JERSEY BREEDERS

Southland Times, Issue 21420, 15 June 1931, Page 2

JERSEY BREEDERS

SOUTHLAND CLUB.

ANNUAL MEETING HELD. The third annual meeting of members of the Southland Jersey Breeders’ and Cattle Club was held on Saturday. The president (Mr M. Cramer) occupied the chair, there being an attendance of about 20 members. The annual report for the year stated that notwithstanding the period of depression

the country was passing through a year of progress could be reported. The balancesheet showed that the finances of the club were in the usual satisfactory condition, with a balance of £l5 7/2 which, along with the subsidy from the parent body, should leave the club £26 17/2 credit for the coming year. The club possessed a membership of over 60. During the year the committee offered the sum of £27 in cash to the various agricultural and pastoral societies as prize money for the special classes at summer shows. Five members of the club had imported fresh Jersey blood into their herds. from the North Island within the past few. weeks. One heifer which was brought to Southland last year in the winter calved in July and was still going strong, yielding 20Ibs of milk a day, with a 7 test, having produced to date 4731bs fat and should finish up her Certificate on Record well over 5001bs fat as a junior two-year-old, which showed that the Southland climate was well adapted for the breed. The result of certificate on record testing of the breed for the season just concluded was most satisfactory, and illustrated once again the excellence of the Jersey. The number of cows tested showed a very marked increase over the previous year, proving that the members of the N.Z. Jersey Cattle Breeders’ Association were realizing the value, and the many advantages derived from testing. During the year ended December 31, 1930, 508 certificates were issued to Jersey’s under certificate on record test. The average production was 466.781bs butterfat, an increase of 11.27 over the previous year. The excellence of this performance could be appreciated when it was considered that the number of certificates awarded was 141 in excess of the previous year, and also that the great majority of these were for animals under three years of age. Since the inception of certificate on record testing 5715 first class certificates had been issued to Jerseys, the average production being 448.731bs butterfat, with an average test of 5.5. Of special interest during the year in certificate on record testing was the three-year-old class in which the previous highest record was broken in July, 1930. Cousin Grace, owned by Mr J. Bones, finished her test with a record of 935.261bs butterfat, thereby establishing a record for this class. However, her supremacy was short-lived, as six weeks later Mr P. J. Petersen regained the class leadership with his cow Ivondale Silver Rainbow, which produced 950.631bs butterfat on twice a day milking. The total of 653 cows were submitted for classification of type to the examiners under the scheme, 11 being awarded v.h.c., 303 h.c. and 339 c. This result showed a great improvement on the figures of the previous year when only 282 cows were classified. The examiners’' task had, therefore, been more arduous, and they were to be congratulated on the thorough and expeditious manner in whfefjt they completed their work which extended from Whangeri to Invercargill. The club congratulated Mr D. Cameron on submitting his cattle and the success he attained under the scheme. The club had been very unfortunate in losing one of its most yalued members, Mr J. S. Blue, of Taramoa, Waianawa. Since the foundation of the club a record of steady progress had been maintained, and the club had been very fortunate in the choice of the men selected to guide its affairs and in having a balance on hand which would be of some assistance towards carrying the club through a period of depression. Although the dairying industry was momentarily depressed owing to the present economical conditions, it behoved Jersey breeders to make even more strenuous efforts than in the past to maintain their prestige and to further the interests of the breed which has contributed so much to the capital of the country. The report was adopted. The meeting decided to hold its fourth annual sale of purebred Jerseys early m the BP It was stated that Jersey breeders should pav special attention to tattoo registration and make application to the New Zealand Jersey Cattle Breeders’ Association before July 1 1931, otherwise heifer calves born since June 30, 1930, would not be eligible for certificate on record testing. Mr N. Moore, of Tapanui, was elected P X hearty vote of thanks for the able manner in which he had filled the presidential office was accorded to Mr Cramer.