JERSEY BREEDERS' ASSOCIATION.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 May 1917, Page 7

JERSEY BREEDERS' ASSOCIATION.

ANNUAfc REPORT. The_annual_rport of the Council of the New Zealand Jersey Cattle Breeders' Association records greater .prosperity than'in any year in tho annals of tlWassociation. (During .the year 36 new. members were elected,~as'again,st 39 in year, and'' only.' eight names were removed front' the register on account of the resignation of the members, as against 18 in the previous twelve months. The total membership is now 888, a.* net increase of 68 for the year. Tho net profits for the year amounted to £37<B 6s 7d. Volume XIV of the Herd Book is now, in the press, and- it will marie a notable advance in the compilation of our records. It will contain the pedigrees of 997 heifers and 7-33 bulls, thus bringing the total of registered cattle up to 4937 males and 6301' females. During the year transfers have been recorded for 637 males and 603 females. Once T inore there has been a, striking demand for bulls and the number tbat have changed bands show a. considerable increase. No less than 100 cows have been awarded certificates of roc,ordi by the New Zealand Department of Agriculture as a result of 'semi-oflicial tests during the year, tfp 'to,the present time 368 Jersey cows of different ages—a number more than equal to the rggrogatc' of certificates granted to the cows of all other breedshave ibeen awarded certificates. These show that the average production of these cows is 403.051b of butter-rat, which must be regarded as very satisfactory indeed, when it is remembered that a very large proportion of the tuimals tested] were Jieifers with their first calves, the minimum production ot fat in such cases being 240.51b fat in 365 days. During the past year, over onehalf of tho cowsi tested came tinder this class, and 1 one of them, "Mere,/' a heifer, bred and tested'in .the Dominion, hadftfce proud distinction ;of making a world's record for cows of any breed commencing test under .two years of age. In 365 days '"Mere" produced) the record of 683.641b, butfer-fat. '"*' Forty-: eight.cows earnedWhe subsidy, of each granted by your 'council.for tins production of„lsH>"pr over of 'butterfafabove tne'amount required to qualify for a certificate' Acting under t'.-r""ji'ecommendatioV of the'lastlannual meeting, your counc.il h£vo offered a .premium of .'£2 C cow of any ageHliat /odiKeS..Ssolb or over of butter-fat under' 'ficmi-ofllojal test,/and :■ they, hope that this further. 'stimulate improvement in,"the ..desired direction. Y° ur council feels. *ta* H ought to acknowledge here the continued efficiency, courtesy, and interest ..of, the officers of the dairy division of the New Zealand Department of Agriculture" in the conduct o." .the semiofficial testing. Every assistance possible has'been given to,the office by.,thedcpartmental'staff, 'whose -work, cannot be too warmly "eulogised. Subsidies were granted to seven 'different 'A I .'and P.' Associations for a class at shows 'for .teste 1 .", cows, and although the competition"was slightly- bet'te'rfthan that of. the..previous year,there is still room for' improvement in th»t •direction, especially 'sfj the p;'|"M to, iii most instances to £2o— which should tadjice breeder* to bring their "besT- animals' into the show ring. 1; ;. ; i'i .