NEW ZEALAND FRIESIAN ASSOCIATION.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 June 1919, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND FRIESIAN ASSOCIATION.

ANNUAL MEETING. (From Our Own Reporter.) The annual meeting of the New Zealand, Priesiau Association was held at Palmerstou North on Wednesday night, when Mr. C. C. Buckland (president) presided, and there was a good attendance of members. ANNUAL REPORT. The annual report stated that dairying products were never in greater demand than they were now, owing to the shortage of food that was almost universal and the serious decrease in the numbers of cattle in many countries. Good prices seemed assured for many years, and the dairying industry was daily growing o£ more importance. In future the Friesian cattle must come more and more into favor. "We who know them realise the truth of their worth- We are sure that the black and white breed have no equals us producers of milk and butter-fat. It is our duty to prove to all dairy farmers that we have the great money-making cattle, and we must individually do our best to demonstrate their worth and keep them in the forefront. It is, therefore, important that every breeder who possibly can should milk some of his cows regularly under semi-official test, In order that their producing qualities may become matters of record. Since last meeting many . creditable records have been made, and we are now awaiting with interest the final Tesult of the testing of Buckeyje Sylvia Pouch, who was at one time the Dominion champion. If cows were tested last year, a slight decrease would be noticed as compared with the previous year, due to the scarcity of labor and abnormal conditions created by the war.

"It is interesting to note how the (Triesians have been progressing in other British countries and in America, In England they are in greater demand than ever, and sensational prices are being obtained. In the United States the breed is easily maintaining its pre-eminent position, and some remarkable records are being constantly made. Canada has now produced the world's record cow in the short-pjeriod testing, Rio Merccna de Kol producing 51.93 lbs of butter in seven days- Canada has now produced the first iOOO lbs of fat, given by Jemima Johanna of Riverside under semi-oilicial conditions similar to ours. In Australia there is an ever increasing demand for New Zealand Friesians, but, owing to shipping being disorganised, it is lat present impossible to send cattle there. "The newly formed Cattle Breeders' Association should do good work. Among other reformß they should see brought about is the carrying of pedigree cattle on the railways at half price, as is done by private companies in Canada, to assist the progress of the country. Now that the manufacture of dried milk in the Dominion is increasing, we can confidently expect that before long the value of milk will receive more consideration, and the payment on a butter-fat basis will be superseded by a more equitable system. The present method of payment is unfair in the ease of dried milk."

Eighty-ono new members had joined the association last year, the total membership being 435. The balance-sheet showed that the association was in a Bound and flourishing condition. The president stated that their assets now amounted to £2600. The profit for the year had been £2ll, and, in addition, they had spent over £353 in semi-official tests and prizes at shows. The report '■and balance-sheet were adopted without discussion. < OFFICERS. Officers were elected as follows: Patron, Mr. J. 0. N. Greig (Ashburton); president, Mr. G. Aicheson (Kaitangata); vice-presidents, Messrs G. A. Troup (Wellington) and W. D. Hunt (Invercargill); treasurer, Mr. G. Liggins (Tokomaru); auditor, Mr. P. L. Sim (reelected). District committees were elected on the same lines as last year, the Taranaki committee consisting of Messrs G. A. Marchant, R. T. B. Mellow, G. S. Clifford, H. Johnson, J. W. J. Gardiner, A. H. Street, and W. R. Wright. Mr. C. C. Buckland, the retiring president of the New Zealand Friesian Association, urged all members to first obtain a pure pedigree bull from a proved milking strain, and then, by stinting if necessary, obtain a couple of pedigree cows. In this way they would always be working up to the pedigree with only the initial outlay, and if they happened to breed a real good one their fortune would be made, as they would get good prices for its stock.

