THE JERSEY BREED

Hawera Star, Volume L, 19 May 1930, Page 3

THE JERSEY BREED

ASSOCIATION’S STRONG POSITION REVIEW OF ACTIVITIES. “The financial position shows a very •satisfactory state of affairs and is a trite indication of the soundness of the association.'’ states tlio annual report of the New Zealand Jersey CattleBreeders’ Association to be presented at the. annual meeting at* Hawera. on June JO.

“Two. hundred and sixty-seven new members were elected during the* year, which brings the total membership' to 1982. Each year .shows a! large increase, and this provides ample evidence that the popularity of the Jersey cow is ever growing. The registrations department continues to show a steady increase. The* number of animals registered is 8J6.626, comprised of 13,117 males and 61,500 females. A total of 10,627 animals was transferred, 5848 males and 4770 females. Thor ivas an especially heavy increased demand for bulls with C'.O.R. pedigress, which is -sufficient indication of the..pre-eminence of Jersey bulls as dairy sires. “During the year that elided on December 31, 1920, C'.O.R. certificates were- gained by 367 cows under semiofficial test. The average production was 453.951 b butter-fat. which must be considered highly satisfactory. Ol the 367 cows tested 164 were junior two-year-olds, which is approximately half of the number of Jerseys tested. This makes the performance this year highly meritorious and brings home forcibly one of the many outstanding characteristics of the breed —early maturity. “With a view to encouraging testing the council increased the subsidy for each 1001 b butter-fat over the miniilium amount necessary to gain, a firstclass certificate from £1 Is to £1 10s, and agreed to pay half of the fee (£4 4s) to members testing their first cows, provided that at feast- 1001 b butter-lat over the minimum qualification was produced in each case. This year 256 cows on nodi by 122 members earned subsidies amounting to £674 17s, while £O3 was paid to 15 members testing their first cows.

“Worthy of special mention are the following cows which gained special gold medals for producing at least 7501 b butter-fat: —Bccchlands Preference, S-l 7.191 b fat. owned by A. Moreland and Sons; Princess Mermaid, 829.661 b fat. owned by G. E. YoleUieh; Daisy’s Buttercup, 820.9-1 lb fat, owned by Estate G. H. Selby; Well fie Id Skylark, 779.951 b l'at, owned by vV. J. Murray. The owners are to be congratulated upen these very creditable performances. The value of testing is mcak-ulable and the council urges members to realise the importance and the many obvious advantages derived through its. adoption. “At the request of a large number of members tlie council approached the Da irv .Division regarding the adoptiop I -of a 305 days’, test. This request lias been granted and the department is now drafting rules and regulations with a view to bringing it- into* effect for the coming season. It is hoped that this additional test will receive the full support of its advocates. “A scheme has been adopted bv the council by which the assiciation will be able financially to assist the smaller breeders in the purchase of better bulls and thus raise the standard, of the breed. Payments can be spread over a period of three years, and the selection will be under the supervision oi leading breeders. “The. system of classification was brought into operation with most satisfactory results, those breeders who adopted the system being most unanimous in their praise. A total of 28<? cows submitted for classifications, of which 1.6 were awarded v.li.e., 11 h.c. and J 12s, the. balance being rejeettd. The prospects are that a very large increase in the number of caws will be submitted next season.

“Th price of the herds hooks was reduced from 15s. to 10s per copy. Tjiis means that the book will bo supplied to members, a.f approximately one-half the cost .[jf publication, thereby entailing a considerable annual loss.’’