MERITS OF JERSEYS

Taranaki Daily News, 26 March 1932, Page 6

MERITS OF JERSEYS

INTEREST BY BREEDERS.

JERSEY CLUB FIELD DAY.

The annual field day of the Stratford Jersey Cattle Club was held on Wednesday ait the farm of Mr. b. Gadsby, Opunake Road, Stratford, and though frequent showers and a etrong wind° made conditions unpleasant at times' the large crowd of people, including a contingent from the Stratford Technical High School, had much to recompense them for the shortcomings of the weather. It'was a most successful day and the close attention which those present accorded the various activities of the day demonstrated the value they place on such opportunities. Keen interest was aroused by the cow-judging competition and very few people could be seen who were not busy with pencil and judging card while the competition was in progress. In the absence of the Mayor, Mr. P. Thomson, the deputy-Mayor, Mr. N. B. Fletcher, welcomed the visitors, especially those from a distance, and referred with satisfaction to the interest evinced in the demonstration by the farming community. Stratford, he said, had a more severe climate than either North or South Taranaki and it was certain that stock which thrived well in Central Taranaki could be depended upon to give a good account of itself wherever it went. rr t The president of the club, Mr. H. J. Kaye, introduced Mr. H/ C. Sampson,. Hillsborough, and asked him to give a demonstration and address on a Jersey cow selected for the purpose. Mr Sampson dealt comprehensively with his subject and explained the points for which a breeder or buyer should look in a Jersey, and drew attention to those characteristics that slrnuld be avoided. Towards the end of his speech, Mr. Sampson stated that in New Zealand too many bulls were kept from cows that were not firstclass, and had the breed not been the finest dairy stock in the world much more harm would have arisen from the practice. A noted Canadian breeder had told him that in Canada the successful breeders were those who took their sires from a line of seven generations of sound female ancestry. It did not always follow, Mr. Sampson said, that good stock would be produced by a prize-winning bull. Breeders should take particular care in selecting their bulls and should refrain from passing on to others bulls that were not true representatives of the breed. In New Zealand, he continued, not enough attention had been, paid to female ancestry. As time went on breeders would breed more of one type and there would be less failures and disappointments. Some people advocated in-breeding, but his. experience of that policy was that the disappointments far out-balanced the successes. Loss of constitution followed in-breed-ing, and stock with small pinched muzzles fit only to be knocked on the head would result. Even 'with line-breeding constitution would decline, and once that essential element had been lost the other attributes of the Jersey would be missed. Line-breeding as conducted on Jersey Island had undoubted advantages, but New Zealand was not yet far enough advanced to reap the same rewards. . ' Efforts to eliminate faults in the female lines should be made by matching such females with selected males particularly strong in the points in which the cows were deficient. A breeder had to experiment to find what families would breed together successfully.

To Mr. J. T. Belcher Mr. Sampson replied that little importance could be attached to the veins of the vessel. Some (good producers had veins of little prominence while some poor producers nad very pronounced veins. Tn the judging competitions the adults were required to place six cows and six heifers in order of merit, while the juniors were required to judge only the cows, so that their total points amounted to about half those of the adults. When all the cards had been collected Mr. Sampson placed the stock according to his opinion and places were awarded to 1 those whose decisions tallied with or approached nearest to the official placings. In the senior division the results were: H. J. Kaye (60 points) 1, Mrs. L. Miles (56) 2, G. Bell and C. Jackson (55) 3. Junior: Harold Austin (31) 1, Vernon Mander (30) 2, Doiiis Cook, Vera Stallard, Bruce Alan Kofoed and Walter Davison (28) 3. Before presenting the trophies Mr. Sampson congratulated the club on the way the function had been organised and conducted. Field days, he said, embraced much that was of great interest to farmers. Luncheon and afternoon tea provided by the club was served by Mrs. Gadsby and lady helpers, Mr. Kaye extended thanks to Messrs. Gadsby, Clemow Bros, and E. Kirkwood for placing stock at the disposal of the club, Mr. Gadsby for the use of his property and Mrs. Gadsby and those who assisted her with the refreshments.

ELTHAM TALKIES.

“MOTHER’S MILLIONS.”

Universal pictures certainly struck a new note in talkie production when they made “Mother’s Millions,” which will be shown to-night and Monday night. This laugh-provoking comedy - drama is as about an unusual a film as one could expect to see, but it is more than merely unusual; it is also entertaining in the highest degree, and it is no matter for wonder that the picture screened for nine successive weeks in Sydney, three weeks in Auckland and two in Christchurch. “Mother’s Millions” may bo classed as a comedy, but it is no ordinary comedy, and it contains a great deal more than mere laughter. There is drama and a little pathos, but this pathos and drama are as different from the usual brands put on the screen as the plot is different from the usual themes of most plays. There is delightful comedy. -