JERSEY CATTLE.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4545, 31 March 1923, Page 3

JERSEY CATTLE.

SOUTH AFRICAN MARKET. Jersey cattle are practically a new breed in South Africa, and there is a possibility of an export trade in this biped with that country developing. An initial shipment is just going fol-ward to Durban, and upon the success consignment future business will very largely depend. Should a considerable export trade be developed; this will have a very considerable effect on prices within the Dominion. To-day the Jersey breed practically ranks as the national dairy breed of the Dominion, and only the lack of an export trade has kept prices from soaring to very, hig-i levels. It is the wonderful butter-fat records being made here by Jerseys that has attracted attention in Souto Africa. There are now about twenty Jerseys in New Zealand which have produced 7001 b of butterfat in a year. Most of these were owned or bred in Taranaki.

The- champion cow of the Jersey breed is Sultan’s Daisy, owned by Messrs E. O’Sullivan and Sons, of. Taranaki. She produced 9681 b of but-ter-fat in her best year. Other noted producers are Mr H. B, Leppei -> (Taranaki) Elf’s Beauty, , 8001 b of butter-fat (second highest producing mature-cow) ; Mr A. J. Smiths (Taranaki) St. Lambert’s Belle, 7801 b of butter-fat (bred by Mr John Hale, and champion senior four-year-old of New Zealand) ; Mrs A. Banks and Sbns (Manawatu) Woodstock’s Fancy Free, 7701 b of butter-fat (champion junior four-year-old of New Zealand) ; Mis A. Banks and Son’s Woodstock’s Baby, 657.911 b of butter-fat (champion senior ; three-year-old of New Zealand) ;;Mr W. J. Chynoweth’s (Waikato) Zihokin, 6411 b of butter-fa-(champion junior three-year-old of New Zealand); Mr John Hale’s (Taranaki) Lady Superior, 6801 b of butterfat (champion senior two-year-old of New Zealand) ; Mr Jas. Nicholson's (Taranaki) Aster’s August Child--6891b of butter-fat (champion junior two-year-old of New Zealand). In addition. to the great Jerseys mentioned/ one Taranaki herd, that ci Mr John Hale, has produced five females'that have averaged 7301 b or butter-fat —a wonderfußacnievement. The one sire was responsible for four of these champions. This was the bull Soumise Tom, bred by Mr Charles Goulter, of Hawkesbury. It will thus be apparent that the constructive. breeding of Jerseys has reached a very high level in the Dominion.

One :‘of the females being exported with the shipment to South Africa is sired by a son of the champion Jersey cow. Sultan’s Daisy, referred to above, while the dam of the heifer, which is named Meadbwvale Fairy Gold, produced 5041 b of butter-fat as a three-year-old. This heifer is in calf to a grandson of Sultan’s Daisy. The second heifer, Meadowvale Songbird, is out of a tested dam also, the record being 5091 b of fat at two years of age. The latter heifer is a daughter of the champion butter-fat bull' of the Jersey breed, Sunflower’s Perceus. Meadowvale Songbird is in calf- to the son of Sultan’s Daisy in addition. The bull which completes the pioneer selection being forwarded to South Africa is also sired by a son of Sultan’s Daisy, while his dam is a full sister to Meadowvale Songbird, which is included in the selection. Three animals were drawn from the note>< Mnadowvale stud of Messrs E. O'Sullivan and < Sons, and from their breeding should do great credit' to the Dominion. The only drawback is that the journey, via Sydney, is a long and trying one. However, the constitution of the cattle is excellent, and they should be landed in the best of order, as elaborate preparations for the voyage have been made.