CALF REARING.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 30 November 1927, Page 12

CALF REARING.

WORK IN THE SCHOOLS. BOYS’ AND GIRLS’ CLUBS. Yesterday afternoon the work of judging calves at the schools was continued, the judges, Messrs. A. T. Mills and H. Hodge, with Mr. Bod. Syme, taking Tokaora and Normanby sohools. There were some good calves at both places and one outstanding Jersey calf in dairy type. Tills came in for very special commendation by the judge. Mr. H. Hodge, judge on type, and Mr. Wills on condition. TOKAORA. Friesian.

Dairy type. —Placed in same order. Jerseys. Chart. Condn. Tl. H. Schneebelli 27 100 12? . Mr. Hodge said the calf was very nearly perfect and the best type he had seen the whole day. It was a credit to the boy who reared it. NORMANBY. There were five entries and all were in good condition, showing care and attention on the part of the children. Mr. H. Davidson (headmaster) took a keen interest in the work. The result::

Dairy type..—Keith Cbxhead 1, Marjorie Bennett 2, A, Antrobus 3. PR ESENTAT lONS. Two prizes Avon in the last year’s competitions for root crops Avere presented at- Normanby by Mr, Hodge, on behalf of the Farmers’ Union. He said that the union had always supported the clubs and lie, had great pleasure, in making the presentations to: Elrio Bennett, second in carrots and second in mangolds; Nancy Bennett, third in mangolds. A hearty A*ote of thanks was passed on tlie motion, of the headmaster at Normanby and of Air. Johnson; at Tokaora, for the continued, interest taken by the Fanners’ Union and the institutions allied to it in the work. Both speakers emphasised the value of the contests ,and unde,rstook to try to secure more entries next year. Speaking generally, the judge of rearing (Mr. Wills) said, the calves; AA’ere good all round and if the competitors continued in the Avay they had begun, they Avould do good Avo,rk. He regretted that there AA*ere not more of the older pupils there because they AA*ere at an age ,at Avhioh they could receive more value from the demonstrations.

The deA'cl op me lit of calves is always ia, matter of interest to the judges. At Mokoia. tAV© calves judged last year and again this year as yearlings, and the decisions Avere reversed. This proved what has been so often stressed, it is difficult to say hoAA* the animals AA-ill develop. At Tokaora one of the Friesian eafoes. placed first, in condition and type, is • a daughter of a tA\*o-year heifer AA*hich, as a calf, Avon a gold medial for dairy type. Gi\*ing advice to children at the schools, Air. Walls said 1 briefly the following Avere general rules : Give plenty of running room, feed Avell, give good shelter and do not tie them; up by a draughty hedge, use the brush to keep the coat in good order and improve their appearance, keep clean, and d<t all possible to maintain in good health. There A\*as apparent lack of interest shown bv parents in the work of the competitions. At several places the bulges and the organiser asked the children how many Avere anxious to

’liter calves, and the response Avas genuine!v strong. Despite the'keenness it appealed that many of the children were not encouraged nor given the calves to enter. This is much to be regretted, because, the training is exceeding’}* valuable and serves to gnu the children an added interest in the work on the farm-

Betty Johnson. .. Chart. Ctandn. 29 100 Ti. 129 Susie Johnson .. .... 27 96 123 Nancy Johnson .. .... 29 90 119

were as below : — Chart. Ooudii. Tl. Marjorie Bennett .. 30 99 129 A. Ant rob us .. 26 100 126 K. Bennett .. 28 94 122 Nancy Bennett ... .. 29 89 118 Keith Ooxhead ... ..28 • 87 116