JERSEY BREEDERS

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 440, 22 May 1937, Page 4

JERSEY BREEDERS

N.Z. ASSOCIATION Thirty-Fifth Annual Meeting Delegates representing Jersey cattle clubs throughout the Dominion were present at the thirty-fifth annual meeting of the New Zealand Jersey Cattle Breeders Association at Stratford to-day. The president, Mr G. H. Bell (Oakura), occupied the chair. Mr C. Clemow, president of the Stratford Club, thanked the New Zealand. Jersey Council for allotting the meeting to Stratford, and extended a hearty welcome to delegates. He announced that a social function would be held in the Town Hall tonight, and that to-morrow delegates would be given an opportunity of visiting herds in the province and seeing the countryside. The annual report stated that a complete revision of the membership list had been made and that the total now stood at 1810. Registrations of stock numbered 16,154(5560 males and 9594 females). The number of transfers during the year was 4885 bulls, an increase of 326, and 4320 females, an increase of 790. This was the largest number of transfers for females.' since 1930. C.O.R. Yearly Test. First class certificates of record f were awarded to 418 cows, in comparison with 381 for 1935, bringing the total number of certificated cows up to 8192, with an average production of 465.301 b. of butterfat. More satisfactory than the numerical increase, is the fact that the average production of butter-fat showed an ’ advance of 2.141 b. per cow over the i whole of the first class certificates • awarded since the inception of C.O.R. | testing, indicating that the tendency j is continually towards improvement. For the 481 certificates awarded to Jerseys during the year ended De- , cember 31, 1936, the average was , 505.131 b. butterfat. ; As in the past, the association, with a view of further encouraging C.O.R. testing, con'inued itq policv 1 of granting substantial subsidies, and this year, the amount of £1430 10s was earned by 406 cows owned by 173 members. The further amount of i £693 was also paid to the Dairy < Division for the first cow entered for test by 220 members, making altogether a total of £23 23 10s disbursed in this department. ! For producing at least 7501b5. butterfat, special gold medals were awarded this year to 13 cows, and congratulations for the very crediti able performances recorded are ox- , tended to their owners. We wish also jto congratulate the owners op the ! coWs gaining gold, silver and bronze , medals in each of the five C.O.R. i classes. j Only 39 first class certificates were awarded to Jerseys under the 305 days’ test, as compared with 94 for the corresponding period during the ■ preceding year. The average produc- . tion was 450.891 b. butterfat, which represents an increase of no less than . 29.481 b. butterfat over the 1935 average. This excellent performance is ■ also greatly enhanced when we take ; into consideration the fact that of • the 39 cows gaining certificates 18 were junior two-year-olds. Congratulations were extended to Mr D. Yandle on the performance of his cow Punga Nui Joyce, which by ’ producing 590.911 b. of fat, succeeded • in gaining the leadership in the junior I two-year-old class. Classification Of Type. | “That the value of classification is j being realised more fully by mem- ■ bers is shown by the fact that record i entries, both in the number of herds and animals submitted for examination were received this year,” continues the report. “Since the' introduction of the classification programme eight years ago, a total of 5863 cows have been classified for type. One of the most interesting features of this work is that it shows a definite correlation between productive ability and conformation or type. It must be clearly understood, however, that it was never intended that classification should in any way displace testing for production. Combined with testing, classification gives to the constructive breeder the really essential information he requires concerning his herd to enable him to ultimately achieve a greater measure of success, and in this way the scheme will not only fulfil its functions in raising the I standard of our Jersey cattle, which |is the association’s chief objective. | but will be of material assistance to ' breeders. From a modest beginning, classification each year has shown a steady increase in the number of animals classified for tvpe, and it is certain that this w T ork will play a very | important part in the improvement | of the Jersey in this country during ■ future years. This year 119 herds were visited by I the examiners, and of the cows subI mitted 952 gained awards, the foliow- ! ing being the various qualifications: V.H.C., 65; H.C., 590; 297. Mr Bell, expressed pleasure at the excellent attendance, and trusted that

the visitors would enjoy their stay in S' Taiford. Supplementing the annual report, Mr Bell said a fairly good season had been experienced by dairymen, and he was confident that the Jersey breed would maintain its place in the industry. He was satisfied that the guaranteed price had been a good one, but with rising cos's it was felt that probably an increased price should be given for the season. It had been said that the Jersey cow w?s not suitable for cheese production, but that had again been disproved by the success ot Mr Anderson in the cheese competition at the Hawera A. and P. Show. There was room for all breeds in the industry, and | healthy competition would have a I good effect. To breed for type and j production it was necessary to test | and pay greater attention to selective * regis'ration. In the past, various regi istration schemes had been put forward. but none of them had seemed practicable. He complimented all < members who came forward for the i final of the Jersey Oaks at Palmerston North, and congratulated Messrs ! Lepper and Lancaster on their suci cess. He thanked clubs for their work ’in the advancement ot the breed. ; Since 1926 the council had assisted I breeders to the extent of £25,660, and generally it had been most liberal in meeting the various requests. Before concluding, Mr Bell referred to the splendid work of the office staff and complimented the secretary, Mr G. H. Dawick. It gave hipi much pleasure to move the adoption of the annual report.

The balance-sheet was one that all could feel proud of, said Mr E. Griffiths (New Plymouth). A pleasing feature was the collection of £555 for previous years subscriptions. The average quality of the Jerseys each year was showing the same improvement as the production, and it was necessary to keep on importing the best ot the Jersey blood. The Association .continued Mr Griffiths. was fortunate in having as its president a man possessed of executive ability and who was keenly interested in the breed. The president announced that Messrs Fleming (South Island repre-(Manawatu-West Coast) had been sentative) and C. G. C. Dermer elected to fill two vacancies on the council. On the motion of Mr Bell 'the rules were amended to provide that; “The Atsocilation may, at any annual meeting, upon the recommendation of the Council, elect as honorary life members any member or members of the Associa’ion who have substantially advanced the interests and objects of the Association. Such honorary life member than be eligible to hold any office.”