THE recent breakdown of merger talks between the country's two main
organisations for pedigree black-and-white dairy cattle was brushed
aside in London yesterday as though it had never happened.
''We will now proceed as if that merger has taken place,'' Billy
Kilpatrick, the chairman of the 13,000-member Holstein Friesian Society
told members at their annual meeting.
Mr Kilpatrick, who runs the Craigiemains herd near Kilmarnock,
Ayrshire, added that various services, agreed during last year's talks
with the rival British Holstein Society, would be introduced despite the
abrupt end in January to the negotiations.
''We will also ask a small group of Holstein enthusiasts to advise our
council on the development of those services, and this group will be in
essence a steering committee.
''I know that some BHS members will be only too pleased to help us
achieve the original aim of the merger -- which was to have simply one
organisation for black-and-white cattle breeders,'' Mr Kilpatrick added.
A valuable new recruit for the expanded services will be Mr Harry
Walker, the former BHS classifier, who recently applied to join the
bigger society. He will classify Holstein cattle only, but was absent
from the London meeting on a refresher course in Canada in preparation
for his new job.
Mr Kilpatrick told members that the recent breakdown of talks between
the two UK societies had been a great personal disappointment, and also
a setback to the hopes of many breeders in the rival camp.
''We had agreed a sound and fair basis for merger, and had reached
agreement on all the fundamental issues that the BHS said were necessary
when we first met for discussions last summer.
''Unfortunately, some of the BHS executive were unable to take a
broader view of the situation and did not have the necessary commitment
to go ahead.
Their membership were not consulted, as had been promised in their
January journal, and I know many of them were equally disappointed and
frustrated,'' Mr Kilpatrick declared.
Officials said after the meeting that, since the beginning of this
month, some 4000 cows previously with BHS registration had been put
forward for acceptance into the herd book of the bigger society.
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