Stud Cattle Breeders' Page.

Southland Times, Issue 20831, 20 July 1929, Page 15

Stud Cattle Breeders' Page.

MEETINGS OF BREEDERS ROYAL SHOW PRIZES

FOR FRIESIAN BREEDERS. ASSOCIATION ANNUAL MEETING. PRESIDENT’S REPORT. The annual meeting of members of the New Zealand Friesian Association was held in Auckland on Thursday, July 4, 1929. Mr 11. J. Marchant (president), was in the chair and 33 members were present. The report and balance-sheet were adopted. For the four ordinary vacancies on the council, Major R. A. Wilson, T. R. Eades and E. C. Banks being the only members nominated were declared elected, and Mr J. I. Royds was elected to fill the remaining vacancy. The election of officers resulted as follows: —President, 11. J. Marchant; vice-presidents, Major R. A. Wilson and Mr E. M. North; auditor, Mr D. R. Revell, Auckland. It was resolved on the motion of Messrs E. M. North and D. J. McGowan to make the following addition to the rules of the association: “That the purchaser of a pedigree Friesian bull for grade breeding purposes shall be eligible for election as an associated member of the N.Z. Friesian Association, such associated member to have the right of transfer at Members’ rates both purchase and sale. Yearly subscription for associated member to be 10/6. The associated members to be supplied free with the Official organ. The motion- was carried. Sale Regulations.—A lengthy discussion took place on the question of Regulations governing sales of pedigree Friesians in this Dominion and on the motion of Sir A. C. Trousdale, seconded by Mr. R. C. Clark, it was decided to recommend the council to frame a rule on- the following lines: —"Any breeder holding a sale of pedigree Friesians may, on application to the Council, get his cattle inspected by an examining committee of two or more. Any animal not passed by the committee shall not be transferred. Alternative. All animals offered for sale shall be approved by the examining committee. 305 Day Test v. 365 Day Test. —On the motion of R. C. Clark it was resolved that the Council take into consideration the question of adopting a 305 day semi-official test period in place of the 365 day period. President's Report. "In moving the adoption of the report and balance sheet” stated the president, "it is pleasing to draw attention to the fact that the Friesian- Breed still maintains its lead over all other breeds in the matter of butterfat production. Returns published of the Department of Agriculture show that seven cows produced over 800 lb fat under SemiOfficial Test during 1928. These cows and their records are as follows: — lb. butterfat. Rosevale Queen Sylvia Triumph (Friesian) (2nd class) 1055.25 Rosevale Gladys Posch (Friesian) 940.43 Rcxcourt Lady Magnet (3 years) (Jersey) 880.19 Floss of Braeside (Ayrshire) ~ 832.82 Nepean Isolda Johanna Pietje (Friesian) .. 828.16 Regina Posch of the South (Friesian) 823.68 Pareora Echo Blossom (Sen 2 years)

(Friesian) (a record for all breeds) 819.81 Five out of the above seven cows are, therefore, seen to be Friesians. “In addition to gaining such a large percentage of the outstanding records, the Friesian Breed also proved pre-eminent in the matter of average butterfat per cow during 1925. The director of the Dairy Division in bis review gives the following averages for the four chief breeds of cattle. Breed. Average fat per cow. Friesians 527.97 Ayrshires 520.02 Milking Shorthorns 480.96 Jerseys 456.92

“Translating the above figures into cash values with the Hawera Cheese Investigation as a guide, the average Friesian cow for 1928, would produce 1496.79 lbs of cheese worth at 9d per lb, £56 2/7, while the average Jersey would produce 1139.551bs of cheese worth £42 14/7, or an advantage of £l3 8/0 to the Friesian.

“Before leaving the matter of butterfat production attention might well be drawn to the remarkable performance of Springbank Snow Countess, a Canadian Friesian, who recently completed her third consecutive record of more than 1100 lbs fat in a year. She now holds the World’s record for total production of three, four, and five consecutive lactation periods. In her five lactation periods she has produced a total of 117147 lbs of milk and 50981bs fat, thus giving an average yearly production of 234291bs milk and 10191bs of fat. I am sure this association will wish to congratulate heartily her owner and our Canadian fel-low-breeders generally on this wonderful achievement.

