JERSEY CATTLE BREEDERS' ASSOCIATION.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 June 1918, Page 7

JERSEY CATTLE BREEDERS' ASSOCIATION.

ANNUAL IIEPOBI. The annual report of the New Zealand Jersey Cattle Breeders' Association records a further period of satisfactory progress, notwithstanding that the Dominion still rests under the shadow of the Great War, the effects of which have very seriously crippled enterprise and development along the lines in which we are most interested. Qute a number of our members have responded to the call to arms and are serving with the forces, but, happily, so far as we are aware, no casualties have yet occurred among them.; The council felt it to be the duty of the association to help as far as they could in the raising of the Government War Loan, and consequently invested therein a sum of £7OO of the association's funds, a step which they are confident will meet with the approval of members.

Despite the uncertainty and dislocation of industry resulting from the con. tinuance of hostilities, the association has not in any way languished during the year, and the. Jersey has become entrenched more strongly than ever in the opinion of the progressive dairymen of the Dominion. This is the more gratifying to members in view of the unprecedented demand that has arisen for the different beef breeds.

Memberships.—During the year 82 new members were elected, as a,gainst 66 in the prevous year, and only ten names were removed from the register on account of resignations. The total membership is now 460, a net'increase of 72 for the year. Finance. —As will he seen by the bal-ance-sheet which is attached hereto, the net profit for the year amounted to £465 9s. Herd Book.—Volume XV, is now in the press, it will contain the pedigrees of 1320 heifers and 914 bulls, bringing the total of registered cattle up to 5850 males and 7800 females. As usual, it will also give- particulars of the milk and butter-fat records of 107 cows which have been awarded certificates of record by the New Zealand Department of Agriculture during the year. The whole of the semi-official records made by Jerseys will again be issued in pamphlet form, and these will be found no less valuable than before, as a guide to the value of the breed in the production of butter-fat. Transfers.—The transfers recorded indicate a considerable increased demand especially for bulls with large butter-fat producing ancestors, and this it should be remembered took place in spite of a strong demand for the purely 'beef breedj. No les3 than 674 transfers of bulls and 729 cows and heifers were recorded during the year.

Semi-official Test.—Satisfaction must again be expressed at the showing made in this direction. Certificates of record were awarded to no less than 107 cows, and up to the present 452 Jersey cows of different ages have received certificates. The average production of but-ter-fat of these cows, a very large proportion of which were heifers with their first calves when tested, is 403 3 lbs. butter-fat Fifty-three cows earned the subsidy of £1 Is each granted by the council for the production of 100 lba. or over of butter-fat above the amount required to qualify for a certificate "f record; Acting on the recommendation of the last annual meeting the council agreed that the sum of £lO be awarded each year to any cow that exceeds the previous highest semi-offic-ial record in each of the five different classes for medal awards, and in this connection it may be mentioned that this bonus has been won during the year m the class for cows 3 years and under four years, by Sultan's Clematis, with the fine recor'd of 641.291bs of but-ter-fat, the previous highest record in the same class being G26.4C lbs. butter-' fat. These facts illustrate the steady improvement that is taking place in the productive capacity of the "average Jersey. Eat'h year sees new records achieved, and fresh proofs tha.t the valuable qualities possessed by the breed are being developed to the highest point of excellence. The council cannot omit to once more compliment the officers of the Dairy Division of the New Zealand Department of Agriculture on the conduct of the tests, and they wish (ilso to acknowledge gratefully the courtesy and assistance given to our association by. the departmental staff. Show Competitions.—The council liavo continued their efforts to stimulate interests in the show ring, but this branch of our activities continues to be somewhat disappointing. Cash prizes of between £5 and £lO were allotted to ten different A. and P. Associations for a class for tested cows, but owing to Die conditions as regards the number of exhibits not being complied with, only in six cases was the subsidy claimed. This is not at all satisfactory considering the substantial prizes offered, which, in most cases amount to £2O. In conclusion, —The council cannot emphasise too strongly the importance of the association and the value of its work for the greater development ot the Jersey in New Zealand, and they therefore ask for the continued interest and increased enthusiasm of all members. There is room particularly for a campaign in the direction of strengthenin,' our membership, and the loyal Jersey enthusiast should never lose an op. portunity of making known the benefits of unity and co-operation to those still outside the association. We all hope the year on which we have entered will see a victorious peace achieved, and whether it brings prosperity or adversity in its train the. reed for a strong association to foster the interests \ve have at heart will be equally great.