Catalogue description Milk Marketing Board: Cattle Breeding and Production Division: Files

Milk Recording Societies came into operation in the 1920s and 30s, usually organised on a county basis, with the objective of measuring and recording milk yields and milk quality. These records gave credence to cattle breeders' claims about the performance of their cattle, and also provided information for cattle breeding purposes. In 1943 the National Milk Records (NMR) organisation was formed, sponsored by the Ministry of Agriculture and operated by the Milk Marketing Board. NMR built on the foundations of the early Societies, and now provides much valuable information, including milk yields, butterfat and protein content of milk, which is used on a continuous basis to improve the UK milking herd. NMR remained with the Residuary Milk Marketing Board until 1997 when it became a limited company.

n the 1930s and early 40s the Ministry of Agriculture had a system for the inspection and licensing of bulls to be used for breeding. The objective was to prevent poor specimens being used for breeding purposes and so improve the general level of stock. In 1942 a group of Cambridge research workers convinced the Agricultural Improvement Council that artificial insemination of cattle would assist to improve the general level of cattle in this country. The first two AI centres were in operation by the end of 1942. The AI service now covers all of England and Wales with many methods in operation for assessing the potential of progeny and with numerous breeding and improvement plans in operation. The Breeding and Production Division of the Milk Marketing Board, except for NMR, transferred from Thames Ditton to new offices at Crewe in 1990, and from April 1990 changed its name to Genus. Genus became a separate PLC in October 1994 when the Milk Marketing Board ceased to operate.

The Bureau of Records was responsible for maintaining all records connected with cattle breeding. The information was used to select dams and sires for mating to improve as far as possible specific characteristics. The department also compiled and provided on request, for a fee, information to breed societies and individual cattle breeders.

The Low Cost Production (LCP) subscription service was introduced to farmers in 1962. When a farmer enrolled, he received 12 monthly visits during which his milk production costs were assessed and compared with the results of farmers in his area. At the end of 12 months the farmer received an annual report detailing the costs and returns for his herd. A full farm costing service was introduced in November 1965, which provided a monthly check on the dairy herd and a full 12 months costing for the whole farm. Consultants prepared farm budgets for an additional fee. LCP was renamed Farm Business Services in 1967.

There was a serious shortage of protein for animal feed immediately after the end of the Second World War in 1945, and numerous plans were considered to obtain protein for feeding from within the UK. Tests on grass harvested at a young stage showed the protein content to be at a relatively high level. The Milk Marketing Board, after consulting the Ministry of Agriculture and the National Research Institute for Dairying at Reading, decided to set up grass drying centres to harvest and market dried grass cubes.