THE JERSEY COW

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 30, 30 October 1917, Page 8

THE JERSEY COW

•• -a* - -• vV •- • • —■ " .• ' '" ''-PERFECTIONS AND - IMPEKFEC- ' a TIONS. 1 " - ilxFroratOiif"' Et ■ ■ Stratford, October 29. .. ,5t 'the Stratford branch of the New -Zealand Jersey Breeders' Association on - Saturday an. interesting address on the ■ •Jersey cow was given by Mr.'E. Griffiths, the Jersey- breeder. • In. the course of" his remarks ho, said it could ■ ■ be safely, conceded that such a beast_ as - 'the "perfect Jersey" cow did not exist, ■ and never - had existed. The best cows were possibly tho" ideal'ot perfection in ■ many points,' but tliey all had their ■ Blight imperfections. Though the per- ■••'■ :fect Jersey Had not yet been attained, the leading Jersey breeders and judges had found by experience that animals bearing' certain characteristics and development were the most consistent m ■ the matter of continuous heavy 'production of rich milk; and'by breeding only • from this type a cow had been received which has the desirable, characteristics so securely established in her blood that her descendants through successive gen- - eratioiis will'. in the majority of cases be : : of like beauty of form and dairy capacity. The perfection o£ form or type J was becoming more nearly approached! each year, particularly in the Island of - ■ Jorsev, and we might soon see the majorily of our Jerseys with udders that ap•V proach perfection in every particular. ■ ' There' were, unfortunately, too many - farmers who ignored the value of and need-.for an established type—their solo ideal being "production," the matters of ""•■reproduction being overlooked. A cow l ~.musfc not be valued only for the amount "" of butter-fat she produces, but also for - her, ability to breed heavy-producing .*■ daughters of good constitution, ■ with shapely udders, carrying fair-sized teats. -■ The breeder, to be successful,. must steer ■■•.-clear of animals with "undoubted faults, •• and endeavour to correct tho minor ones by. mating with animals which are strong in tha points which need correction.. Attractiveness of appearance should not ba lost sight of for the handsome cow, other things being equal, • would command the highest price when ~ placed in the sale-ring. In- conclusion, -Mr. Griffiths stressed the 'important ~ point that typo and production should -•go together.