FARM AND DAIRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 May 1921, Page 2

FARM AND DAIRY.

JERSEY BREEDERS’ ASSOCIATION. The annual report for 1920-21 states: —• From a Jersey standpoint we have every reason to be satisfied with the result of the operations of the year, which have still further entrenched the Jersey breed in the favor of the dairymen of the Dominion. The steady progress of recnt years has been well maintained, and there is no sign of any waning ta the wide popularity of the efficient Jersey. Membership.—During the year 206 new mem', bers were elected, the removals from the register, through deaths and resignations were only 15, and the total membership is now 823, a net increase of 191 for the year. Finance.—The net profit for the year was £153. Herd Book.—The total number of males registered to date is 9861, and of females, 13,006.

Transfers.—There has again been great activity In the transfer of registered animals, no fewer than 1971. males and ZOG9 females having changed ownership during the year. Organisation.—An important step has been taken since the last annual meeting by appointing Mr. H. E. B. Watson, the well-known authority on Jersey cattle, as honorary official demonstrator to the Association. Mr. Watson has visited various centres and has met many of the members and others interested, giving expositions of the. merits and advantages of the Jersey. Increased interest and appreciable results are expected to follow this method of organisation and education. The Council notes with pleasure that new branches have been formed at Whangarei, Auckland and Hawera. Subsidies have been paid to four branches during the year, and the attention of' all branches is called to the fact that these subsidies are granted to branches applying for same, subject to approval by the Council, of the properly audited balance-sheets and annual reports for the twelve months ending June 30th, In each year. The amount of the subsidy is based on the annual subscriptions received, and is at the rate of £1 for £1 up to £lO. Owing to the very large number of records of various kinds kept by the office, your council considered that a safer and more commodious office was necessary to safeguard these from fire, and accordingly secured, for a term of years, a suite of offices ’ ta a ferro-concrete building which meets the I requirements.

Show Competitions.—The two competitions arranged in conjunction with different A. and P. Associations were again rather disappointing there being little or no interest in the class for semi-offlc’ally tested cows and two-year-old heifers. The sum of £5O was allotted to each of four different Associations for championship prizes, and as a result some excellent cattle exhibits were to be seen at thse subsidised shows.

Certificate of Record Test.—Once again we have every reason to feel satisfied with the result of this method of testing which reveals the steady upvflard development og Jereey cattle in the Dominion, and the success than Is attending the efforts of breeders in that direction. Certificates of record were awarded to 203 cows, nearly double the number of last year, bringing the total of certificated cows up to 940. Compared with the previous year the improvement shows the following averages (the figures for 1921 being given in parentheses) : Cows 717 (940) ; days in milk, 340 (341) ; lbs. milk, 7341.5 (7484.47) ; lbs. butter-fat, 406.68 (414.10), From this it will be seen that the average production of the cows, put under test conditions, has been increased by almost of butter-fat each, a notable achievement when it is remembered to what a high point of dvelopment these Jerseys had previously been brought. No fewer than 173 cows earned the subsidy of £1 Is granted by the Counrll for each lOOlbs. of butter-fat produced above the amount re’quired to qualify for a C.O.R. The Council renews its offer to pay the nominators of cows for test the same bonus.

Last year we had the pleasure of incorporating in the report and record-breaking production of “Sultan’s Daisy.” It is pleasing to be able to record some outstanding performances of Jersey cows. The previous highest records, held by juuior and senior two-year-olds, were beaten by “Aster's August Chile.'' with the fine performance of "689.05 lbs. butterfat and by “Lady Superior” with 680.38 .’li§. buitcr-fat. The four-year-old record was also beaten by “Woodstock’s Fancy Free” with 770.35 lbs. butter-fat. The owners of these cows each received the sum of £lO piJd by the Association as a bonus for exceeding the previous highest records in the’r classes. Whue it is satisfactory to know that these tests are thus placing the seal on Jersey superiority, the Council regrets that members do not make greater use of the system, and urges upon non-testing members the adv’sabi.ity of taking part In these tests. As in past years the officers of the Dairy Division of the New Zealand Department, of Agriculture have been very helpful to the Association, and In the management of the tests, there is nothing further to be desired, and we take this opportunity of expressing our appreciation cf their interest and great enthusiasm. Conclusion.-r-The outlook at present for the producing industries of the Dominion is not particularly bright, and it would be unwise to attempt to forecast the trend of the markets. We all hope that the’ present depression is but a passing phase which will be succeeded shortly by a more prosperous season. So far the dairy farmer has fared best in the general dislocation that has followed the abnormal conditions coincident with the war. There are indications that dairying will be taken up extensively by farmers now engaged l in other branches of agriculture. In that case there will probably be a brisk demand for- the best and most productive of dairy cows and there should therefore be am undimtaished call for Jersey cattle during the coming year.