JERSEY BULLS

Southland Times, Issue 22728, 2 November 1935, Page 12

JERSEY BULLS

ONLY BETTER CLASS WANTED An analysis of most of the principal public sales held in the North Island this season shows that some 700 pedigree Jersey bulls were sold under the hammer for an average price of approximately 22gns., says the Dairy Exporter. In addition to the bulls sold at auction, numerous others were disposed of privately at prices ranging from 40gns. to 100gns., while individual prices of up to 150gns. were received, this latter figure being realized on a bull calf from Beechlands Summer Lass, which broke the junior two-year-old record l'.st year. Numerous low prices received at most of the sales might have possibly created the impression that the Jersey market had dropped considerably. The point is to be emphasized that almost invariably the unpayable prices received were for bulls that were backward, lacking in quality, .deficient in condition or without butterfat backing. In better times when it was possible to get a fair price for almost any class of Jersey bull breeders were probably just a little spoilt. The buyer of to-day is a great deal more discriminating than in the past, and in his purchase of a bull is very evidently determined to get his full money’s worth.

The lesson to be learnt from the sales this season, .therefore, is that only the better class of bull—one really capable of herd improvement—is wanted.