THE “BLACK AND WHITES”

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIX, Issue 50, 20 June 1914, Page 5

THE “BLACK AND WHITES”

HOLSTEIN FRIESIAN BREEDERS.

The annual meeting of the New Zealand Holstein-Friesian Breeders’ Association was held at Palmerston North on Wednesday, Mr Newton King presiding over a good attendance of members. Dealing with last year’s progress the report stated that it was of substantial order. During the year (the fourth of its existence) the Association had enrolled fortyeight new members, the total now standing at 264. In the semi-official testing which the Association was materially instrumental in getting tlie Department of Agriculture to inaugurate, some of the records put up were highly creditable. The average butter-fat production of the dairy cows of the Dominion was under 180 lbs per annum, so it was extremely gratifying to find two-year-old Holstein heifers producing SOOlbs. of fat and over 15,0001b5. of milk, three-year-olds 6501b s fat, and 18,0001bs milk, mature cows, over 6601 b fat and 20,0001 b. milk. The report concluded by referring to the donation of a silver cup from Mr Liggins, treasurer to the Association, for competitors amongst the breed, a silver cup from Mr Newton King, and the gold modal from Mr H. Leonard for his first two-year heifer putting up over 5001 bs. butterfat under the semiofficial test.

The Chairman, in moving the adoption of the report, congratulated the Association on its progress during the year. He thought they all realised now that the Holstein breed had ceased to be a joke, and this class of cow had to be taken seriously. It seemed to him absurd that 1801 b should be the output of the cows in the country, when they had Holsteins producing up to 600 and 7001bs. 1 This was' not confined' to one or two cows, for there were a considerable number that had reached that standard, and it was most gratifying to breeders. The Association had decided to give medals in future, and in fact take more progressive steps in the way of getting prizes at agricultural shows on a larger scale than formerly. The special prizes the association was going to give for milking records would, he thought, help to popularise the breed, and give people an idea of what this ,class pf cow can do. Replying to a question, Mr McKenzie (secretary) said that on December 31st in each year four medals would be given for the two, three, and four-year-old cows and matured cows making the best record to that date in the semi-official test for the preceding twelve months.

’ The report and balance-sheet were adopted. It was decided to ask the various breeders’ societies to co-operate with the Holstein Society in an endeavor to get the Government to carry pedigree stock at half rates on the railways.

The ©lection of officers resulted :—■ Patron, Mr J. C. N. Grigg (Canterbury) ; president, Mr Newton King (New Plymouth); vice-presidents, Messrs TV. I. Lovelock (Palmerston North); and E. C. Banks (Waikato); treasurer, Mir K. Liggins (Tokomaru); auditor, Mr P. L. Sim (Palmerston North); district committees, the same as the previous year, with the addition of Mr Marchbanks to the Taranaki committee.