FRIESIAN CATTLE.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19155, 11 November 1927, Page 11

FRIESIAN CATTLE.

GENERAL MEETING OF BREEDERS. TESTING AND ADVERTISING. A general meeting of members of the New Zealand Friesian Association was held on the Show Grounds yesterday afternoon, Mr H. J. Ma'rchant presiding over an attendance of between twenty and thirty. On the chairman's motion, members standing, the Association's regret at the deaths of Messrs Newton King. New Plymouth, and Griffiths Jones, Lowgartli, Taranaki, was recorded.

Herd-Testing. Mr C. M. Hume.-of the New Zealand Co-operative Herd-testing Association, Hamilton, addressed the meeting on the necessity for and value of herd-testing, and emphasised the importance of using pedigree bulls. Testing, he said, was about the only check that the breeder had upon the methods adopted in breeding. Mr W. M. Singleton, Director of the Dairy Division, briefly outlined the history of the herd-testing movement, which started in 1909-10. This led, in 1912, to the establishment of the Certificate, of Record! testing. Referring to the establishment, this season, of official herd-testing, Mr Singleton said any breeder who had cattle under semi-official test could have any or all of the rest of his pedigree cattle put under official herd test at a cost of os per cow for the season. The official herd-testing had started with about 100 breeders, representing all breeds, and with 1100 cows being tested. He believed! that this system would develop considerably.

Other Subjects. It was agreed, on the motion of Mr A. C. Tousdale, seconded by Mr J. McAnulty: "That it be a recommendation to the Council that the judging in the provincial group should be taken after the judging of the main classes."

Mr J. I. Ros'ds spoke of the necessity for an extensive advertising campaign, and on his motion it was resolved to recommend the Council to spend at least £BOO during the coming twelve months on advertising the breed.

Meeting of Council. A meeting of the Council of the New Zealand Friesian Association was held yesterday. It was resolved to conduct an extensive advertising campaign in the farming journals and leading dailies of the Dominion.

On the motion of Mr Jas. Hart it was resolved to send a letter to the Canterbury A. and P. Association congratulating it upon the improvement made in the cattle pavilion.

Conference of Judges. On the Show Grounds yesterday the fourth conference of official judges of Friesians was held. Mr H. J. Marchant, president of the New Zealand Friesian Society, presided, and there were " present: Messrs T. R. Eades (Edendale South), E. C. Banks (Matamata), H. R. Alnutt (Morven), E. M. North (Omimi, Otago), W. Robertson (Middlemarch), R. K. Macdonald (Edendale South), Jas. Hart (Tatuanui), F. Crump (Springston), L. H. Leslie (Bennetts), G. Hassall (Clarkville), G. Loffhagen (Springbank), J. McAnulty (Winchmore), W. Brash (Waikiwi, Invercargill), and J. P. Kalaugher, secretary (Auckland!).

Dehorning Approved. Eegarding dehorning, opinion was generally in favour and judges had been instructed not to penalise any dehorned animal in the judging ring. With two dissentients, it was agreed: "That the .resolution of twelve months ago be adhered to, and that a recommendation be made.to the Department of Agriculture, that it is desirable to have legislation introduced and put into force .making dehorning compulsory."

True Type. A lengthy discussion ensued regarding the true type animal, and it was agreed to recommend all Friesian judges to keep as closely as possible to the true tvpe cow and bull as exhibited at the Show.

Judges for Leading Shows. The question of one judge or three judges for leading shows was discussed, nnd on the motion of Mr Banks it was decided to recommend the Council of the New Zealand Friesian Association that for the next Royal Show two judges and a referee should be appointed for the Friesian-classes.

The meeting was in favour .of judges explaining their awards, and it was decided to bring the matter up again at the next meeting of official judges.

Assistant or Jiinior Judges. It was resolved, after the matter bad been discussed, to write to all branches and ask them to endeavour to appoint assistant, or junior judges at all local shows, with a view of training young judges. Skill In Exhibiting. Arising out of a discussion on the subject the secretary said Mr H. R. Grene, of Kairangi, Palmerston North, had in preparation a pamphlet on the subject of the best method of exhibiting. When it was completed, it would be submitted to the Council. Judging Pairs. Reference was made to the confusion caused by the wording in schedules referring to pairs of animals, the difficulty being as to whether it was-intended to mean, "The mosfevenly matched," or "the best pair of individuals." It jwas_ decided that the wording should be the best two heifers, and so on. Group Judging. It was resolved to communicate with the A. and P. Associations and ask that the judging of groups should be done first.