“Members will recollect that the report from Mr P. O. Veale, dairy scientist, on his cheese-making investigations was published shortly after our last annual meeting. The result of Mr Veale’s work was decidedly favourable to our breed, and the following points might be emphasized:— (1) That the Friesian cow is the outstanding cow for the milk supply to cheese factories, since Friesian milk will yield up to 13 per cent, more cheese per pound of butterfat than the high-testing milk as represented by the Jersey breed. (2) In the course of his report, Mr Veale states: —“New Zealand is losing immense sums annually by exporting over-fat cheese, enormous quantities of butterfat for which there is no financial return.” THE JERSEY BREED. MEETING OF COUNCIL. Several matters of general interest were brought up at a recent meeting of the Jersey Breeders’ Association Council held in Palmerston North. With reference to the 1929 Royal Show, the council resolved to donate £l5 each to the exhibitor of the champion Jersey bull and Jersey cow, respectively, and that a further sum of £2O be donated for division as the council deemed advisable among the other pedigree Jersey classes —this to be in addition to the ordinary prize money in the classes to which the money might be allotted. For the purpose o( the selection of a judge of the Jersey classes at the Royal, it was agreed to submit the following names to the Royal Society, in that order of preference: —Messrs C. G. C. Dermer, E. D. McLellan and W. M. Tapp.

Touching the vexed question of the 305day test, it was resolved, on the motion of the president (Mr C. G. C. Dermer), seconded by Mr R. J. Linn, that the Dairy Division of the Department of Agriculture be asked to inaugurate an additional C.O.R. class of 305 days’ duration for Jersey cattle, and draft rules and regulations to govern the same.

The matter of writing and publishing a history of the breed, dating back to the time of the early ’seventies, was left for the time being in the hands of Messrs McLellan, Linn and Missen to make inquiries in their respective districts, and to report to the next meeting of’ the council.

MEETING OF BREED ASSOCIATION. GOOD YEAR REPORTED. MILKING SHORTHORN. During Winter Show week at Hamilton the Milking Shorthorn Association of New Zealand held its annual meeting, Mr J. Bateman, of Invercargill, the president, being in the chair. , The annual report which was adopted stated: — , . . . , "The breed is undoubtedly gaining favour in practically all parts of the Dominion and those members who test their herds and publish records experience little difficulty in disposing of surplus stock at satisfactory prices. During the year 42 new members have been enrolled. These are men keenly interested in the breed. “Congratulations are here extended to Mr G. D. Hall, Kio Kio, on winning the championship in the mature cow class and the Royal Challenge Cup, presented by the Eng. lish Dairy Shorthorn Association, with his cow Riverdale Nectarine 2nd, and McGovern Challenge Cup for the best yearling bull with Pinedale Lad; to Mr R. V. Brown, Weraroa, on winning the Fitzhugh Challenge Cup for the best yearling heifer with Waimea Daphne 2nd; and to Mr R. D. Duxfield, Horiotiu, on again securing the championship in the mature bull class with Pine Farm Gem 4th. Members will appreciate the generous donation from Mr A. J. McGovern, at Te Awamutu, of a silver challenge cup for the best yearling bull exhibited at the Royal Show each year. Y’our council has decided to present miniature cups each year to the winners of these Royal Show trophies. “A steady improvement in the financial position is noted. Receipts £1287 3/-, payments £1244 3/9, credit balance £42 19/3. "The number of cows.placed under C.O.R. test increased over that of the previous year and many creditable performances are recorded. The association prize of £2O for the highest percentage of butterfat above the required standard obtained under C.O.R. testing was won by Dominion Conceit, of Ruakura, owned by the Ruakura I 1 arm of Instruction, Hamilton-, her record as_ a mature cow being 16.2551 b milk, 727.351 b butterfat. “The records appearing in Volume 9 Herd Book are indeed excellent, and indicate the keen interest taken by members in the herdtesting movement. Quite a number of. cows have completed second records, the highest of these being that of Wairau Farm Ruth, A-30: Butterfat 628.761 b in 313 days; owned by Mr C. Comiskey, Whakatane. “Special congratulations are extended to Messrs Conlan Bros., Orua Downs, on their wonderful achievement in having gained a Dominion dairy record for a herd of 91 cows with an average just over 4001 b butter-[ fat for the season. This is undoubtedly one of the finest advertisements for the Milking Shorthorn cattle of the Dominion. “In conclusion, the president desires to thank the council and members for their co-operation during the year, and to pay a tribute to the work of the organizing The financial statement showed a balance in hand of £354, compared with £3ll at the beginning of the financial year. The balance of assets over liabilities was £1907. Officers were elected as follow: President, Mr. E. Wall (Hastings) ; vice-presidents, Messrs J. 11. Mason (Feilding) and R. Peach (Canterbury) ; treasurer, Mr R. D. Duxfield (Waikato), re-elected; judges for the Royal Show, the names of Messrs E. Wall and Alan Fisher to be submitted to the Royal Show Society. Considerable discussion arose regarding the system of paying for milk for cheese manufacture on a butterfat basis, and the upshot was that the following resolution was re-affirmed: —“That, owing to the present system of payment at cheese factories on a butterfat basis being unsatisfactory, as proved by the Hawera test, the Dairy Division be urged to bring into vogue a more equitable system of payment.” It was decided that the next half-yearly meeting should be held at Invercargill at the time of the Royal Show. The next annual meeting will again be held at Hamilton. HERD TESTING. MATAURA ISLAND ASSOCIATION. The Mataura Island Herd Testing Association has ended a most successful season with a full list of herds. The figures, which are most interesting, go to prove the advantages to be gained by putting their cows under proper test.

