JERSEY BREEDERS’ ASSN.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 2 June 1927, Page 10

JERSEY BREEDERS’ ASSN.

ANNUAL MEETING

PROGRESS WELL MAINTAINED

The twenty-fifth annual meeting ox the New Zealand Jersey Cattle Breeders’ Association took place at New Plymouth yesterday. Mr. A. E. Mis sen, president, was in the chair, and there was a large attendance ox members representative of all parts of New Zealand.

At the outset the president said that whi.e lie was pleased to see a faiily representative gathering, be was disappointed that all breeders about New r-fymouth were not present, and also that .so few were able to come fiom the Waikato, owing, no doubt, to the opening or the Winter Show there.'

ANNUAL REPORT.

The annual report was as follows: In presenting the annual report and balance-sheet ror the year ended April 30, 1§27, the council have much jjleasure in recording another very successnil term. The progress or previous years has been well maintained in all departments, and shows the steady and constant advance of the Jersey breed, which augurs well for the future.

Finance. —This most important item regarding our operations is shown in the balance-sheet attached, hereto, and is very satisfactory indeed. Membership. —There has been a substantial increase in memberships throughout the year - , which now stands at 1532, a net increase of nearly 100. Animals. —The total number of animals registered is 9721, being 3854 males and 5867 females, these figures being an advance upon last year’s records of 943. Transfers. —In the matter of transfers our records show .a good increase on the figures for: any previous year* the number being 349() males, .3648 females, which is 415 in excess of last year’s transactions. C.O.R. Test. —The results of the semi-official testing for the year December 31, 1926, have again raised the aver age butter-fat production of all certificates issued. As against 441.061 b last year, it- is now 443.22ib. Out of the 428 certificates, issued, 819 were for records which exceeded the minimum qualification by amounts ranging from 1001 bto over 5001 b. The most pleasing feature of this branch of members’ activities is the'establishment of two new records. “Ivondale Golden Rainbow,”' in the senior two-year-old class, produced 768.461 b fat, and “Ivondale Golden Lass,” in the three-year-old class, produced 905.011 b fat. These cows are winners of the gold medal, and also of the special prize of £lO for beating the previous highest record in their respective classes. Both animals were bred and tested by P. J. Petersen. We congratulate him on their magnificent performances and wish him further success. It is noteworthy that these cows, together with “Collingwood’s Angel,” are winners of special medals awarded records of 7501 b fat- or over. Included in the list of certificates issued are 53 records which were not less than 6001 b. fat, so that we have every reason to be proud of last year’s results. Dairy Division. —Once more we wish to place on record our appreciation of the untiring efforts of Mir. Singleton and his staff in conducting the semiofficial testing, which work has such an important bearing on the advancement of our breed.

Administration. —We note in this import the big increase in membership, and in the number of registration and transfers that have been effected, all of which has materially increased the volume of work dealt with' by our office staff at a very moderate cost of administration, while the high standard of efficiency has been maintained. The large amount of correspondence received' from all parts of the Dominion, especially from people seeking information concerning the breed, makes a big demand on the time of the office staff, and has lieen dealt with expeditiously. Before closing this report, we wish to extend to members our hearty congratulations on the success that has attended the efforts and activities of the association during the year. The sound progress that has been made has exceeded our most sanguine hopes, particularly as we have been passing through a period l of depression, whi'4i proves beyond all doubt that under the most adverse circumstances we shall continue to advance, so long as we remain loyal to our association and the cattle of -winch we are all so justly proud.

Tlie financial statement showed receipts for the year amounting: to £5678 IDs Id l , including: registration fees £2664 4s, transfer fees £lO7l 7s fid, subscriptions £1437 13s 9d, and there was a credit of £2141 19s Id. The accumulated fund account showed a balance £8263 Is lOd. and the total assets amounted to £11,650 13s 6d. PRESIDENT’S REMARKS. Tn sneak in a: to- the report and bal-ance-sheet, the chairman said the association had bad a- most successful year, and one of progress. Judging bv the increase in membership (the association now nnmhered over 1.500). tliev could congratuliate themselves upon the keen interest of breeders. He doubted whether there was any association in the Southern Hemisphere that could show

the progress, membership, and strong fiancial position tliat they could. As to the administration of the association’s affairs, Mr. Missed said the work of the office had been earned out in an exceedingly efficient manner and at low cost. On a percentage basis it was a little over 20 per cent., and he doubted' if any association could show results as successful as that. The congratulations of the association were due to the .secretary and staff for their good work. (Applause). The president also expressed Ibis aprociatiqn of the excellent help received from Mr. Singleton and other .members of the Dairy Division and Agricultural Department.

TESTING OF COWS

Speaking of semi-official testing, the president claimed that the time had arrived when all pedigree cows should be tested. He had heard that in Taranaki and other parts breeders were* slaughtering bull calves. The demand for well-bred bulls was increasing, and was the lassociation to sit do win and wee farmers running good herds rearing calves from a scrub bull? It was all right to say that if ta good pi-ioe could not be obtained for bulls it was better to cut their throats and save the cost of rearing. That was not the best for the country, and he felt it would pay breeders handsomely to rear the bull calves of pedigree animals. He anticipated a bigger demand in the future, in the Auckland province at any rate. Therefore it was essential that all pedigree cows should be tested. The expense was groat, he knew, but the results, lie contended, would be worth the expense. Many breeders, no doubt would be opposed, but he brought the matter forward in order that some system could be evolved in which all pedigree cows would be tested, so that dairymen could be assured of the strain from which they bought hulls. He dad not think it would be detrimental to semi-official testing, and with the results obtained would be a big incentive for the ordinary dairyman to. do away with the scrub bull and put one at the head of his herd backed by record and butter-fat production. Mr Miasen suggested a system of testing such as that under the group system. Proceeding Mr. Missen said he. be>lieved the association of combined breeders would be of considerable assistance to the breeders of pedigree stock. NEED FOR UNITY.

A't the last annual meeting there had been some discussion on Hie cost 01 production, and he was pleased tQ state chat the position had been in some way met by the lower cost of fertilisers, the judicious use of which was the .basic principle of successful farming. The position as regards fertilisers to-day was undoubtedly due to the fact chat the united voice of the farmer ooulcl get/ much further th a 11 the andiyiduaii voice oi a member or an association. Unfortunately the farmers of the Dominion to-day were not united, and there was great need of further co-op-eration. The good results obtained by the- association 'were the outcome of unity. Again, the average production per cow in the Dominion was too low, and it was the association’s duty toj do its best to improve the standard all 'round. The motion was seconded by Mr. E. Griffiths, who supported the president’s remarks regarding the elimination of the scrub hull, but he did not see exactly how all* cows could be 0.0.11. tested unless they had the privilege of testing 305 days in the year, Referring to the export of animals,-Mr Griffiths said that it was api>are«t New Zealand was producing a type that appealed, while some very finqe importations had been made during the year. Some breeders had suggested, said Mr. Griffiths, that more could be done by organising stalls at shows, While he also felt that every encouragement should be given to Jersey clubs, which created the local 1 interest. Concluding, Mr. Griffiths expressed the 'belief that the ■ future of the Jersey breed in New Zealand was as bright as ever it had been. Mr C. H. Weston added his congratulations upon the satisfactory financial position of the association. Last year had shown a profit of £2OOO, and a fund of £IO,OOO wias accumulated. Such results would be the envy of many trading firms 'in the country, and he hoped that the council appropriately recognised the splendid service's given by its staff. Again, he suggested that the council might assist members, either by reducing subscriptions or by giving members their herd' book free 1 . After some further discussion the report and balance-sheet were, adopted.