JERSEY BREEDERS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 2 June 1927, Page 9

JERSEY BREEDERS.

INTERESTING MATTERS DISCUSSED.

Speaking on matters of interest to the breed at the annual meeting of Jersey breeders at New Plymouth yesterday, Mr H. E. B. Watson said he did not agree that all pedigree bull calves should be reared, but believed that breeders should keep only those that were the progeny of the highest quality cows. It was a matter, however, that could be left to the breeders’ own discretion, for they would keep only the best-. He would like to see all cows tested, but would not tie farmers down to a special period. Mr Missen said there were, of course, culls in pedigrees as in grades, and these should be eliminated. The Agricultural College Registrar asked the council to appoint representatives to collaborate in the selection of animals- for the pedigree Jersey, Ayrshire and Friesian herds they were establishing. It was announced that Messrs Missen and Dermer were | appointed. [ Mr H. J. Lancaster (Manawatu) moved: “That the council be asked to revert to'the old type of transfer form with counterfoil attached.” _ Mr Lancaster said it might cost a little more, but it was much more convenient to breeders to have their records jn a convenient form. This was seconded: by Mr Dermer and carried after a brief discussion. Mr AV. J. Freeth criticised the action of the department in connection with semi-official testing. He said the department had eliminated from its calculations any ah normally. high test period that might occur. He referred to the expense of testing/ and said that the department should *give> every advantage to fanners testing. He moved that all monthly tests put up under 0.0. R. officers be accepted by the department. i Mr Petersen and other speakers said | that the department had to be very | strict so as to obviate any doubt creeping in. The motion was lost. . Mr G. H. Bell (Oakura) moved: ‘-‘That the rules governing subsidies at future Oaks and Stakes’ be amended on the following lines, viz., instead of the present 50-50 basis the contest shall be decided upon, type alone, but onethird of the prize money shall be awarded for production, and -also that it shall be necessary for a “heifer to obtain first-class C.O.R. of 4001 b fat to qualify.” . He said in support that the obtaining of a maximum production- for _ a two-year heifer was not in the best interests of the breed, and that the present system of judging was clumsy and did not excite interest. He- considered- 4001 b fat was sufficient and reasonable, and that the balance could be awarded- on type. They wanted to bring before the. public the best Jerseys, but there were so many difficulties cropping up between entering and the final that- an exhibitor tfould -be lucky to have a- heifer in, although he m i oht enter six. Mr Church said- if they lost type they lost everything. Mr Sampson said that the 50-50 basis encouraged -breeders to break down their heifers -before they matured. A typy heifer doing 4001 b and carrying on reproducing its kind was better than one- doing 6001 b that broke down. . . ~ . Mr Dermer, m opposing, said that if they only wanted small- records herd testing associations would- do the job. The idea: was to get high type and high production combined. Mr Linnell considered that past winners had been cows that showed true to type. Mr Bell -said he saw the Oaks, entries diminishing, and the object should be to encourage large entries. Mr H. E. B. Watson said the 50-50 basis bad proved that the winner was often a long-headed, slab-sided lieifer, because her production was so high. The breeder would rather have a 6001 b cow that could win in the -show ring than a 10001 b cow that had to be kept in the back yard. Mr Griffiths said they were all striving to bring out the best pedigree stock, from which they got their best producers. The leading sires came from the typy animals. Type and production should go together. ' Mr Petersen said if it were not for the 10001 b cows there would not be the demand for the Jerseys. Mr Watson said the real reason of the popularity of the Jersey was not because she produced 10001 b, but because she was economical and produced the most butter-fat. The type wanted was the- 6001 b cow that could win in the ring. The motion was carried on a, show of hands.