ON THE LAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18680, 9 April 1924, Page 14

ON THE LAND.

HINTS TO BREEDERS.

POINTS OF GOOD JERSEYS. {ELIMINATION OF * SCRUBS." DEMONSTRATOR'S ADVICE. £)* TELEGRAPH CORRESPONDENT.] MORBINSVILLE. Tuesday. an address and demonstration regarding the breeding of better animals and the points to be taken into consideration for the selection of a good dairy animal was given i\t Morrinsville by Mr. H. E. B. Watson, official demonstrator of the New Zealand Jersey Breeders* Association, to a large attendance of farmers. Mr. Watson said it had been proved (conclusively, in the North Island especially, that the Jersey cow was the most economical cow, and had produced the largest net profit per acre —a very worthy factor where the price of dairying land jyas high. He maintained that the Jerseys had done all that was claimed for them, and more. At the present time there were 36,000 female and 16,000 male Jersey animals registered in the stud book. Regarding the number of bulls registered ae pedigree animals, the speaker contended that about one-third of the number were not genuine producers of good butter-fat stock. The elimination of the scrub bull was of the utmost importance if the dairying industry was going to progress on satisfactory lines, and pedigree animals that had not the gutter-fat backing should be destroyed, even although to do so would be a hardphip to young breeders. It was necesgary to study more closely the breeding jof larger framed Jersey cattle, with quality and bone, depth of frame and even "proportions. Larger-framed cows •would eat more feed and would Consequently be heavier producers. In giving an actual demonstration on * cow Mr. Watson drew attention to the necessity lor large, open spaces between the ribs, which spaces gave a clear indication of breadth and depth of body— sound dairy point. Flat loins were not desirable, but the loins should be sloping and the back raised, with serrated vertebrae. The mammary system was described, Mr. Watson statiing that 't might not be generally known that 85 per cent, of the milk was actually made in the mammary system while the animal was being milked. The abuse of cows was not to be tolerated. Apart from the aspect of cruelty to dumb animals, a blow ..truck a cow immediately had the effect of reducing the milk supply, because the blood which pressed on the milk vessels and caused the milk to accumulate and flow naturally was immediately diverted to the brain, and as' soon as the blood pressure was removed the flow slackened off. . A good, soft, pliable skin indicated good digestive organs and showed quality of breeding. Coarse, thick skin nd coarse hair denoted that the animal was » mongrel. Mr. Watscon said thta it was most essential that breed characteristics should be maintained as far as possible, but points of utility should uot be sacrificed.