HOME OF JERSEYS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 20127, 21 April 1928, Page 22 (Supplement)

HOME OF JERSEYS

AN ANNUAL REVIEW ACTIVITIES OF THE ISLAND A review of the conditions on the Island of Jersey for the year 1927, particularly relating to Jersey cattle, by “Islander” published in' the JerseyBulletin says:— The Jersey breed,' activities on the Island may be divided into four sections: .Shows, export trade, herdbook work and milk records. Little may be said about the shows (full reports having already been published). The fait shows are a new feature and their trying out this year has been successful enough to warrant the fixing up of dates for 1928. Entries at all shows have been large and competition just as large as ever. .Snow’s Pansy 3rd made a niche tor herself in the Jersey temple of fame by winning champiwnJlip over the Island at both the R.J.A.S. spring and summer shows, a feat only achieved, so it is said, by Sweet Morocco 25 years ago. The Peer Cup for got of sire went, out of eleven teams, to Volunteer oi‘ : Oaklands, with a line group of 5 daugh- i tors. This was, of course, at the spring I show. At the summer show Volunteer! won the Spann Cup (in the first competition for it) with just as good a lot. Now ho is in Canada, but he has left\ his mark behind. This remark brings us automatically to the export trade. In so far as the North American continent is concerned, business has been brisk, about 500 head having been sent over in the 12 months ended October 31. Transportation goes on in the same way as usual, via Plymouth {Sound, an inconvenient way but the only one, and breeders are. thankful that it exists. South Africa took 40 head during the summer, besides some from England. More stable con ditions in the latter country would mean further purchases and the breed would make great strides down there. The Australasian market, too, is dependent on there being no foot and mouth disease in England. There have been occasions during the year when long periods have raised hopes of early shipment, but a fresh outbreak brought ! the embargo down again. A further and widespread series of outbreaks is now announced from the mainland, and scientists and investigators alike seem as far as ever from conquering or isolating the malady. It is understood' that quarantine stations are to be established at London and other parts where cattle coming from “clean” districts might be isolated before shipment. This, if correct, would open the door a litttlc to let the Jersey cow go out to those places where she is so keenly awaited. Two Jersey heifers have also been sent to Greece, a country which will now have to figure with Burma, Japan. Cuba and China, on the far filing map of Jersey dom. From the annual report of the Jersey Hord Book Commit lee lately published interesting figures can be gathered. For instance, just over 25U0 heifer calves were registeied during the year ended October 31, the thin! highest figure for 14 years, and 1281 heifers' have been qualified (i.e. inspected after first calving and allotted a number), again the third highest nut iber in the same period. Bulls, both under registrations ami qualifications,! show diminishing figures. Nowadays a bull must be of considerable promise to be worth registering, and if he is alive 12 months later, when qualifica tion should take place, ho must really have something in him. Only 8 animals wore entered as foundation stock, compared with 23 in 1923, and 130 in I!'! '.. It certainly appears that breeders do not neglect herd book formalities nt these times, for neglected registrations and general indifference were the con ' factors to many foundation stock qualifications up to 15 years ago.