JERSEY COWS ON EXPERIMENTAL FARMS.

Wanganui Chronicle, Issue 20128, 16 July 1914, Page 3

JERSEY COWS ON EXPERIMENTAL FARMS.

Mr. J. T. Belcher, on behalf of tlie Stratford branch, moved: "That the Council urge upon the Board of Agriculture to bring under the notice of tho Government the desirability of placing the Jersey breed on the same footing as other breeds at the Experimental Farms." In proposing the remit, Mr. Belchoi said that the Government had been taking more interest in Holstein cattle than in Jerseys. He held that now that the Board" of Agriculture had been appointed, tho matter should be given attention on the Experimental Farms. Tho cost of production and every featutv should ho taken into consideration. Mr. Peterson seconded. Ho said it had como under his notice that the Jersey cows on the Ruakura Farm had been put on inferior soil. He considered that Hblsteins, Shorthorns and Jerseys fiboulJ ho placed on an equal footing, and given the same chance. Mr. McKenzie said that the reason y»by tho Government had slackened its interest in Jerse - was to be founti m> the attitude of the Jersey breeders themselves in protesting against t^c au~fion ol -£il£ .Government in buying tw,J tho. best Jerseys at K'igli"prices. la answer to questions put by nr^^c-!-er,s present, tlie mover explained that it was tho idea to have all the cattlo put together for the annual tests.

Mr. Eagle said tha+ he had visited the Ruakura Farm, and had found thav tho Government did not have the besxof Jerseys. The action of the Jeisey breeders resulted in the importation of Jerseys from Australia. This innovation hsd not provetl successful. Mr. Eaglo | offered tho Government one of his best Jerseys for the Experimental Farm.

Mr. Wilkinson, who had visited the Runkiu'3 Farm, expressed the belief that the lack of Success achieved with the Jerseys there was due to the manner in which they were milked by the cadets. Tlie boys had no interest in the cows, they changed about fortnightly, and tho jtsuJi, was that the animals were not treated properly.

Mr. Hall supported this view, and said that the cows were doing very badly owing to the treatment received, at the hands of the cadets. The whole trouble, he went on, was due. to too many cadets milking and changing about. A highly-strung Jersey cow did not care about changes in milkers.

Mr. Chas. Hiorns referred to the comparative economic costs of breeding the Holsteins, Ayrshires, Shorthorns, and Jerseys, and asked that a test be made to find out which animal' was the best.

Tho President said that the Associa tion had already approached the Government, and .their answer was final. The Government would not lallow tests. A recommendation in this direction would not be much good. Messrs. Belcher and Peterson agreed to withdraw the motion.

in place of the remit. Mr. V. Harkness moved: "That the Government be asked to improve the herd of Jersey cattle."

Mr. Hall seconded

It was stated with regard to the Experimental Farms, that the Government did not Hko to give information as to tho results cf their experiments. Farmera could go to tho farms, -.watch tho work, and judge for themselves as to tho best methods employed. There might bo numbers of brands of milking machines and ploughs being used., .and different breeds of cows and. .c^s&Ss&P'L fruit-trees on .the farm. :! Th^>f3;:^lffc>-i' .ment.,would .iipp:-say.^whieh^iil^ietfeic'-"iiiacliine, animal' or fruit.tree, biifc a farmer could see the objects, and use his cwn discretion.

Mr. Hall sajrl he. lia'd had forty years' o.vperienco with cadets, and bore out tho statements made with regard ■ i*. tlie way they treated the cows. Tie had never .seen a. Jersey cow yet that would answer to this treatmeiit.

, Tlio President, in speaking to the mo--tion, said he would prefer it was t-.oi caY'w'.t]. The Association was endeavouring to improve the herds and methods of milking. A Member: So long as they have the cadets we can't imorove matters

•Mi-. McKenzie said that at Ruakurn. they had a Scotch woman who en rod for tlie Jerseys properly. Mr. Hall offered one of his best Jersey caws for the Experimental Farm so iong as it was milked propei'ly.

Mr. J. M. Deem, Fields Director at tho Mouinahaki State Farm, told th-«,> history of the Government's efforts to commence Jersey breeding on the Ex^ perimontal Farms. He spoke of the first purchases which were intended to form a nucleus of" the herd. Ho ther-. referred to the strenuous opposition of tho Jersey bleeders, and of the resohition sent to the Department by the breeders asking the Government to stop buying in Xew Zealand. The farm oilieers were prevented from making iurther purchases of Jeisoys, and soo^ afterwards commenced buying Holsteins, and a heid of these animals was built \w. Mr. Dcen concluded by suggesting iha*- the meeting should pass a. resolution saying that thoso present were in favour of the Government purchasing i* few good Jersey cows.

Mr. Gcodson^considered tha-t the Government should buy good cows. Other members were of opinion that it would bo better if the Government, instead of buying three-quarter-bred cows went out of the country for purebred cattle.

Mr. Griffiths paid a warm tribute | to tho care taken by the manager of the Ruakura State Farm (Mr. McDonnell) with tho Jersoys- As 3Jr. lOarlo had said, the < yearlings bred at the farm last year i were of tho best possible standard. Teh motion that the Government bo asked to i/nprovc tho herd of Jerseys was carried. CAIXETS AND MILKING. Mr. Griffiths, speaking v/ith regard To llio ni:lkfng of the Jerseys, said that Mr. McDonnell was doing th»> host hw could with tho materials ho had. I Mr. Hall agreed, a-nd remarked that Ijo preferred to koo a good milker em- , ]>loyed inslead of tho cadets. Mr. Eagle suggested that priza.? shoulil be given to tho cadets to induce them to do sood work when milßin>, !Ho would like tho suggestion left, in tho hands of the Council to consider. Mr Lancaster considered that le services of a permanent milker shoufd bo secured. Mr. Rnnford supported the idea that the Counf:l should award pr: zes to enconrnpo [he boys to be ca-reful with Jersey cows -v\en milking.

Mr Griffiths moved, and Mr. Lancaster srr-oT^lcd; "Th.it as the production oF tli > Jersey cows .it Ruakurn, is serionsly nrmdicappfid by the present systrm^f Hi^ cows hem," m«lkr<l by cadot* the Conncil nrgo. upon fho "nopp-rtnio^t 'if * -i"n!tn7o the des'"rahU:tv nf hnvinnr tv^ mlkins: done by the best, tvt--p..--.',- ' Tniikors. obtr\:T)"Ti<r on similar I>'-^-. f !hoso in vozne at AVrrf"-o;i." 7"-, ."fion was put a"<l csrriod. T'TTOO EAR BPA\T>. 1?... .< ■• rn f-n<r Hwh hr^n-ch, M r ,iv" i v» fh^ A^ooiMt-"^^ - fTr.itoo F!"r t;....«.7 ■-.-■»■', flist!r>fpiisHlr T» mirk an-'' •-< -t -ti-i 'h.-?C nn annual brn-d:^p; rje7-i<vl 1 --> -•• --.rl v,-}ii>ri «*1! r»TTo v r>f T-T^r^' TV- ' voulcl li*> officially branded

. ...... r issi««)»> by the Branch Committee appointed for that purpose." Mr. Goodson speaking to the motion, eaid with this in. effect a breeder would have no difficulty in recognising his cattle again. Under the present arrangement, the speaker believed that- hu animal purchased at a high figure could bo easily substituted. The tattoo mark, applied in infancy could be always recognised. In reply to Mr. Hiorns. Mr. fJoodson sa:d he meant that the animals should be tattooed with their owner's initials and with the year in which they were oov.n. They would then be distinguished lor all .time. Mr. Linn seconded the motion.

Mr. Eargle pointed out that it was compulsory to brand cattle. He quoted instances in which the tattoo mark had not proved successful. Mr. V. Harkness said that his experience was that the tattoo mark was no good. Cows " tattooed two years &go bad not a vestige of the mark left. ]Vh Oooflsou so-'cl that animals of his had bec-u tattooed live years, and the mark w•.'.,-. still vi.abk'. Mr Gi:in;h; suggested that <-he rern'L be withdrawn. In answer to Mr. McKenzic. Mr. Goodson >nU\ i!i?t the object of the proposal was io have .>:n accredited member of the A'.s )ciat:on witness the tattooing. Tho Pres'doMt mo veil as an. amendment, and Mr. Street seconded. "Thai tho present system i;o continued." Tho amendment was carried on the voices. REDUCTION. OF FEES. ~" ■ "31" f>T;!'.!!! lnpvc-d : "'That entry fees for Heid' BocsVbo rochfc&.i t-O-G'r Mi^iiial. cn'^-_ viz., os. and 2s. Gd." Mr. Linn said thai, the Association had an accumulated fund of £1000. and it was not fair thai, tho future generation should reap the benefit oi' the present fees. Mr. McKenzio seconded. Mr. Hall oppose:! the motion, and gave figures comparing the rates charged b> j tho various Associations, and shower] j that the Jersey Association was low. j foli. Kayifoid supported the? motion, I and put in a plea for the young breed- j ers.

