A COW'S VALUE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 282, 28 November 1932, Page 3

A COW'S VALUE.

KILLED BY MOTOR LORRY.

FARMER AWARDED £25. ,

The value of a pedigree Jersey cow, killed ou the road at Papatoetoe in April, 1031, was the basis of an action heard before Mr. Justice Smith at the Supreme Court to-day. The case lias been the subject of prolonged litigation. Plaintiff was Norman Landon, farmer, of Papatoetoe, who claimed £75 as the value of the cow from Messrs. Winstone, Ltd., owners of a motor lorry which killed the animal. Mr. Malioney appeared for plaintiff, and Mr. Rice for defendants.

"It costs money to test milk," said one of the many witnesses called. The same witness gave interesting evidence regarding milking cattle. The fullsister to a good milking cow was not necessarily a good milker herself,, he said. There was always the element of uncertainty in breeding dairy cattle.

Another witness emphasised the importance of what is known as "type" in Jersey cattle. There were exceptional milking animals, but the first essential was to breed for "t.ype."

Another witness, Mr. M. G. Macarthur, a leading breeder of Jersey c&ttle, recalled the case of a heifer which, during her fourth year, yielded 5791b of butterfat. He said the best milking age was from three to four years. Giving judgment, his Honor said an important feature in the case was whether the cow had been tested for milk or not. There was no definite evidence regarding the value of the animal, but technical opinion was that 25gs would be a fair value.

His Honor gave judgment for that amount, with costs.