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.