MEMBERS of the Scrutiny panel which is looking at the bull semen debate have been speaking to world experts who are in Jersey for a cattle conference.
Scrutiny panel chairman Deputy Patrick Ryan said that it was ‘absolutely perfect timing’ that the World Jersey Cattle Bureau Conference was being held in Jersey in the same month that the Scrutiny panel began examining whether Jersey should lift a 220-year-old ban on importing bull semen.
In meetings this week, the Scrutiny panel spoke to leading Jersey cow experts from Canada, Denmark and America – three countries which have huge herds of Jersey cows.
‘We have been speaking with the absolute top-notch professionals from all around the world,’ he said. ‘They have been very helpful and we have recorded lots of figures and results from them. We have also spoken with one of the top geneticists, Curt Van Tassell, who gave a presentation to the conference on Monday.
‘We have really fallen on our feet and have been putting in an intensive amount of work this week to make the most of this opportunity.’
The panel have also been speaking to Jersey and Guernsey breeders at the conference but they have been mostly concentrating their efforts on the international visitors.
Because the bull semen debate is such an emotive issue, the panel want to hear from all interested parties in Jersey and will be accepting submissions until 30 May. They are planning a public meeting to further explore public opinion and will announce a date later in the month to hear both sides of the argument.
There are also plans to appoint an expert adviser, probably from the UK, to help with the Scrutiny process.
The Scrutiny panel was formed after the debate was pulled from the agenda at the States sitting on 29 April and Chief Minister Frank Walker originally requested that the matter be brought back to the States within six weeks, which would ensure that the debate was held before the summer break.
However, that timeframe is a much shorter window than normally afforded to Scrutiny and Deputy Ryan has already warned that it may not be possible. ‘We are still concerned about the timeframe,’ he said. ‘But we are working flat out to hear a wide range of opinions and our meetings this week have helped enormously.’
Indeed, having spent a few days in the company of esteemed Jersey cow breeders and farmers from different countries, Deputy Ryan is now aware of what to look for in a ‘top’ Jersey cow. ‘A good udder, bone structure and a straight back,’ he said. ‘I’ve learned a lot.’
The number of scrutineers has been reduced from five to four following Deputy Roy Le Hérissier’s resignation from the panel because of a conflict of interests. The aim had been to find States Members with no links to the dairy industry but because Deputy Le Hérissier voted in favour of the dairy relocation over a year ago, he feels that his position on the panel could have been questioned.
The sub-panel is made up of Deputy Ryan (chairman), Deputy Judy Martin, the Constable of St John, Graeme Butcher, and the Constable of St Saviour, Peter Hanning.
Article posted on 22nd May, 2008 - 2.57pm
Most Commented: