FRIESIAN BREED

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 170, 19 June 1936, Page 8

FRIESIAN BREED

NEW ZEALAND ASSOCIATION. RECORDS IN PRODUCTION. The annual meeting of the New Zealand Friesian Association was held at the Palmerston North Showgrounds, yesterday afternoon, Mr H. E. Johnson (Tokuora, Taranaki) presiding over a good attendance of breeders. The chairman expressed regret that unavoidable circumstances had prevented the'Senior vice-president, Air D. J. McGowan (Auckland), from being present. "The year under review has been a most eventful one, not without its difficulties,. but on the. whole one of progress,” commented the president in his address. ‘‘Members have shown a. better appreciation,of the service that the association can render and are realising that the association is a national one and that its success depends upon individual members taking a keen interest in all matters of policy. •‘ln addressing the council for the first time, as president of the New Zealand Friesian Association at Hastings last October, I expressed pleasure at the then improved market conditions and the hope that prices would stabilise at payable prices for producers. This hope has materialised and to-day it is confidently expected that payments for butter and cheese will he higher tha.n for many years past. With more money available, farmers are looking for and buying better stock to build up their herds to a higher standard of production. This is as it should be, and gives encouragement to breeders of pedigree stock who have carried on through lean times. In the meantime, however, our Government has been changed. To-da.y the Labour Party n.re in power and are putting into operation their policy of guaranteed prices for dairy produce. Whether this, taken in conjunction with other planks m their platform, will benefit the man on tlie land is doubtful, and will need to 1« proved. During April our secretary (Mr J. P. Kalaugher) was given six months’ leave of absence to travel abroad, and took with him letters of introduction to the Friesian Associations of U.S.A.. Canada. Holland and Britain. He will no doubt have much of interest to tell us on his return, as lie intends meeting breeders wherever possible. Mr N. R. Roper is acting secretary in his absence, and is proving, by his ability a.nd energy, very satisfactory indeed. “it is pleasing to note an increase in the number of breeders registering stock for the past year and also the favourable trading balance in the association’s accounts for the 12 months under review. This is very encouraging, considering the adverse conditions ruling in the dairy industry in recent years, and it is confidently, expected with better prices for produce ruling these items will continue to improve. “The increasing number of outstanding returns from tested cows has helped further to raise the breed in public esteem and the Friesian breed easily headed the averages for milk and ImUerfat production for all breeds on C.O.R. test, being 521 b fat higher tha.n its nearest competitor. Too much stress cannot be laid upon the necessity of testing all herds, if not under C.O.R. conditions then certainly under group testing rules. Were it not for testing the Piri Land Co.’s champion, Totara C.R. Buttercup, and many other wonderful producers might never have been discovered, and what a loss to the breed that would have been. Another gratifying feature in the production records of the Derby winners and class leaders is the fact that they were made lover a wide area —Dominion-wide in 1 fact —showing that the breed will thrive in the cold south just as in the warmer North Island conditions. “The thanks of the association are again due to the director and officers of the Dairy Division for the help and courtesy which has been extended to the members. I would also .like to thank our executive in Auckland and particularly our treasurer, Air AleCowan, for .help and advice at all times, also my fellow councillors and the office staff’.” Comment wa.s made by the president, in instancing the success of the breed, that the cow Fendalton Pansy Posch 3rd, owned by Messrs Royds and Williams, of Five Rivers, Southland, had just established a record for the breed m New Zealand with an average test of 5.31, her production having been 588.801 b of fat and 11,083.41 b of milk. Six export certificates had been granted during the year, and a further seven had been issued recently, showing that an overseas trade for animals from New Zealand was being built up. An application for membership had been received from the Fiji Pastoral Compa.n.v, showing that the activities of the association were being watched from outside New Zealand. The report (already published) was adopted on the motion of the president, seconded by Air 0. A. Cadwallader (Greytown). , , , Air Johnson was unanimously elected president for the ensuing year. Other officers elected were:—Vicepresidents, Alessrs D. J. McGowan (Auckland), and J. Hart (Morrinsville); auditor, Air D. R. llevell, Auckland. The retiring members of the council, Alessrs 0. A. Cadwallader, H. E. Johnson, D. J. McGowan and E. AI. North, were re-elected unopposed. A motion of condolence was passed with the relatives of the late Alessrs A. C. Barnes (Cheviot), N. Brymer (Rotokauri) and A. B. Knutson (Dalefield). RULES OF DISPERSAL SALES.

Mr A. C. Trousdale (Auckland) tabled a motion: “When a breeder advertises and holds a dispersal sale, no progeny (born within 12 months after the sale) of any female offered and sold at the sale shall be eligible for registration by the vendor.” Mr Trousdale said that the time had come for a tightening up of those rules in regard to dispersal sales which were of such a nature that they could he avoided by various means. A farmer might advertise a dispersal sale and then buy his own cattle under another name. The motion he advocated would do away with that. Support for the proposal was forthcoming from the chairman, who said that the motion came at an opportune time. Something would have to be done to tighten up the rule. These remarks were endorsed by members and the motion was carried unanimously. The meeting endorsed the action of the council in electing Air E. C. Banks (Tanranga) a life member of the association in appreciation of his lengthy membership and service on the council of flic association. THE EXPORT TRADE.

Air Johnson stated that at a meeting of the council, held prior to the annual meeting, the question of developing an export trade for the breed had been discussed and the opinion expressed that the move was a necessary one. A motion had been passed to go to the Minister of Agriculture suggesting that an export board be formed which could cater for the export trade and see that all beasts were satisfactorily healthy before they were allowed out of the conntrv.

It had also been decided that all branches he circularised pointing out that it had come to the notice of the

council that they were not using mon- ! eys refunded for the purpose intended, namely, the improvement of the breed. , The branches had been asked to take serious notice of this advice. I Both decisions of the council were endorsed by the meeting. In response to a request from the Royal Agricultural Society, asking the council to suggest a universal date j from which the ages of cattle for entry to any agricultural show could be computed, it was reported that the coun- | cl I hud suggested J une 1.