JERSEY BREEDERS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 23 April 1925, Page 6

JERSEY BREEDERS.

TARANAKI CO UN Cl L. ANNUAL MEETING. There was a good attendance of members at the annual meeting of the Taranaki Provincial Jersey Council, which was held at Stratford yesterday. Mr H. B. Lepper (vice-president) was in the chair, and the members present were: Messrs. R. C. Sampson, E. Griffiths (New Plymouth), R. McCaj’, J. S. T. Short, A. E. Western (Hawera), H. Stpnex, Petersen (Bell Block), S. J. Bollard (Kaponga), Bagby, A. J. Luxton. G. Bell, R, Cornwall, W, P. Qkfev, Tates, J. A. Kurth, and H. A. Hunt. ANNUAL REPORT. The annual report was as follows: "in presenting the annitai teport tor the year ending -March 111, it is felt that while there is cause for satisfaction in the. wont accomplished and lor many matters which have been discussed, inquired into and action taken relative to the same, there is also the Knowledge that there lias been removed by the death of our president one oJ tiie most active workers for the good of tiie breed and the founder of the Taranaki Provincial Council. His death is a. matter of most profound regret, and our sympathies go out- to liis widow and family in tlieir bereavement. “During the year four meetings have been held in New Plymouth, iLawera, Kaponga and Stratford respectively. At these meetings matters which have been forwarded from the Taranaki clubs for discussion are dealt with, and if found suitable, forwarded either to the Dominion Council as. recommendations from the combined clubs or to cue of the Government departments in whose concern the matter lies. The first provincial sale under the auspices of the Taranaki Council was held in Bawera. last year. This sale, was more in the nature of an experiment to find out . if any great benefit accrued te the breeders, and if the. result warranted this feature being an annual event. Representations were made to the Minister of Agriculture with a view to preventing unqualified, veterinary surgeons practising veterinary work. 'This matter has been receiving the attention of the Department for some time, but so far as is known no definite action has yet been taken. Impurities in stock foods was another matter forwarded to the Department, requesting that an analysis of contents be supplied to the vendor. As legislation would be required before . such course could be adopted, the Department was unable to do anything in the matter, but investigated the complaints lodged, Urgency in the matter of spreading foot and mouth disease was also stressed, and the state ol trucks .used for the conveyance cf stud stock again brought to the Department’s notice. “A matter which has been discussed on more than one occasion is the number of .inferior bulls being registered, in the herd book. A considerable amount of misunderstanding, appears to exist in regard .to discussions on. this subject, and .while it .is generally conceded that, such a state of affairs, does ekist, the fact is lost, sight of that the matter can only lie remedied by opinions, being aired and possible solutions being brought forward. Various suggestions have been made to the /A. and P. societies in Taranaki advocating improvements in the catt'e sections of their schedules, ail'd will be. brought before the associations when .revising their schedules for their next shows.” On being put to the meeting, the port and balance-sheet were adopted. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. President, Mr H. B. Lepper; vicepresident. Mr D. O’Sullivan ; secretary and treasurer, Mr AY. P. Qlrey. REMITS. A number of remits were brought up by branches for discussion. - They were as lollow, New l J iyinqiith Chib: “That recognis r ing a percentage of inferior mills have been registered in the past, the, conference discuss the advisability ol imposing a limitation .on the entry ol male animals in the Herd Book.” In moving the remit, Mr H. G. Sampson (New Plymouth) said all must lecognise it was necessary to. prevent a percentage cf pedigree hulls born being registered. It was an injury to the breed and the country. The Jersey was the leader in dairy stock, and it was not wise that breeders should wish to register e\ery pedigree bull. It looked likely that, some breeders would pass poor animals on to others. It was wise that the matter should be fully discussed. They wanted a move to be taken by the Dominion Council, for although some believed the matter would right itself, much, damage was'done which would he permanent. , Mr E. Griffiths seconded, and said that many animals undoubtedly should be eliminated from the Herd Book. It was a matter for which a solution had yet to he found. •*','• The chairman said that a scheme had not yet been formulated that met with unanimous approval by New Plymouth. Mr Short said no one had solved the problem, and in some cases very good animals were pushed out. Some of the best .darns were not. under C.O.R. test. Mr. Yates suggested that, a- solution might be reached by a breeder stating, when entering animals for stud book, that he had killed a.certain proportion. Mr. Hunt said it certainly was a disease for which -no remedy was yet available. Okl breeders were often selling stock that did harm, toyoung farmers. H Taranaki breeders decided to- destroy a certain number, men from outside- would . flood the province with tlieir stock. It was -a. difficult, matter but whatever action, wias taken must be universal,. His .opinion, was that the matter would eventually work it* ' own remedy. Actually even any pedigree bull did good to an ordinary herd. Mr. Yates .said.the destroying 0 f certain number tyould help the ,position by. making a .shortage in supply. The chairman urged members to took carefully into the matter under discussion, and see if a, solution could notlie. reached.

