PREMIER DAIRY HERD.

Taranaki Daily News, 31 May 1924, Page 8

PREMIER DAIRY HERD.

HOLLY OAK JERSEYS. /BIRTHPLACE OF PRETTY'S SOLD FOR 800 GUINEAS. PRODUCED lOlOlbs. FAT. GOOD HARDY TYPES. WILL STAND UP TO TARANAKI ' WEATHER CONDITIONS. Soumiie Tom, the wonder sire of the breed has now 12 daughters whose average fat production is 656.6 lb. He has already sired two New Zealand champion producers and is the only sire of Jersey bnsed to have the three daughters whose records exceed 700 lb fat.

Thia is the great re-producer whose influence on highly-bred, heavily-produc-ing females has resulted in the peerless cowa which form the foundation of Mr. John Hale's wonderful herd of Jersey cattle at Holly Oak farm, Avenue Road, New Plymouth. Lady Superior, the •finest cow of the finest herd in the finest dairy province is also a daughter of Soumise Tom. As tested by Mr. Hale this year, Lady Superior has already returned 911.41b5. fat to the end of April. For May, she has added another 681b5., and is steadily averaging 21bs. fat daily, so that at the end of her testing period, eight days hence, she should come very close to the lOOOlbs. mark. Last March, Lady Superior contracted a severe chill over her kidneys, and lay for thirty-six hours at death's door. She missed four complete milkings and regained her strength slowly. Competent experts estimate that but for this unfortunate incident Lady Superior would have beaten even that wonderful record of 101 Olbs. fat achieved by Pretty’s Flirt. Lady Superior is no pampered cow. She is milked only twice daily, and may be seen at - any time giaz.ing with Mr. Hale’s herd of milkers nearly a mile from the milking shed. The walk to ami fro winds over steep and slippery country, but the champion foots it with the rest, and never lags behind. When seen yesterday Superior was gamely struggling through a sea of mad where the recent heavy rains had turned a clay track into a treacherous quagmire. The achievements of other Holly Oak Jerseys under test have been put up under similar conditions, and purchasers from the Holly Oak stud may rest assured that each animal is endowed with a wonderful constitution, and that heavy producers hare not been attained at the sacrifice of length, depth and constitution. There are two factors, the isignifieanee of which bea'r an important part in the attitude of a possible buyer at a sale of pedigree Jerseys. These .are the experience of the breeder, and the results gained through that experience. Mr. Hale commenced breeding over sixteen years ago. and made such rapid progress that to-day his name is known far and wide as the breeder of two Empire .•hampions and three New Zealand champions. His results cannot be disputed. Thirteen Holly Oak-bred females now average 702.31b5. fat. and 31 Holly Oak-bred females returned th.* remarkable average of 6151b5. fat. Tn addition; at least three of the females Mr. Hale has sold to clients have made the outstanding productions of 10101 b?., 7801bs, and 7471b5. of butter-fat. The renowned Pretty’s Flirt. Empire champion for Jerseys milked three times a day. was bred by Mr. Hale and milked by him as a two-year-old. Last week this wonderful producer realised the record price of 800 guineas, surely a convincing argument of the methods of breeding at Holly Oak Jersey stud. At his last annual sale, Mr. Hale disposed of 48 head, realising the handsome total of £62BX This year there are 41 beautiful Jerseys, possessing splendidly defined dairy characteristics and conforming as near as possible to the modern ideal of what a Jersey cow should be. The heifers, for the most part, are in calf to the junior sire so favourably commented upon by visitors to Holly Oak last year, and whose maternal sister. Miss Ivy, qualified for a C.O.M. with a production of 727.621b5. fat. Lady Ivy. his dam. is now on test, and should a similar or better record. As her period nears completion it seems that she may prove to be the best C.O.M. daughter of the famous K.C.B. bull (imp.). His sire. Majestic Swan, is bv Golden Swan (imp.), from Majesty’s Eileen, a cow of groat type and winner of many championships, including reserve champion for New Zealand. She made a C.O.M. record of 600 lbs. fat during the show circuit. Commencing with the great Exile of Oaklands as herd sire. Mr. Hale later secured his famous Soumise Tom, son of Soumise Majesty, an imported son of the great Jersey Island sire Oxford Majesty. The sire at the head of his herd to-day is Grannie’s Knight, of which it has been said “Hp cannot leave a bad son or daughter.’’ A new junior herd sire has now made his appearance at Holly (tak. Hawkesbury Golden Peer was horn on August 31. 1921, and was bred by Mr. Charles Goulter, who also bred Soumise Tom. Hawkesbury Golden Peer is also of Soumise blood, claiming parentage of Soumise Jack (imp.), from Haxricesbury Peeress, the best producing daughter of Grannie’s Knight. Mr. Hale fg a great admirer of Sou*

mise blood, and in order to secure variation in breeding recently purchased three Soumise cows of his own breeding from Mr. Knuckey. These females, Lucy's Bell. Lucky’s Find and Dark ip’s Love, will enable liim to carry on the strain. and provide the choicest material for future stock. The annual sale of Holly Oak Jerseys will be held on the farm on Tuesday, Juno 3, the auctioneers being Messrs. Wright. Stephenson and Co.. Ltd., in conjunction with Newton King. Ltd. The sale starts at twelve noon in the commodious sale pavilion, specially erected near the homestead by Mr. Hale.