countries, making necessary, registration of every bull used for breeding purposes. Only when this is done will adequate control be exercised.

With New Zealand's unequalled combination, climate and fertile pastures, amazing possibilities await the advocates of increased production. Nowhere is this more evident than in the dairying industry. The operations of the New Zealand Herd-testing Association over the past four years in the Waikato provide striking testimony as to what can be accomplished through this agency. In 1923-24, in the Waikato, the percentage of cows giving less than 2001 b of butter-fat per annum was 48.23. This had been reduced in 1926-27 to 25.15. The number giving to from 2001 b to 3001 b had been increased from 40.16 per cent, to 46.50 per cent., and, best of all, the number of cows giving 3001 b and over had been increased from 3,599, representing 11.61 per cent., to 17,138, or 28.32 per cent, of the total number of cows tested. What was being done in the Waikato might be done with every herd in the Dominion, and the possibilities of further improvement are so great that it is difficult to understand why herdtesting had been neglected for so long. The herds which to-day were averaging 3001 b would in a few years be giving 4001 b, and even then the limit would not have been reached. If the 1,350,000 cows in the Dominion, which averaged about 2001 b of butter-fat per annum, were brought up to the average of the cows tested in the Waikato, the Increased return to New Zealand at Is 4Jcl a lb of butterfat would amount to £4,432,632. That figure represented the increase for one year only. The progressive results achieved by systematic herd-testing would give an increased profit year by year. Each year’s delay in bringing up the average yield a cow to the Waikato basis of 1926-2.7 was costing the country over £4,000,000 per annum.

So much for testing. Without correct breeding, it can accomplish little. The two must go hand in hand. Hard though it may seem, even today there is too big a percentage of scrub hulls about. Hard times mostly, but often a spirit of indifference, is responsible for a very low quality standard of sire being used on many New Zealand farms. This must stop, and until It does it will be practically Impossible to lift the average production of our herds to a worth-while level.

Shorthorn and Aberdeen-Angus cattle breeders In Scotland recently appealed to the Scottish Chamber of Agriculture to use its influence in an offensive against the “scrub” bull. When the request came before the

chamber, it was stated that the legislation passed by the Parliament of Northern Ireland was proving successful. The legislation, which is similar In many essential provisions to that which the Victorian Chamber of Agriculture has suggested should be passed in Victoria, provides for the compulsory licensing of bulls. Its main features are as follow: No bulls can be kept for breeding unless they are licensed. A penalty is provided for contravention. Permits are granted to owners to keep bulls to be fed for beef only. A fee of 5s is charged for the licence of each animal, the licence remaining in force during the lifetime of animals unless revoked or suspended. Bulls licensed are tattooed on the ear with a letter and a number, and those rejected with the letter “R” only. An appeal against the refusal of a licence is decided by an appeal judge, who is a breeder of cattle, and independent of the Ministry of Agriculture. A fee of £2 2s falls to be paid on lodging an appeal. Bulls are inspected at the more important spring bull sales and at local centres, fixed so that no breeder will require to bring his animal more than three miles, twice each year—in February and September—by inspectors appointed by the Minister of Agriculture.

The standard for licensing was gradually raised, only really low grade bulls being rejected to begin with The percentage of rejections thus rose from 5.7 per 'cent, in September, 1923. to 36.0 per cent in February, 1926. The Act has not reduced the number of bulls, as 6.209 bulls were licensed in 1923, and 6,639 in March, 1920. In 1926 there were 2,211 purebred bulls, and this number is gradually increasing. thus increasing the demand for pedigree bulls. The Act has worked smoothly, only 52 appeals against refusal. of having been lodged, and 17 of th"'~" were successful. Three of the regular livestock officials of the Ministry of Agriculture are emnloved as inspectors for about, a month in the year. The fees received amount to about £I.OOO, and cover approximately the expenditure of the Minis .ter under the Act. Already there are strong advocates p or the eonderation of similar legislation for New Zealand. Tt would certo.intv he in the best ipt°re«t.s of breeders generally, and bv it farmers would have all to gain and nothing to lose. Surely anything that has proved satisfactory and helped to boost production elsewhere is worthy of consideration here.