Mr. E. H. Lino ell suggested that in place of the remit, they should substitute a- resolution to divide the herd book into two- parts, the boolc proper, in which pedigree bulls as, at present be entered, and an appendix containing only hulls from, tested cows. He said lie. did not say it would he- a solution, but:it, would go far to overcome the trouble. There were two- clashes of breeders— those who- wanted t-o limit, the number, of entries and. those ivlio were pot able to pav the big fee dbmsutded for registration. . Mir. Hunt said lie eonisideied every breeder should lie able to take cafe of himself and vendo-i's should give all information required.

Mr. Griffiths said lie feared -such a suggestion would be turned down by the council. , ,

Mr. Kurth suggested tliin't ivhiait they ivauteij- to <lo \va» to help young, breeders and to give buyers confidence: by breeding only good finimals «b that buyers would ahrays return.

After further discussion t lie remit was dropped. From Strafford Club. —‘That it be a recommendation, to the N.Z..T.C.8..\. that steps be taken whereby stock exported from New.'Zealand- shall he.accompanied by export certificates signed

by the vendor, secretary and other person appointed by the council to inspect ■ lock -before shipment. ” Air. D. O’Sullivan moved the remit, saying that as New Zealand was going to be the foremost- in the world for .applying pedigree animals, it was necessary that exporters- must be able to .five a guarantee That the animals- sent Tre. true to description, by means of .a ; eit-ifieate duly signed, after inspection by some qualified person. ‘ Mr. Griffiths said that the procedure should be the same a-s- in the Argentine. The buyer depended, on the ven - dor but- in Edgl-aud a. guarantee was essentia!. ....... All- O’Sullivan (agreed, and, said that the animals, should get the hall mark if the .association, some member o-i which could note the brands before the animals left the farm. Mr. Griffiths considered that detail* oil id be left to the -aLssociiytinn. The remit-, on being put to the meeting, was approved. From .Stratford. —“That- l.t, he a recniTiinendation to the council of the N.Z.J.C.R. A. that- breeders placing cows under semi-official test receive a mibsi-dy of £5 bs on fees charged.” The - adoption was moved by Mr, Lionel 1, who said the remit was on the lines of the- Friesian Association, and that if. approved would popularise and j urn'ease testing of cows. The council had to endeavour to increase the number of tested cows, and what- better way than by helping in the payment of fees.

Air. Peterson considered that anyone resting did,-so for his- own. benefit, -a,ltd lie uro-e-d, t-liat breeders should be made ;6 ,tes7t all .their .eyws! ,if .they did -any eating at all. otherwise they got one* very high tester .and had their stock based on that animal. Air. O’Sullivan urged the adoption of the remit to help young, breeders, but if they did that the subsidy on cows registering over the- standard should be cut out, The chairman considered it was more jha-n breeders would expect- to get, and Aliens believed it should be in lieu oi’ :,he subsidy, but- all agreed in the prin--,iple of helping young breeders, wherever possible. t In. la general discussion Air, Griffiths ;aid that the subsidy paid ra.ii into a ,3-u-nif of over £IOOO, and he questioned whether this really encouraged testing. If the refunds, -were taken away, they could he devoted to a-.-better cause. He ealised t-lie benefits ol te --t-ing, but To-uhted whether the withdrawal of refunds would affect the number tested. Ctontitilling, he said that the council had -a good reserve- and would prefer to increase demonstration work and consider a- big publicity campaign. He visa said, that- there was a feeling the council should hare its own land and buildings. The remit was rejected. A. remit dealing with., the- analysis ol lie isibo-niiaich of'an. animal dying from ini-known causes was, forwarded from ytraitforcl, but- was withdrawn, for fur “her -information' on the nhderstariciing that if proved correct, it could be sent foil-ward to the council without fuithcs notice. VAGINITIS. Tlve- chairman brought up the matter >f vaginitis in. the dairy herds, __ which lie -said was pretty widespread, and lifter some desultory, discussion -it was resolved to- send a letter to-Dr. Relabel asking that further inquiry he made, ~iid that- immediate attention and jnveisitigaition. he .instituted. Other delegate's’ agreed .that inquiry was neceshry into what was undoubtedly a serims matter. BRANDING OF PEDIGREE, CATTLE.

Mr. O’Sullivan, moved that lit. be a •e-oomanendation to the council of the New Zealand Jersey Breedens’ Association to- make it obligatory on breeders co have a, private brand, preferably a c-aibtoio earmark, ais. a means oil' iqeiiljiiciatiou quite apart- front the compul-g-i{v fire brand. He said the- time- had arrived when the- council .should make ,t- compulsory to- brand cat-tie privately, so that at- any time after sale the breeder could identify them. THANKS. . .Votes- of. thanks were passed to the brass', to the- chairman, to the Stratford A. and. P. Association, foi- the meeting rpoin and to. the Stratford Club for their kind hospitality, and the .heating bhen ; . tgriniiiated, , r ,,.