AVOIDING ABORTION.

DAIRY STOCK DISEASES. SYKES’S ANIMOL, a scientifically formulated treatment, cures and prevents Sore Teats, Udders, Cow Pox, etc. It is antiseptic, soothing and healing. It will prevent the spread of Mammitis, Cow Pox, and other infectious diseases common among cows. It quickly allays any local inflammation, and stimulates a healthy action of the skin. Application should be made after each milking. SYKES’S ANIMOL is sold everywhere in 4-lb. tins, at 1/6, and in 1-lb. tins at 2/6.

COUNCIL MEETING. ROYAL SHOW PRIZES. At a meeting of the Council of the Association' held at Auckland on the same day the following matters of interest were decided. It was resolved to recommend Mr 11. R. Green for appointment as judge at the Royal Show. . . Tire Manawatu A. and P. Association was allocated the North Island I resian Championships for 1929. It was decided to vote £5O as prize money for the Royal Show Friesian provincial group and £67 10/- as a contribution towards transport expenses of Friesians competing in the provincial group. It was resolved to reply to Otago Branch that there is a ruling that “a solid black leg” makes an animal ineligible for registration, but that black spots below the knee or on the hoof appear on many Pedigree Friesians of the highest quality, e.g. in the Grigg strain, N.Z. Friesians, and in several All-American Champions. It was resolved to confirm the following addition to the Rules of the Association made at the Annual General Meeting on Thursday, July 4, 1929: —“That the purchaser of a Pedigree Friesian. bull for grade breeding purposes shall be eligible for election as an associated member of the N. Z. Friesian Association, such associ ated member to have the right of transfer at members' rates, both purchase, and sale. Yearly subscription for associated member to be 10/6. The associated members to be supplied free with the official journal. It was decided to forward to the N.Z. Ayrshire Association and to the N.Z. Milking Shorthorn Association copies of the following resolution passed at the Annual Meeting of the N.Z. Friesian Association and to inform those Associations that the N.Z. Friesian Association would most willingly co-operate with them in regard to the matter“ That the N.Z. Friesian Association considers that immediate, steps should be taken by the Dairy Division and by the Dairy Factories throughout the Dominion to adopt a system of payment on an equitable basis, (as outlined by Mr P. 0. Veale, Dairy Scientist, Hawera Research Laboratory.) for milk supplied for cheese-making purposes.. That the N.Z. Friesian Association consider standardization is only a palliative and that to protect the reputation of N.Z. Cheese it is essential that only normal whole milk should be used for cheese-making.” It was resolved to hold a Special General Meeting of Members and also a meeting of the Council during Royal Show week, I next December in Invercargill. The secretary reported that volume 18 of the New Zealand Friesian Herd Book contained the registration of 869 males and 2362 females, an increase of 180. One hundred and eleven new members were elected and 63 herd names approved for registration.

