NEW ZEALAND JERSEY CATTLE BREEDERS' ASSOCIATION.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXX, Issue 57, 12 June 1916, Page 7

NEW ZEALAND JERSEY CATTLE BREEDERS' ASSOCIATION.

The annual report,, which will be submitted to the- annual meeting on 13th July, i-eads' as-- follows: Your Council ltave pleasure in submitting their annual, report and bal-ance-sheet for the year ended April ,30th, 1916. In doing so they are glad to be aV.e to show'a record of steady progress, and Xiie 'coilt'inucd advancement of the Jersey ■breed in the favor of the dairy-farmers!" of the Dominion, even though there is room for increased activity; ; . ..'

Membership.—During the year, thirty-nine new members were elected, and names were.; removed from the Register on. account of the resignations or deaths-.-of the members, thus leaving a: total membership o!

330, ■'.. . - Finance—The- net profits for the year amounted to £97 12s 2d. Semi-official ■/L , the past twelve moiiths'97 ; |cpws have been awarded certH!cfttt;s : the New Zealand Department of Agriculture as the result of th#t semiofficial test conducted by that Department. The average production of cows was as follows: 31-1 days in milk, butter-fat; . '^' 354, 7GK(>,!7, 8459.11, ■!!, 484.84; '. 97 J»^'sj.|<average), 345, 7518.75, 421.35. . ' ft '?/.v" .

These average's.wHl.bo found to compare very favorably with the records of Jerseys made in other countries, where a'point of high development, lias been reached, and it may therefore be reasonably assumed that the climate and -general environment of the Dominion is eminently suitable for the most highly productive typo of Jersey. The results that have here been made known, show the value of the Departmental tests, as a demonstration r,i what the breed is capable of. and in order to induce members to place their cows under the test, your Council have decided to pay to members en taring their cattle, the sum of £1 Is for eaeli cow so entered which has produced lOOlbs. or" ..more of butter-fat above her standard, and to which the Department, of Ag&ujlture has awarded a certificate Of Record. This payment will be midlife respect of cows finishing their recprdV on, or subsecordial thanks for\fcife interest and assistance of the Departmental Staff. Show Competitions. Substantial cash prizes were donated by the Association to eight different A. and P. Associations with 'the object of inducing owners to bring forward for exhibition the best of theTr tested cows, but, the result was not wholly satisfaedry'. The number of exhibitors in the majority of instances was only equal to the minimum requirements of your Council, viz., six entries from at least three exhibitors. It is hoped that in the future greater interest will he shown by breeders and owners. Herd Book.—Volume 13 of the Herd Book, which is in the press, will eontain the pedigrees of 854 heifers and 639 bulls, thus bringing the total number of registered cattle up to 4,024 and 5,364 respectively. In addition, the particulars of the milk and but-ter-fat have been uWuW certificates by the, Department P|pl^j» re ' du T g the ooar di the Her<|iPS&>ogcther with lmlf-tone plates oTthe cows which won gold medals. The whole: of the records made to date in the Semiofficial tests will also be published in pamphlet form and distributed throughout the Dominion. It is considered that these records will in this way, be found of great use as advertising the milk and butter-fat producing powers of the .Jersey.

Transfers.— During the year transfers have been recorded for 508 cows and heifers, nnd 549 bulls. The increased figures relating to bulls, again bears testimony to the fact that a greater number of dairy farmers are annuallv recognising the value of the Jersey bull as a sire of dairy cattle. Herd Inspection.—Your Council set up a committee to enquire into the matter of herd inspection, but it was found that owing to the many difficulties to be overcome, no workable scheme could at present be formulated. .. . .

Scale of Points.—A scale of points 'which will be found useful in the selection of Jersey cattle was compiled I by your Council during the year, and it lias been printed and distributed 'amongst breeders and others interested. State Farm Stock.—A deputation from your Council, introduced by Sir Walter Buchanan, waited upon the Minister for Agriculture, the Hon. W. I). S. Macdonald, in connection ! with the lass of Jersey cattle, owned. i bred and disposed of by the N.Z. Department of Agriculture. The Minis- ' ter gave the deputation a very patient hearing and assured them lie would personally investigate the matter, and ii : be found that the cattle were as represented to be, he would endeavour to have a change made that would be satisfactory to the Associa-

.ion. but ■■wing to the very strenuous times through which we were passing, he would make no definite promise as to the action to be taken. Your Association is indebted to Sir Walter Buchanan, for the great interest he evinced in the matter, and for his courtesy and kindness in making all the necessary arrangements for the interview with the -Minister.

' hi conclusion.—Your Council wishes to earnestly urge upon members the desirability of closer co-operation and still keener enthusiasm in the interests of the Association and the advancement of the Jersey breed of cattle. There is room for still further additions to our membership roll, and for the common well-being, members are invited to lose no opportunity of representing the benefits of membership to Jersey-men still'outside the Association, or of bearing testimony to the superior claims of the Jersey upon the dairymen of the Dominion. If they will do that, the Council looks forward to still more prosperous times than those through which we have already passed. CYRIL G. C. DEUMER, President.