THE JERSEY ASSET.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 April 1931, Page 11

THE JERSEY ASSET.

(To the Editor.)

Sir, —In a recent issue of the News a very vigorous supporter of the “lowtesting,” or white breeds, of cattle, as they now call their breed, referred to the criminal silence (?) of the Jersey breeders. Well, it can now be confidently asserted that they have spoken at last, or, shall I say, nodded, with a very loud voice, indeed. It is said money talks, and to give the lie direct to all past argument advanced by the lowtesting or white breeds advocates the recent Jersey sales in the Waikato and Taranaki have put up an irrefutable case against them.. When one reads that dairyfarmers from all over New Zealand, keen businessmen with their cash to put on the counter, so to speak, will sit and bid 525, 420, 350, 200, 175 and 168 guineas for Jersey cows it is a striking testimony to the fact that the columns with which these gentlemen have flooded the Press of the Dominion have no foundation, and have not the slightest influence on the practical dairyfarmer in New Zealand. It can justly be claimed that during the greatest slump in the history of this country were it not for the wonderful Jersey cow we should be still less fortunately situated than we are; in fact, I have no hesitation in stating that properly organised dairy farming with Jersey cows would fully clothe and house every unemployed man, woman and child in New Zealand.

As before stated, the low-testing, or white breed, writers referred to t u e criminal scheme of the Jersey breeders. I say it is as nothing .to the criminal folly

of allowing the paid secretary and one or two other exponents of the lew-test-ing breeds to constantly assail the greatest gilt-edge asset the country possesses at the present difficult time. I have just had the pleasiire of spending a few days with three of New Zealand’s foremost grassland farmers, men. who are obtaining from 250 to 2651 b. butterfat per acre average with Jersey cows, arid they are not at their limit yet. There is not another - breed of cattle in the world te give such results, and I venture to suggest that even at Is. per.lb. for butterfat farming can be made to pay handsomely. No, the Australian has been very effective in smashing his securities; surely we have learned a lesson and will act accordingly.—l am, etc., V w. J. FREETH. Ngahiwi, Pukearuhe.