MILKING SHORTHORNS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIV, Issue 740, 23 June 1923, Page 2

MILKING SHORTHORNS.

ANNUAL MEETING OF THE

ASSOCIATION

The annual general meeting of the New Zealand Milking Shorthorn Association was held at Hamilton on June 1. Mr James Parkinson, Opotiki, president, was in the chair. The elimination of the "scrub bull" and the importance of using purebred .sires was stressed. The semi-official records of the breed in the Dominion were very satisfactory—two animals had reached the 7001 b of butter-fat mark and ii junior two-year-old had won tho association's prize of £SO for'producing over 4501 b of butter-fat under semiofficial test. Tho record obtained by the champion milking Shorthorn cow in New South Wales, Melbti XV., beating all other breeds, had brought tho milking Shorthorns prominently before tho public. They could still claim that the milking Shorthorn still holds pride of place as tho best dual-purpose animal. Jn connection with tho Herd Hooks, they had volume V. ready to issue with G 46 bulls and 1878 cows registered, Tho entries for volume VI. to date wore 530 bulls and 1250 cows. The total registration since the formation of the association numbered 2375 bulls and 13,334 cows. The balance-sheet showed £IB6O invested. The expenditure included £272 for A. and P. show prizes and semi-official prizes, and the expenses for inspection of entries totalled '£2so. The sale of Herd Hooks was disappointingly small, especially volume IV., which was recognised as the. standard volume of the association. The notice of motion: "That the.conditions and allocation of prizes for milking Shorthorns at A. and P. shows be revised and a new schedule be drawn lip" was discussed, and it was decided to ask branches to make application for each provincial district giving the number of shows held and the support accorded the classes last year.

That an appendix b< j added to future Herd Books for the registration of grade Shorthorns of approved type which can show a certified standard of milk production of the female progeny by registered sires, being eligible for the appendix and when four registered crosses are shown the animal (if a heifer) bo accepted as pedigree—was a motion carried, with the condition that the minimum production of butter-fat be (5001 b in any one yeai. It was also resolved that any cow of approved type putting up a certified record of 5001 b of butter-fat, in any one year, be eligible for entry in the appendix of the Herd Book.

A motion with reference to voting a subsidy for the importation of pedigree dairy Shorthorn bulls was lost on the voices.

The embargo on the importation of cattle from Australia was referred to and it was explained that full enquiries had been made both from the DirectorGeneral of Agriculture and from Australia and that it was better to have the embargo than the pests, nevertheless it was resolved: "That the Government be urged to permit the importation of pedigree milking Shorthorn .cattle from Australia under strict qiiarintine conditions."

.Mr J. M. Banstead (Matangi) was elected president, Messrs D. Buick (Palnierston North) and T. Bloor (Christchurch) vice-presidents, J. Hearsoy (Longburn) treasurer and P. L, Sim (Palmerston North) auditor. It was decided that the half-yearly meeting be held at Palmerston North in November and the next annua! meeting at Hamilton. MEETING OF COUNCIL.

A meeting of the council was also held at Hamilton, Mr J. Parkinson, president, being in the chair. Mr E. Law, on behalf of the members of Bay of Plenty, presented the application for a branch to bo formed for that district, which was unanimously granted. Resolutions of sympathy were passed and recorded with Messrs J. C. Wright and J. Bateman in the bereavements they had recently sustained. An application from a member to be placed on the official list of judges, also a letter from Mr ,). C. Potts recommending two members as judges were referred to the local branches. Mr J. T. Cole, Darbalara, New South Wales, acknowledged the congratulations forwarded by the council on the world's record achieved by Melba XV. The secretary of the Dairy Shorthorn Association, England, acknowledged receipt of volume IV of the Herd Book and congratulated tho council on the excellent progress the milking Shorthorns were making in New Zealand. The secretary of the Shorthorn Society of Great Britain forwarded a copy of Coate's Herd Book and a copy of the Shorthorn Breeders' Guide. A hearty vote of thanks was accorded to the English society. The Marlborough branch wrote urging more publicity as to the work of the association and records of the semi-offi-cial tests and stated they were calling a meeting in Blenheim to form a herdtesting association for Marlborough. Mr Green spoke with reference to the great success of the Farmers' Union Herd-Testing Association in the Waikato and explained the working of same. It was already proving of immense value to the breeders and was costing only about Gs per head. Mr Law brought up the question of the increased fees charged for semi-official testing. Ho considered the high cost to test was preventing many small farmers making use of the Government's officials. A general discussion took place, during which it was pointed out that tho department could not obtain sufficient capable men to do the semi-official testing now required, and at present, owing to the heavy travelling expenses of inspectors, they could not make any reduction. It 'was resolved that the association endorse the proposal of the Waikato Herd-Testing Association that a Government subsidy of 2s Gd per cow be paid for all certificated cows tested by the herd-testing association. On the motion of Mr Hanstead, it was resolved that ajiy records of registered milking Shorthorn cows under herd-testing associations be published at the request of owners in this association's Herd Hooks, such records to be compiled from samples and test taken by tho officials of the herd-testing association.