FRIESIAN BREEDERS

Dunstan Times, Issue 3378, 13 June 1927, Page 5

FRIESIAN BREEDERS

MEETING OF ASSOCIATION The annual meeting of the Friesian Breeders’ Association was held in the Dunedin Jockey Club’s Rooms yesterday afternoon. Mr F. J. M'Donald was in the chair. The attendance of members was small. In the course of his address, Mr F. J. M'Donald said that he was pleased to state that the balance-sheet disclosed the very happy financial position of the association. So far tho medals donated by the association had been applied for by tho Agricultural and Pastoral Societies. Therefore he could not state how many of these had been awarded, and his opinion was that some of the societies wore not eligible to apply for the medals, because no Friesian judges had been engaged. Mr M'Donald drew the members’ attention to the fact that the practice of showing Friosians in competition with other breeds at some of the shows still continued. ' This brought discredit to the Friesian breed, because it rarely happened that a Friesian animal was placed first in classes where two of the lighter breeds were being exhibited- The public relied on the judging and, as n result, the advertisement for the Fricsians was poor, lie hoped that in the future members would discontinue exhibiting in those classes. Mr M'Donald also drew the attention of members to the practice of overstocking milking cows at the shows. To say the least, this was a cruel practice, and lie thought that the agricultural and pastoral societies should see to it that milking cows were judged earlier and more quickly than they had been in the past. Mr M'Donald made mention of the record put up by Messrs North and Sons’ Roscvale Queen Sylvia Triumph, a cow which had produced 23,0911b of milk and 9861b of butterfat.

The report and balance-sheet were adopted. Mr W. Robertson deplored the fact that some fanners preferred to pay a few pounds for a scrub bull when they would get better value by paying double the price for a pure-bred. Members of the association should get together and boom the rjrecd. At present there were a good many low tests as well as high tests. The former should be bred out.

It was decided to hold a special meeting during the first week in August, in order to discuss the question of representation at the Royal Show, and the course to be taken at the local Summer Show. The probability of a stud stock sale would also he discussed.

OFFICERS. * The election of officers resulted as follows: —President, Mr W. Robertson; vice-president, Mr Adam Wilkinson; secretary ami treasurer, Mr S. Bowman; committee —Messrs A. A- Jensen, A. Copeland, T. Hewart, A. M. North, G. Aitcheson, F. J. M'Donald, J. Soloman, F. Waite, W. Bryant, and 1. Morris.