IMPROVING OUR HERDS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 85, 30 September 1911, Page 4

IMPROVING OUR HERDS

PEDIGREE CATTLE FROM JERSEY' ISLAXI). There was landed from the Ooriuiiii at New Plymouth 011 Friday the niost valuable consignment of Jersey ccittlo tluit has ever been landed in the J)o----mnuon. There were six animals in all, u\o bulls 3nid 0110 hoifer, all special! v kclectcd on the Island of Jersey and 'brought to New Zealand by the Waiweju some weeks ago. The'animal* wero landed in good condition, but, of course had lost considerably in shapeliness by reason of the long confinement in stalls and lengthy period of dry feeding. This however, is always the ease, and imported cattle do not ap|tcar in their best form for a year or more after landing from the steamer. The heifer was to* •Mr. E. Griflilhs, of Xew Plymouth, she has the wonderful distinction of being not only the daughter of the worldfamous ibull, Xoil>lc of Oaklands (which was/ sold by public auction in Mav last tor over £,'iooo), but she won the first prize in the yearling class in her own parish anil a week later won the first prize iiit the big Island of Jer&&y show, competing agwinst 73 other animafs of th« same age. One of the best judges 011 the island declared her to be tlie best daughter yet bom to Noble of Oaklands. She is named Mercedes' Noble Queen, eintl her dum was Mercedes Queen, a splendid animal with great but-ter-fat records of her own and amongst her ancestry for generations) hock. , Three of the bulls are about 18 months old. The most diatingiiishedlooking of these is the one purchased at a long price by Mr. C'has. Goodsou, of Hawera. Ilis name is "The Squire," and. like Mr. Griffiths' heifer, is not only sired by Noble of Oaklands, but he, too, won the first, prize over his parish and immediately afterwards won the first iprize in 11 bin class of bulls at thn Island show. It is worthy of note that these are the lirst two animals ever imported into New Zealand which lmv« won first prizes in any class on thfi island. "The Squire's" dam is Foxglove 11., ami she is by a bull named Warder, a first prize winner over the island and aire «f many great butter cows. Her dam is 'Fostglove, a cow that has won several prizes at the Island of Jersey shows 'and has an authenticated buUerfttt record of -illis Hozs'in one day. Ilersire was the famous bull Flying Fox. Thi» is not only the most fashionable breeding from a show point of view, but the animals mentioned are all descended from the most noted butter-fat families 011 the island. This bull will undoubtedly be a great acquisition to the Jersey ranks in New Zealand. The other four bulls have been imported by Mr. .1. (J. llarkness, and have gone to his *ou'h farm at Tariki. These animals were personally selected iby Mr. llarkness when on the island in May last. The favorite 'bull is an aged animal called Rosel'# Sultan, by Sultan of Oaklands (the sir© | of the well-known Campanile's Sultan) out of a very much prized cow called ltosel 11., .which has several times won I first prize in her parish. Mr. HJikness | describes' her as a Mautiful cow, with, | remarkable udder and well-developed teats. Rosel's Sultan has been in the prize list each time he has been exhibited, and in April last won second prize in the aged bull class, and second prize when shown with four of bin progeny at the over-the-island show.

The next bull in point of «;>;■ is Silverloeks Duke, the largest bull nf thu importation. He is a three-year-old. and is by Iron Duk6, a son of Xoble of Oaklands, and out of a prize-winning cow called Silverloeks 11. He is much lighter in color than the other bulls. The two-year-olds are very fashionably bred, and are particularly attractive young animals, some people preferring them to Mr. yoodson's bull. Doubtless some day our judges will have the opportunity of expressing an opinion on this subject ia the show ring. The different breeders who have seen the animals speak in the highest tenns of them, and as the animals come from such splendid 'butter-fat families they must all unquestionably make a iwmo for themselves in the early future,