EXPORT OF JERSEYS.

Taranaki Daily News, 29 November 1922, Page 7

EXPORT OF JERSEYS.

SOUTH AFRICAN MARKET. STOCK FROM TARANAKI. Messrs. O’Sullivan and Sons, of Tariki, have recently sold to a Durban (South Africa) fancier, two in-calf yearling pedigree Jersey heifers. The purchaser, Mr. Chas. F. Clarkson, states in the course of a letter to Messrs. O’Sullivan, that the prospect* of opening a market for New Zealand Jerseys in South Africa are particularly bright ; that is, for cattle of good type and but-ter-fat backing, the latter quality being vefy essential. It was stated that owing to the treacherous nature of the South African climate it was nothing out of the ordinary to lose 50 per cent, of an importation. Mr. O’Sullivan believes there is* little doubt that New Zealand bred stock should fare better than stock, eay, from Great Britain in this respect. As far as is known this is the first sale of New. Zealand bred dairy stock to go to South Africa, and Messrs. O’Sullivan are to be congratulated upon the initiation of what, may become* an important trade. Mr. O’Sullivan states that, a New Zealand; journal was responsible for making the sale and that once more it was forcibly brought home to farmers the need for advertising. There is reason to believe that the export of high-class cattle from New Zealand will, develop into an important industry, and a few reasons might -be given. To anyone who has moved among the progressive farming districts. especially of Taranaki, it is evident that the number of pedigree cattle is. increasing by leaps and bounds. With ordinary crossbred herds a great proportion of the calves are killed because they are not worth rearing. This never happens with pedigree stock, and so -the increase will go on until, in the not distant future, there will probably be a sufficiency, if not a surfeit, of pedigree cattle in the country. It may be argued that when pedigree cattle arc so common the prices will go down until breeding will not be a payable proposition, but that is where the export trade will be beneficial to the breeders. It is generally recognised that New Zealand bred stock are equal to anything in the world, and the possibility of an export trade with many countries already “nibbling” are, as Mr. Clarkson, says, very bright indeed.