TESTING SERVICE

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21220, 17 September 1940, Page 10

TESTING SERVICE

BULL EXAMINATIONS WORK at ruakura farm Valuable investigational work has been carried out by Mr T. A. Blake, veterinary research officer of the staff of the Ruakura Animal Research Station, in regard to bull fertility. Mr Blake’s work has already indicated that much of the blame levelled at the cows in the past has been rather due to the infertility of the bull. As previously announced, it has been decided to make a bull testing service available to farmers. In his report to last week's meeting of the Ruakura Farm Advisory Committee, Mr Blake said that having established sufficient proof that examination does usually indicate the fertility of the bull, the Department of Agriculture had decided to make this examination service available to farmers in New Zealand. Practically all veterinarians and stock inspectors throughout the country would know the method of getting semen samples and of forwarding them for examination and classification. If, for any reason, said Mr Blake, a farmer wanted advice concerning the breeding efficiency of his bull or bulls, he was invited to consult the veterinarian or stock inspector to his district, who would make arrangements to obtain a service for examination. The results of the examination would be returned to the veterinarian or stock inspector as soon as possible and he would pass them on to the owner. Neither this nor any other biological test could claim 100 per cent accuracy. Consequently, if a young or valuable bull was classed as unsatisfactory or even bad or sterile, it might be wise to rest him and have him revested before disposing of him. Higher Fertility Bulls The great importance of getting the cows in calf quickly would, however, make it advisable, continued Mr Blake, to utilise the services of a bull of higher fertility during the period intervening between the two tests. Whenever there was any doubt concerning the accuracy of the first test, the farmer should always ask for a second test. By means of this wide organisation the bulls of very low fertility should be picked out early and the farmer would be able to replace them before the season had advanced very far. If this examination were wisely utilised, many cases of breeding trouble in the herds would be understood and several of these might be speedily remedied.