Dairy farmers not to blame for the UK's poor genetic base

摘要

We asked for your views on progeny testing in our June issue and print the firstletters on the next two pages. If you have a point to make, write to: The Editor,Dairy Farmer, Wharfedale Road, Ipswich, IP1 4LG. I am getting very tired of the constant reference to the low genetic base of the UK dairy herd. It is not the fault of the British dairy farmer that the UK genetic base lags far behind other European countries. Dairy farmers can only follow where their leaders take them and there has been a complete lack of clear leadership and vision by the people with authority in the British dairy breeding industry right up until the early 1990s. The most serious damage was done by MAFF by not allowing any form of American genetics into the UK until 1987, whereas our Continental cousins were freely making use of the best that America had to offer, with some EU countries allowing American live imports right up until 1983.