Friesian Cattle Judges in Conference

Chronicle (Levin), 10 June 1949, Page 3

Friesian Cattle Judges in Conference

A warning that breeders were cle-' luding themselyes" into over-rating the capacities of Snow bulls for reproducing progeny of equal merit was given to Friesian eattle judges at theif annual conference in Palmerston North yesterday by Mr. A. W. Montgomerie, of ■ Auckland. Intensive American research had revealed that there was no relationship between a type of bull and the production' of- its daughters, he said. Sooner or later the time would come ■when the case for greater use of grade bulls was brought forward, Mr. Montgomerie stated. . He . proposed that branches of the New Zealand Friesian Breeders' Assoeiation be requested fpr their views 'on the subject of sire "and progeny relationship. If the results of research had been so conclusive they reflected p'oorly on the- standard of New Zealand judging, said Mr. R. H. Dickie (Mataura). The president (Mr. C. W. llumm, Hawera) pointed out that such differences in relationship applied princi-

pally to bulls without reputable backgrounds, and whose prize-winning attributes were "flukes. " The proposal was carried h*After some discussioh it was decided, on the motion of Mr. Montgomerie, that no .reeommendation be made to judges coneerning clipping, which should be left to the diseretion ■ of judges. In an endeavour to clarify the system of debarring animals with stray markings not true to breed, the conference decided to seek rulings from kindred overseas associations on the question. • •