Mr. Hiorns spoke in opposition, anrt favoured increasing the registration feo for bulls to £1 Is.

Th.) luncheon adjournment was then taken.

On resuming at 2-15 r>.m., the discus- ! sion on number two Hawera remit, "That entry fees for Herd Book be reciuced to original cost, viz., ss. and 2s. 6d.," was resumed. ;

Mr. Peterson supported the remit on tho grounds that the. Association had .a big credit ju hand, and they should not penalise the small breeder. He asked the chairman why he wished to keep the entry fees uj).

Mr. Booth replied that some of the hercl.-s got irrto the Herd Book that should not be there, and there should be a system of inspection for the purpose of keeping up the standard of *.he stock.

Ono member contended that member* had enough to pay in entry fees, etc . ' and ho opposed tho infliction of a high ' impost on th«s memberc- i

Another speaker considered tliat the system of inspection as mentioned by the chairman would not come in Now Zealand.

Mr Griffiths moved an amendment to the effect tTiafc the entry fees for bulls bo two snvineaSj and this was seconded by Mrs. ~Mxfm. Mr. Wilkinson (Auckland) said he : was opjiosod to the amendment, and J casually mentioned that there was no compulsion in so far as registration was ■ concerned. Mr. Wilkinson urged upon the 303 members to support the Asso- j ciation. i In the further discussion that follow- ! ed, the general consensus of opinion was that the entry fees' be allowed to remain as at present, viz,, 6s. and 4s. j ;^hoa;m|'.nd^neni- found support from and was Ipsft.,. ~ ] ''Th'-o''''-ongiiiaPan'6iibri'"'sv'as.;jtilien- put ! seventeen voting each way., and the chairman gave his casting vote, and the fees are to remain as they are. j

TARANAKI DISTRICST. . ! Tho Taranaki branch moved another j iem.it: "That the present Taranaki di.<-.- j trict bo sub-divided into & northern and ' southern area, and thai one member J from each area, be elected by the. mem- j hers resident in such area, to represent them on the Council of the Association." j Mr. J". O'Donnell moved this motion, j which was seconded by aniother Taranaki member. Mr. Lynn considered that this was a matter for the Council to decide,, and it could very well be left in their bands. Another member considered that tho matter could be left to the Taranaki u±itrict themselves.

The chairman explained that if the motion was passed it would not come into being until confirmed by the next meeting twelve months hence. He suggested that a ballot be taken among tho Taranaki members themselves.

Qrw member said that tho sub-division would mean tho dor-ing of the Stratford branch, the members of which had not been consulted.

An amendment moved by Mr. Kirkwood, seconded by Mr. Lepper, that the question be referred to the Taranaki branches for consideration, was carried unanimously.

TUBERCULAR TESTS. Tlie fourth remit from the Hawera branch, "That all registered pedigree stock, previous to being offered for sa'.^ i by public: auction, be submitted to thf» tiibercula.r tast by Government .'officials." This motion was moved by Mr. Goodson. In seconding the motion. Mr. Griffiths said thr this would protect the j buyer. GYJr. Goodson said that they wanted to raise a clean and healthy herd of cattle, and tho remit would protect "he i young breeder who bought diseowvl s cattlo at public auction 3 and 'he Jia'l L no method of getting redress. Ho con- ; fiidercd that the cost of tlie insnect7o?i | would lie vory small. Mi*. Gri/Tiths sai:l that th<?re might j be somo objectior to tho inspection i of cows in an advanced state of ! pregnancy, and thius showing Eigns of tuberculosis. Mr. Deem considered that an arrangement might be made in the case of pregnancy where the cows might !>e inspected some months previously, and ho thought that a Government inspector would not examine cows when in an advanced stage of pregnancy. Further discussion ensued on the cases of these cows. On being put, only -three supported tho motion, wlr'ch was lost by an overwhelming majority. I A speaker pointed out that it \ri*i ; still optional for herd owners to have | their herds tested prior to sale- and to advertise the fact. OTHER BUSINESS. Mr. J. Mcßae was -elected a life member of the Association. The auditors were reappointed for the current year. It was decide;! to hold the next annual meeting at Hamilton on a date to be fixed by tho Council. A hearty vote of thanks was passed !to fcho PnVdem ;md tho retiring couni cillcrs in apprec'ation of tlioir services. I A tribute wrvs -prm! to the Department of Agriculture, to Mr. Cuddie. and to Mr. Singleton, for their efforts in 1 ■rcHrig herds. «'- T a vote of r.'jprecia-t-'on was enrrio-.' with applau?'*.