FARM AND DAIRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 April 1919, Page 7

FARM AND DAIRY.

StADE AND PEDIGREE BULLt*. Mr. F. Ranford presided at a meeting of the Stratford branch of tho Jersey Breeders' Association held on Saturday. The following were present: Messrs J. T. Belcher, J. Jones, D. O'Sullivau, T. lianford, R. Huggett, L. S. Walker, W. Pollock, E. H. Linnell, 1. Schusher, F. Dodunskl, J. K. Richards, \V. H. Slander, F. Davidson, W. H. Paynter, W. Tickers, W. H. Rutlcdge, S. J. Hollard and C. Shack. A letter was received from Mr. Lysons, w training young lads for judges, and after a brief discussion it was referred to the A. and P. Association. - . Mr. Jones stated that if it was intended to allow every member of the Association to qualifv for judging some would have to wait 50 years for their turn, but the chairman pointed out that probably less than Ave per cent, of the members desired to act as judges and with some one experience in that capacity was ample. A remit to be submitted to the Council was then considered, the recommendation being that a gold medal be awarded to the bull which had three qualifled daughters from different cows successful in semi-official tests. The President stated that so far only medals were awarded to the female line, and this should be amended.

Mr. Davidson expressed surprise at the position. It was generally conceded that the bull was half the herd, and yet no recognition taken of his value. Members often heard of a bull being destn-ved, yet on investigation was .found to have left good stock. If a record (or iward) was given the sire it might lead to the farmer keeping the animal longer and giving It more attention.

The conversation then drifted round the merits of the heifer and cow. At present any beast engaged in a semi-official standard had to produce a given quantity of milk over the standard to win the gold medal. Mr. Davidson asked If It was not possible to bring about some rules regarding force feeding. The President: Semi-official testing was supervised by the Government, and unless the Association decided amongst themselves to adopt a certain standard of feeding members must go on as usual Mr. Davidson: A bull may get the credit of siring daughters with good milk records, and yet the high yield may be secured by forcefeeding. Mr. O'Sullivau disagreed. There was a difference bctweon Judicious and force-feeding. Mr. Linnell desired an interpretation of forcefeeding. Mr. Davidson: Force-feeding was using grain, etc. Natural feeding was with cereals and grass. Force-feeding led to a cow being burnt out at a comparatively young age. Mr. Linnell: What about crushed oats. The President: One of the most dangerous. He was afraid they could not do anything In the matter of feeding as the rules governing the tests now stood.

The remit, by Messrs T. Ranford and J. Richards, was then carried.

Mr. Jones then put in a plea for the aged cow. Like the young heifer, it was hardly fail that a cow on In years should have to compete with one in its prune, and he thought a gold modal should go to a cow over 10 years thai succeeded in reaching the semi-official standard. There were plenty of farmers who did not bother about semi-official testing and sold a cow to a neighbor who tested and found they had parted with a better beast than they believed. The President: It is only a suggestion. The Council can reject or amend It as they desire, but, in the past; a remit from branches had not received every consideration. They had one regarding grade hulls. Mr. Davidson supported Mr. Jones. It was the old cow that was the dam of the beast now on semi-official testing, and should be recognised again if capable of reaching a certain standard.

Mr. Jones said it would be an encouragement to persevere with tho cow.

The President: "Exactly so. Economic production and lasting powers are what we claim, and the Jersey is a stayer." The question of grade bulls was then raised. Mr Davidson said the number of good heifers coming into the saleyards were few, but a man may buy two or three and then buy a mongrel bull that threw bad stuff. A farmer might say he bought the stock from a breeder and do a lot of harm. By using only a pedlgreß bull with grade cows the sire had a chance. Most of the breeders round Taranakl had a few grade cows in the herd, but these were graduu lip being culled. If tho Council turned down the remit re grade bulls the branch should not be discouraged but keep at it. Personally he favored a penalty being imposed on those selling a grade bull.

Mr Richards had no hesitation in stating a grade bull should he destroyed Mr. Davidson said a grade bull might throw Rood stock, but rather than take the risk it should be destroyed. He favored branding all the stock. He instanced a case where a mail had purchased 16 grade cows and heifers and later on sold them as pedigree which was de-1 cldedly unfair to the. breeders. Breeders could stop this by using their own registered brand. Sir. jtlchards: A man might sell your grade stuff as pedigree If you were not there at the sale to prevent it. Mr. O'Sulllvan: The Council should not allow membership to those who sell grade bulls. The president admitted that this was so. The breeders were depending upon the farmers for their support in building up the herds, and must assist the man on the land. The percentage of failure by grade bulls was very great, whereas it was extremely low with the pedigree sire. Mr. Davidson: It should be the whole business of the Association to fight the matter. They were paying big money to get the best blood line, and it was not desirable that the farmer aiming at this should have his reputation endangered by grade bulls that may jump a fence and do a lot of harm before removal He moved, "That the time has arrived to take action against the breeding and selling of grade bulls by Association members, and suggests that no stock be accepted for registration in the Association's books from members known to sell such stock." Seconded by the President and carried. The lack of consideration shown to remta previously forwarded by the branch to the Council was reviewed and on the motion of Messrs Llnnell and Davidson, it was resolved "That no remit forwarded by branches be turned down by the Council without forwarding an explanation to the branch for rejection ; also "That Mr. Griffiths, New Plymouth, be requested to bring forward his remits rejected by the Council, and that these be considered at the next Council meeting at New Plymouth on June J2

SALE OF PEDIGREE PRIESIAXS. Catalogues for the sale of pedigree Frlesians in the estate of the late William James are now in circulation and can be obtained from any of Sin au „ e V l on ? er ' s °. ffl 1 es - The ca "ilOfnie contains full particulars' of the breeding of all the animals and they are really a very flue lot It will be remembered that at Mr. Newton Hint's dispersal sale in October, 1916, the late Mr James was a keen competitor and secured some very valuable animals, and with these at the head of his stud he was working up a small but particularly choice line and many a breeder in New Zealand was extremely sorry to learn of Mr. James' death, as he undoubtedly wa3 a judge of the Frlesian, having lived In recent V%*.£? V S 7 little else - The ° ld champion bull, King Payne Segis 2nd," is represented in Mr. James catalogue in great strength, as the late breeder, knowing his value, had sent several of his cows to the champion when he was at the head of Messrs Cliffords' herd at "Racelands" and therefore, in some cases this sale i will give an opportunity to secure a double strain of the Segis blood. I Tho late Mr. James; when starting his stud herd, declared in public that "nothing but the best would he buy," and this he endeavored to ndhereto. Any dairyman who has not yet obtained a catalogue is .invited, to apply fo* qua to the auctioneer at any of hs office/