EAR-MARKING OF SHEEP (REPORT OF COMMITTEE OF PASTORALISTS ON).

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1910 Session I, H-23c

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1910. NEW ZEALAND.

EAR-MARKING OF SHEEP (REPORT OF COMMITTEE OF PASTORALISTS ON).

Laid on the Table of the House of Representatives by Leave.

Bepoist of Committee of Pastoralists on the Schemes submitted to the Department of Ageicultukb, Oommbbcb, and Tourists for extinguishing between Live stock of Different Owners. Sm >— ' Wellington, 14th October, 1910. We have the honour to forward "you herewith our report on the ear-marking schemes submitted to the Department. We have, &c, D. D. Macfarlane, Chairman. Wμ. Hay ) Walter Macfarlane Members J. G. EUTHERFORD I n . James Wilson I Comm ittee. The Hon. the Minister of Agriculture, Wellington. The Committee are of opinion that there are several essentials tor a proper system of ear-marks suitable for New Zealand :— 1. That it must as little as possible interfere with the ear-marks at present in use. 2. That the registered mark should be on the near ear only, and any further marking on such ear should be prohibited, the off ear being available for the owner's age,'sex, or sale mark. 3. That simplicity is absolutely necessary; and the pliers used to make the registered ear-mark should not have more than two bits; and it is preferable that only one pair of pliers should be used. 4. That any ear-mark when registered and allotted to an applicant shall have its dimensions specified by the Eegistrar. 5. That the branding districts should for the purpose of registration be divided into subdistricts containing no greater number of owners than 750. 6. That to allow for increase of owners in any subdistricts any scheme should provide for at least 1,500 different ear-marks. 7. That in the caseof owners living near a district boundary, the necessary steps should be taken to insure that no other owners residing in an adjacent district near the same boundary shall be allotted a similar ear-mark. 8. That the use of the knife in ear-marking sheep should be prohibited. 9. That it should be compulsory that every owner shall register an ear-mark.

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The Committee have carefully examined the whole of the fifty-seven schemes placed before them, and do not consider that any of them comply with the above essentials. There were many of them showing a great deal of ingenuity, but they run more in the direction of providing for numerically ear-marking sheep than supplying to owners a simple and distinct mark which would not grow up or become obliterated, and the Committee think that an effort should be made to find the largest number of marks which can be made by pliers, which could remain distinct during the sheep's life, and yet be easy of application. A number of the schemes provided for labels and studs being put into sheep's ears, but, whilst suitable for stud sheep, the Committee did not think it would be possible to adopt such a scheme for ear-marking the sheep of the Dominion. The same applies to the suggested burning or branding a mark on the sheep's face. The Committee chink that the Department should take steps to adopt a scheme on the lines suggested in the first part of this report as " essentials." The registration of the lettering on ear-labels was considered, and it is recommended that when any amendment of the Stock Act is made it should be permissible for any owner desiring to register a label to do so. As there has been a generally expressed desire to permit the registration of wool-bale brands, the Committee, at the request of the Minister, have considered this subject, and think that the Patents, Designs, and Trade-marks Act might be amended so as to render permissible the registration specially of any wool-bale brand which is the name of a place, farm, or station. Approximate Cost 0/ Paper. —Preparation, not given; printiug (1,400 copies), £1 7s. 6d.

Authority : John Mackay, Government Printer, Wellington.—l9lo.

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