THE JERSEY BREED

Waipa Post, Volume XXIV, Issue 1689, 21 November 1925, Page 3

THE JERSEY BREED

GREAT PROGRESS IN NETV ZEALAND.

"The rather low average production per cow in New Zealand gives one ample food for thought, and doubtless supplies the answer to the question, 'Why do some dairy farmers never succeed?' " says the New Zealand Jersey iCattle Breeders' Association in a booklet just issued -by the Association. "It is almost unbelieva'ble, but unfortunately it is correct, that there are large numbers of cows being milked in this Dominion which not only show no 'profit for their owners, hut are retained on the farm at a considerable loss. This deplorable state in dairying affairs nowadays is the outcome of nothing so much as a lack of knowledge of the results obtained by dairy farmers who test and cull their herds. Under the supervision of the Dairy Division, New Zealand Department of Agriculture, semi-official testing has been carried on for 12 years. During the period a total of 3065 Certificates of Record have been gained hy Jersey cows, this number, representing about 65 per cent, of the whole of the certificates issued by the department; so that the remaining 35 per cent. is. split up amongst the other dairy breeds. "These figures provide further proof of the popularity of the Jersey breed, a position she has gained entirely on her merits, the average test for the 3065 cows being 5.54 with an average record of 437.51 b. fat.

''Let us draw your attention to one other instance which is further evidence of how much the merits of the Jersey breed is recognised and appreciated. Search the advertising columns in the leading newspapers for notices of sales of dairy stock, and note how strongly the advertiser stresses the point that the cows are Jersey or Jersey cross, in calf to a Jersey bull. Why do they place so much stress on the word Jersey? Because 'Jersey' means quality, butterfat, and production at the lowest possible cost, and that mean s 'better prices." "The outstanding characteristics of the breed are the same to-day as they were 200 years or more ago, namely.

the great prepotency to transmit their type, and great producing qualities inherent in the 'breed, to a marked degree, as s-hown hy their performances when placed under test and given proper treatment."