AMERICAN SUGGESTIONS. Here arc 24 recommendations from the Pennsylvania State Bureau of Animal Industry on the subject of control of abortion :— , 1. Breed and raise your own animals. 2. Make improvements in bloodlines as much as possible by careful selection from within the herd. 3. Every cow in every herd should be handled with as much precaution as though she were known to be infected. 4. There should be provided on every farm a separate stall or stable, known as a maternity barn, for cows at calving time. This stable should be so constructed that it can be easily disinfected, or, better, fumigated with forma' lehyde. On farms containing a large number of cows it should have sufficient number of completely separated stalls to accommodate the number of cows that would be calving at one time. 5. Every cow should be removed from the herd at calving time and placed in the maternity stable. 6. Every cow showing symptoms of abortion should be placed in the maternity stable.

7. Every cow placed in the maternity stable should be kept there until all discharge has ceased and the uterus has been properly treated and has been determined clean by examination. 8. All afterbirth and aborted or dead calves should be well buried or burned immediately. 9. The maternity stall should be well cleaned and effectively disinfected, or preferably, fumigated, before another cow goes into it. The manure and litter should not be placed in the exercise or feed yards. 10. Every pregnant cow, either in pasture or stable, should be seen by the herdsman every day. Any showing symptoms of abortion or nearing normal calving time should be removed to the maternity barn.

11. If purchases are to be made, the history of the herd from which he wishes to purchase and the individual animal history should be determined by the purchaser, and if either is doubtful the purchase should not be made until the animal’s health is definitely determined, and even then it is safer to purchase from healthy herds. 12. All newly-purchased animals should be isolated for a period. All known reliable tests for the determination of their health should be applied. 13. Bulls and unbred heifers are the safest animals to buy, but these should be Isolated for a period, and should have passed the blood/test for bovine infectious abortion before they are incorporated into the main herd.

14. Pregnant animals should not be purchased unless they are isolated until they have given birth to a normal calf, have passed a satisfactory blood test not within two weeks after having given birth to the normal calf, the uterus has been properly treated and has been determined clean by examination.

15. Any cows that have ever left the farm should be returned only under the same conditions as newly-purchased animals. 16. Herd bulls should not be used for service to neighbours’ cows. 17. In case an abortion has occurred in the stable, the cow should immediately be isolated, the foetus and membranes buried or burned, and the stable well cleaned and disinfected. An abortion occurring in the pasture field should be handled in the same way. The earth at the point should be covered with three or four inches of lime or a strong disinfectant or both. 18. Consider every case of abortion infectious until otherwise determined. 19. See that the herd is given good clean feed and water.

20. Feed should be obtained from such sources and should be so stored that it will be insured against contamination with disease-producing organisms. 21. Do not allow calves to tramp over feed for the cows. Suckling calves from infected mothers are considered spreaders of bovine infectious abortion. 22. Do not feed unsterilized milk from herds where abortion exists, or from creameries, to cows or sows. Sows are susceptible to infection with bacterium abortus bang.

23. Manure piles should not be in the exercise or feed yards. 24. No cow should have access to manure piles at any time.

No. Avr. Days of Cows in Milk Butterfat Test 44 239 203.09 3.77 64 239 232.33 3.51 54 240 235.94 3.89 69 241 276.86 3.59 45 242 262.11 3.94 47 261 291.65 3.35 71 223 217.58 3.81 41 203 222.59 3.91 49 232 238.33 3.78 48 241 237.40 3.75 56 237 255.76 3.81 41 248 262.99 3.44 50 251 237.01 4.12 30 213 187.59 3.82 32 244 227.36 3.90 25 254 224.82 3.67 40 209 227.42 4.05 30 235 255.65 3.75 35 261 234.58 3.96 16 249 160.81 4.15 30 264 225.08 3.99 59 206 184.25 3.62 30 241 217.41 3.64 25 249 245.45 3.64 37 238 245.59 3.73 34 225 210.25 4.01 Highest Cow. 256 502.50 3.81 Lowest Cow. 239 113.50 2.97