BETTER BULLS

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 478, 6 October 1928, Page 27

BETTER BULLS

Move In Right Direction LEGISLATION IN IRELAND The demand registered at clearing sales held throughout the Dominion during the past three months has shown clearly that there is a general desire for better bulls. Sires from high producing strains have met with keen competition record prices being paid in many instances. 1 his is in accord with the need of greater, production, and shows that New Zealand farmers are not prepared to wait tor legislation as in many other countries before grappling with the question of the elimination of the scrub bull.

rpHE day is certainly coming when legislation will be brought into force prohibiting the rearing of bulls other than those coming from highproducing strains. Already there is a strong expression of opinion in the Dominion that New Zealand should fall into line with the farmers of South Australia and Ireland, and make it compulsory for all bulls to be registered. In England at the moment the Department of Agriculture is considering the question of drafting a Bill to put before the House. The law as it stands in Ireland, to put it plainly, simply stipulates that all bulls must be subjected to a half-yearly examination by officers of the Department of Agriculture. Every bull must be licensed. To qualify for a licence the Act merely sets it down that the bull must not be calculated to beget defective or inferior progeny, or affected by and infectious or contagious disease, or aifeeted by certain prescribed diseases or defects. Under the Act the Minister is empowered to declare any particular breed or type of bull to be tinsuitable for any particular district, but may only do this after consultation with an advisory committee. Provision is made to protect pedigree breeders. Permits to keep a bull for which a licence has been refused in order to fatten him off for slaughter are available at a cost of not more than 2s 6d, otherwise the buil must be castrated or slaughtered. Owners have to advise the department of any sale, loan or .lire of the bull, and it is further enjoined that they should give notice of castration or death. Each year an endeavour is made to raise the standard of the qualification for registration, and, in this manner, it is hoped to gradually build up the productivity of the herds. Much circumspection and tact had to be used in drafting the Bill, as it was realised that unless the majority of the farming community favoured its operation, it would fail. The standard is gradualaly being raised, however, and no hardship can accrue to the genuine breeder. Apart from remits to Farmers’ Union conferences, little has been done in this country toward the draft-

iug of legislation lor a Bill with similar aims. During the past decade there has been a general movement among farmers themselves, however, to improve the quality of tneir herds by the introduction of better quality sires, and sellers of pedigree animals have been assured of r. steady demand for their offerings. Over the last three months important clearing sales have drawn buyers from all parts of the country, record rices being paid in many instances. Such a trend is worth more than any legislation can produce. It shows clearly that the farmers are alive to the need of greater production, and it is in increased production that can be found the best antidote to many of the economic problems now confronting the man on the land.