Forty-four new members were electedPAYMENT FOR MILK. Mr. W. R. Wright addressed the meeting on tlie subject of payment for milk at cheese factories. At present the lersey was in great demand throughout the Dominion. The factory with a lowtesting milk was turning out more cheese than one with a high test. The Jersey people were being paid for the high butter-fat contents of the milk, whereas tt was the low-testing Holstein milk that made the bulk of the cheese, as the proportion of casein was greater. They were only putting from 2-6 to 2.8- of butter-fat into dried milk, and the balance went into butter, which could not pay more than Is 7d. The Jersey cow on this 1 system was a robber, and he suggested that there should be a standard fixed for milk, at which it should be paid on a cheese or dried milk basis and the balance paid on a butter basis. He suggested that the association should ask the Shorthorn and Ayrshire Societies to join with them. He read figures to prove that the richer the milk the less the cheese. Under present conditions the Jersey was certainly a good line to work on. He then moved: That this association considers that the time has arrived when, along with the Ayrshire and Milking Shorthorn Association, efforts should be made to have the pay* ment for milk, cheese, and dried milk put on a sane and commercially sound footing by adopting a system of standardising milk. Mr. Boyd, in seconding, said that he supplied a Glaxo factory where the whole of the milk was separated and cream was added to bring it up to the requisite standard, so there should be no difficulty in bringing the milk up to any standard. At present milk was taken into the factory on a butter-fat basis and sold at the other end by weight. Mr. Buckland said that there was a great deal of interest taken now in dried milk, and of a certainty the payment would be on a system of standardised milk. It would be more difficult to bring this into effect with cheese, but it might be done in districts where the Jersey dd not preponderate. Taranaki could, possibly, be left to the last, as they had gone in heavily, for- Jerseys there. ' •« -

SECOND CLASS CERTIFICATES. Mr. C. C. Buckland moved that second class certificates be awarded to cows that have qualified for butter-fat, but had failed to calve within the specified period, provided that the exact particulars were given in the certificate- The mover stated that the Dairy Department favored the scheme, but wished to know whether the association favored it. Mr. Seccombe seconded, and it was carried. Mr. Hunt moved: That cattle may be entered for a second class certificate regardless of the time they had calved prior to the. commencement of the test. This, he said, would put them on the same terms as the Americans, whose certificates were awarded on the amount of milk given in 365 days. The secretary said that the aim of the Dairy Department was to improve the industry by fixing the tests; under dairying conditions, but he was afraid this resolution would open the field too wide. Mr. Buckland said that, though there might be hardships, they did not want to encourage breeders to go in for tests, as in Ameriqa, without making any attempt to again breed from the animal. The resolution was amended to guard against this.—Carried. EXPORTATION OF CATTLE TO ENGLAND. Mr. Troup stated that he had written to the High Commissioner pointing out that they had better Friesians here in New Zealand than in England, which were bringing about one-tenth of the price. He thought it would be beneficial if they were allowed to import cattle into England. Sir Thos. Mackenzie repled stating that he had interviewed the British association, who were averse to it. The rule now was that cattle must be slaughtered within 24 or 48 hours of their arrival in England, This, of course, they did not want, and Sir Thomas Mackenzie suggested that the association in England might buy the cattle.and sell them again, as they did in the case of cattle from Holland, on which they made a handsome profit. The cattle in New Zealand were very healthy, and he thought they should approach the New Zealand Government and the Home association with a view to the associa- ' tion selling cattle to the Home association. He moved in this direction. Mr. W. I. Lovelock, in seconding, said that New Zealand was free for the importation of cattle from England, and it should have the free right of exportation. Mr. Hunt thought they should approach the New Zealand Government and ask them to approach the Home authorities with a view to having the way made open for the export of all stud 6tock. There were better Romney sheep in New Zealand than in England. The resolution was carried. GENERAL. Mr. C. C. Buckland promised to donate a cup, valued at 20 guineas, to the cow giving the best record that was entered for the semi-official test during the next six months. Mr. Dobson moved: That the association consider the advisability and practicability of giving a prize to the herd with the best semi-official record, milked twice a day, the minimum of the herd to be five. Mr. Sutton seconded the motion, which was carried. Mr. W. R. Wright gave notice to move at next meeting: That the resolution deleting the ,word "Holstein" from the uame of the breed be rescinded.