FARM AND DAIRY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 28, 23 June 1914, Page 3

FARM AND DAIRY.

| THE SHORTHORN DREED. TRUE MILKING STRAIN. At the general meeting of the New Zealand Milking Shorthorn Association, presided over by Mr E. Law, of Shannon, the chairman reported that, so far, ■they had received 24-1 entries for the Slerd Book, and there were still some Biore to come in. lie detailed the results of his sduthern tour,- and remarked that, though he had seen some very nice cows of their class*, Jie was sonry to say that most of tdiem went to too much beef. There were very few that he would class ts being of a trrue milking strain. The difficulty in the future would he to secure bulls of the true milking shorthorn type, though this shortcoming would, no doubt, right itself in time.

Some discussion arose on the conditions of the entry to the Herd Book, and it was finally decided to recommend to the council that any bull calves over nine months, out of any cows that were entered in the Milking Shorthorn Herd Book by Shorthorn bull, should, after passing the judge, be eligible to entry. It was also decided to extend the time of entries to the Herd Book for a month.

Mr H. Tinton, representing the Waikato Association, was present, and intimated that members of his association were desirous of amalgamating with the New Zealand Association in order to secure uniformity of action and conditions with regard- to the breed. Steps would be taken to form the Waikato organisation into a branch of tl.e New Zealand Association.

AYRSHIRE ASSOCIATION. PROPOSED REJTJDGIXG. A special general meeting of the Ayrshire Cattle Breeders' Association was held in eonnectio with' the show at Palmerston North.

It was reported that seventeen new yearly members and two life members had been secured in the past six months.

Mr D. Buchanan moved that the annual meeting be held during the winter show week instead of at the spring show. The motion was carried after considerable discussion.

A proposal was carried recomnum&ig the council to ask judges to judge on the points system laid down by the Ayrshire Society of Great Br torn and Ireland.

THE OLD KXEiffl."

IS HE NOW CONQUERED ? Some interesting remarks concerning disease among stock were. ; made by Mr Reakes, Chief Veterinary Surgeon of the Department of Agriculture, at the smoke concert in c-omioetion with the show.

Mr Reakes stated that tuberculosis in stock—tlio old <s>emy which had given (.hem .so much -trouble in the past —was now 011 tin; down grade. It had been a very costiv 'disease to tlie country, and it was pleasing to state that its increase had been cheeked, lie was quite sure that if the co-operation of the fanners and .the Department's officers kept on .extending, it would tend to a still further decrease. The disease was also on 41ic downward grade in pigs. Last year, Mr Reakes went oil to say, tuberculosis showed a decrease of three-per cent on the year before, three per cent on the year before that, and one and ti half per cent this year. He attributed the decrease very largely to the farmers themeslves, and asked them to co-opemtewith the Department in checking it.