COLOUR FADDISM.

Waipa Post, Volume II, Issue 84, 9 February 1912, Page 4

COLOUR FADDISM.

AS APPLIED TO JERSEYS. A Canadian writer, dealing with the matter of colour faddism as regards purebred Jersey stock, says: — “ It is true that among many of the uneducated farmers, Jerseys of broken colour are looked down upon, and I have heard some of them claim that such could not be registered; nothing could be farther from the truth, and yet it is such ignorance that does much to retard true dairy progress. “The American Jersey Cattle Club, although it asks for the colour of all registered animals, makes absolutely no distinction in regard to it. . . . “ i\nyOne who is familiar with the history of the Jerseys must

know that the ‘ spotted Jerseys ’ are holding their own, whether it be at the tests, the show ring, or the public auction. “ Several of the Jerseys that made such fine records in the dairy test at the St. Louis World’s Fair in 1904 were broken coloured. Jersey. Belle of Scituate, among the first Jerseys imported to America about fifty years ago. a very fine individual, and one who made an excellent record for that date, was very broken coloured, nearly half white. Then, later, Golden Fern’s Lad, considered by many as the greatest Jersey bull that ever lived, was broken coloured —a white switch and four white feet. Sultan of Oaklands, a very prepotent bull, was very broken in colour, as were many of his get; his daughters are excellent cows, and sell at a high figure whenever offered: his son, Beauvior’s King, also broken coloured, has been a great prize winner at the western fairs the past three years. Sultana’s Golden Jolly, the Grand Champian Jersey bull at this year’s National Dairy Show, is broken coloured, yet his breeder, and owners say he is the handsomest bull they ever owned. Gamboge’s Knight, who is broken coloured, sold at auction for over £I3OO, and seven of his daughters all broken coloured, brought £350 each.

“Such illustrations might be multiplied without number, but these are sufficient to show that the breeder who is after true merit and individual excellency pays no attention to the markings of a Jersey. And I wish that we could drive out of the minds of all dairymfen the idea that colour has any particular bearing on production. When we can get the colour faddism driven out of the minds.of all breeders, I think it will be a great step in true dairy progress.”