A MYSTERY CALF

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 70, 15 December 1937, Page 13

A MYSTERY CALF

Champion oi Two Breeds WHAT THE JUDGES THOUGHT Can a grade calf be both a champion Jersey and a champion Friesian at different shows ? This point cropped up in the Stratford district. The calf, raised 'by a Stratford district school pupil in the school calfrearing coxnpetitions, is> from a Jersey cow and sired by a Friesian bull. When it was a few days old it had the colourings of a Jersey, but as it grew the white markings and big bones of jts Friesian parentage became pronounced. It was entered in the school. classes at the Hawera Sliow. The judge decided that it was definitely a Friesian, and placed it amongst _ the heavy breeds, eventually awarding it the championship. Then tlie Stratford Show followed and the calf was enteredi again. This time the judge decided "definitely a Jersey" and put it in the light breeds section. He was consistent, liowever, j.n agreefng with the Hawera judge as to the quality of the animal and he declared it the champion grade Jersey. The owner was quite proud of creating what must be the unique record of winning championships in two entirely different breeds with the same animal5 but lie was als0 worried. In what class was lie to enter the calf in the school judging. He need not have worried because the third judge was definite that the calf was a Friesian, and awarded it the prize in that class — very satisfying to the owner but also very bewildering. There is still another interesting twist to the story. The judges at the Stratford and Hawera Shows who classed the animal in different breed classes were brothers.