DAIRY BREEDS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22718, 2 November 1935, Page 3

DAIRY BREEDS

NEW ZEALAND FEDERATION ANNUAL MEETING The annual meeting of the New Zealand Dairy Breeds' Federation was held at the Show Grounds, Tomoana, Hastings, on Thursday. , . ... , The balance sheet showed a credit ot £23 18s 4<i, and the following report was read by Mr G. H. Bell: "In making my report over the past years' working of the Dairy Breeds Federation, I wish to state that some of the resolutions carried at our last meeting in Invercargill have borne fruit, Ihe request to the dairy division that breeders placing cows under C.O.R. test be given up to four days' grace after calving before commencing their test has been granted by the dairy division. The resolution passed at our last annual meeting and forwarded to the Minister of .Agnculture expressing the desire to retain the present system of C.O.R. and Government official herd testing under the control of the director of the dairy division, Department of Agriculture, was followed by a deputation to the Minister, who assured the deputation that no action would be taken in the matter of regulations without the federation being given full opportunity to express its opinion on the proposals. I am pleased to say that the Dominion Group Herd Testing Federation, who have done such good work in the past, are to receive further assistance from the Government and the Dairy Board in the setting up of a council with wider powers of control for herd testinc and calf marking. This Advisory

Council will be under the New Zealand Dairy Board's power, and it is suggested that a representative'of the New Zealand Dairy Breeds' Federation should be appointed to that council. I would like to mention the great work done by Mr C. M. Hume, herd testing superv;sor_and secretary of the Dominion Group Herd Testing Federation, without whose strenuous efforts the position could not have been maintained so strongly during these difficult years. I trust that when the new Advisory Herd Testing Council Junctions they will see to it that Mr Hume's services are retained for the benefit of the industry. The question ot selective registration was brought betore our last annual meeting as a result ot a letter from Mr Tonar, secretary of the Auckland Jersey Club, setting out a suggested scheme of registration. A copy ot Mr Tonar's letter was forwarded to all the breed societies for consideration, and it is hoped that some useful scheme will be brought up at the meeting as a result of the suggestions. In conclusion, I wish to thank the secretary and members ot the New Zealand Dairy Breeds federation for their help and support given me during my term as president. Mr H. E. Johnson, Tokaora, was elected president of the federation tor the ensuing year, and Mr J. 6. Donald, Featherston, was elected vice-president. Mr J. P. Kalaugher, Auckland, was reelected secretary and treasurer. Mr H. E. Johnson was also elected as the federation's representative on the Central Executive of the Dominion Group Herd-testing Federation. The New Zealand Friesian Association forwarded the following resolution passed at a council meeting on October 23, 1935:-—"To facilitate classification of herds and to ensure the testing of all cows, that it be a recommendation irom this association through the New Zealand Dairy Breeds' Federation to the Government that co-ordination of the activities of all forms of testing, C.0.R., G.0.H.T., and group herd-testing, should be arranged."—The discussion on this matter showed that it would be fully dealt with by the new governing body for group herd-testing and by the Department of Agriculture (dairy division). The letter was received. Mr C. G. C. Dermer brought before the meeting a proposal that instead of the present system of having first, second, and third-class C.0.R., there sliould be only two classes —viz., first-class certificates (for all cows complying with the calving requirements), and second-class certificates (for all other cows). It was decided to refer this matter to the various dairy breed societies for their opinions.

A discussion on the most suitable " age date" for dairy cattle exhibited at shows brought out that some members favoured June 1 for North Island shows and July 1 for South Island shows, while others advocated July 1 throughout New Zealand. It was decided to write to the various breeds' associations for their opinions on this matter. The New Zealand Milking Shorthorn Association forwarded a letter from the director of the dairy division, Mr W. M. Singleton, regarding the publication of the number of times cows on C.O.R. test were milked daily. It was resolved to refer the matter to the next meeting of the federation.