JERSEY BREEDERS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXX, Issue 5409, 10 April 1929, Page 1

JERSEY BREEDERS.

THE THAMES VALLEY CLUB. Leaving the usual starting point, the Paeroa Post Office, members of the Thames Valley Jersey Breeders’ Club travelled down the fertile Thames Valley to the “Orange Dale” homestead of Messrs W. J. Hall and Son at Matatoki. Met on arrival by the host and hostess, a pleasant halfhour was spent in Mr Hall’s study inspecting one of the finest collections of cups and trophies accumulated by any breeder in the Dominion. After a most excellent luncheon Mr G. Buchanan, on behalf of the party, expressed the thanks of the club members.

Starting on the Jerseys after lunch, the well-known showing champion, Rower’s Beautiful Prince, was the first inspected. This importation of Mr Hall’s is an outstanding specimen of the breed, and has been a veritable goldmine to him. Running in the same paddock was an imported heifer by Jersey Volunteer with some of the renowned Observer blood in her lines as well.

Crossing over to another paddock, the club members inspected Mr Hall’s nucleus of a Southdown stud, some ewes being of the very best blood procurable in the South Island-

Getting back to the Jerseys, Mr Hall had four exceptionally nice rising two-year-old heifers which he desired to give the club members a chance of trying their hands at judging. The four included a heifer Mr Hall purchased from the Cooper con? signinent as a calf, and two others which had won prizes all over the province as yearlings. Individual members had different fancies, but the American-bred Sultana Fontaine showed the outstanding constitution.

Going over to the test team, the party viewed some well-known champions—O.D. Alice, of Royal Show fame; O.D. Queenie, by Rower — Briar Chase; O.D. Madeline, by Draconis—Olga Butterman Chase■; Guaver, by Draconis —Genoa Chase ; O.D. Mary, by Rower—Waipiko Mary; and Wireless, by Rower from a King Pin heifer. The test team were an object lesson to the older breeders present, as well as to the younger members, a feature noted being that Mr Hall’s show winners are also his best producers. Xenias Ruby, an Island-bred Cow past her prime for milking, but still valuable as a breeder, was next inspected, and alongside her was a Beauty’s Master heifer, bred by Mr A. Hazelton, of Waihou. Two two-year-old heifers by Rower, one cot of O.D. Olga and the other cut of Anzealia, were commented on favourably.

A wonderful old cow in Lady OJga was the next to come under notice She is a type rarely met with ; a big bodied silver fawn cow, and quite a different type to the Rower family. Another great old dairy type was O.D. Concord.

Every animal in the herd was inspected, the progeny of the different sires being easily picked. The Rower’s Beautiful Prince stock were quite distinct from the Draconis or Blondin cattle, illustrating the importance of using a prepotent bull that is able to transmit his qualities to his offspring. The young bulls and heifer calves also came under review, but were too numerous to enumerate. One youngster, Browning Brazar, of imported blood, having combinations of Premier Observer and The Cid in his pedigree, elicited special praise,’ and the grown bull Enterprise, a son of Rower from O.D. Violet, looked like being a worthy follower in his sire’s footsteps.

The day spent amidst the pleasant suroundings at Orange Dale was most enjoyable, and one of the most entertaining outings the club has had since its inception.

The next run is to Mr E. Hoffman’s on the 24th inst.