THE MANAWATU JERSEY OAKS

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 113, 6 February 1937, Page 14

THE MANAWATU JERSEY OAKS

Wonderful Animals Face Judges in £5OO Contest 'That ring-full of picked heifers was worth travelling a long way to see. These were the 22 purebred Jerseys, finally placed before the judges at Feilding show'last Tuesday, in the £5OO Manawatu Jersey Oaks. This was the greatest dairy cattle competition ever staged in the Dominion. Only once before was there ever another approaching it —that staged at Hawera many years ago.

As showing the widespread interest created by the Oaks, there were six Taranaki heifers in the ring, also choice Waikato as well as local animals. As already reported, there was a tie for first place: Mr. H. J. Lancaster’s Heatherlea Alice, from Levin, and Mr. C. B. -Lepper’s Maori Kismet, from Lepperton, Taranaki, were impossible to separate. Both, were truly magnificent examples of dairy breeding. Right from the first circling of the ring, the assembled spectators unanimously felt that first place would be gained by one of this pair. To say that is to offer no disparagement to the other 20 heifers. Any one would have made a splendid impression at a normal dairy show. The wonderful udder development of Maori Kismet was her outstanding feature.- In colour, she was very lightfawn with patches of white on 1 sides and back. She had produced 640.491 b. of “fat” on 354 days, starting her test at two years and three days old. In size, she was a little above average. Heatherlea Alice was a heifer of the most perfect proportions. Slightly below average size, but of perfect conformation; of dark colour, though not very much so, and carrying a little more condition than Maori Kismet. Starting her test at two years and 40 days she gave 559.051 b. of fat in 365 days. It may be here explained that 50 points were awarded for butterfat and 50 for show-ring judging, that is, for type. For each 141 b. of “fat” up to 3501 b. 1 point was given and for each 81b. from 351 to 5501 b., another point was given. Thus the maximum points were scored, when 5501 b. of fat was produced. Some 12' heifers had produced over the 5501 b. The highest producer was Erinview Dairymaid, entered by Mr. J. Murry, jun. Entering the test at two years and eight days she produced 647.801 b. fat in 365 days. Altogether, five heifers exceeded 6001 b. Wonderful Udders. As the heifers entered the ring, they created a great impression. As butterfat producers “they looked the job.” On the whole showing, the udder development was truly wonderful. Large udders, some with a capacity equivalent to 5 or 6 gallons of space, carried well forward and also of great width. No pendulous shapes were seen. One feature of interest was the comparatively modest udder of Mr. P. J. Petersen’s Ivondale Little Waif, from Waitara. Yet this was one of the highest producers. Starting test at one year and 317 days, she produced 6241 b. fat in 365 days. In viewing the entry as a group, certain definite impressions were received. The great udder development was manifest, so. too, was the barrel spring of these heifers; their wedge shape also. Discarding technical terms, and speaking in plain language, I u*ould describe these heifers thus:— Generally of average size, but fine in the head and of fine bone. Barrels well rounded, no slab-sided animals here, but well sprung ribs most noticeable. Fine shoulders and great width lietween the hind legs: this allowed of the udder development already referred to. ’These were rhe cardinal points. All the animals were, of course, per-

fectly groomed—carefully brushed down, hooves and horns polished and oiled. They were really a picture. Judging. At 10:30 a.m. the heifers were led into the ring and slowly circled around the three judges—Messrs. E. Griffiths, New Plymouth; R. C. Leach, Woodville ; and H. Moreland, of Newstead, Waikato. After some 20 minutes eight heifers were sorted out and put to the ring centre. To achieve final placing required a full two hours. No one envied the judges their difficult task. Even when the two firsts had been decided upon, their remained five other places to be filled. Only one criticism was heard of the conduct of the Oaks. That was regarding the heifers being left unmilked until 12.30 p.m. For such heavy producing animals, in full milk, this must have been a very considerable strain. Some exhibitors felt a strain themselves. in sympathy for their prized animals. A heifer that produces 2001 b. of fat in her first season is assumed to be a 3001 b. cow at the height of her powers. First season’s production indicates but two-thirds of a matured cow’s yield. The whole 22 heifers entered averaged approximately 5501 b. of fat; they thug represent 8251 b. cows. To see 22 such animals together is a rare sight anywhere in the world. This splendid contest is the outcome of the enterprise of the Manawatu Jersey Breeders’ Club, acting in collaboration and with the assistance of the New Zealand Jersey Cattle Breeders’ Association. As showing the great interest it aroused among breeders, no fewer than 170 heifers were originally entered from all parts of the North Island. The “Oaks’’ was an ambitious project, carried through to a triumphant finale. FARMER-LEADERS Mr. Coates Buys Some Stud Rams Mr. Stanley Baldwin, Britain’s veteran Prime Minister, is famous for his pipes and his pigs. Mr. David LloydGeorge, Britain’s so-called “elder statesman,” 1 is now a regular farmer, with an estate of 500 acres. New Zealand has been well represented by farmer .leaders, notably the late Mr. W. F. Massey, and the Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes. Recently I was informed that the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates, who retired to his farm after the strenuous 1936 Parliament, made an 800-mile trip in his farm lorry, from North Auckland to the Wairarapa, and home again, to buy some stud rams. He took them home in his own good care. They were Southdowns. THE RECORD WOOL PRICE The record price for wool for the present season, 27id., obtained at the Christchurch sale on Monday, for fine Corriedale fleece, was paid by the Kaiapoi Woollen Manufacturing Company,