FRIESIAN ASSOCIATION

Wairarapa Times-Age, 4 June 1938, Page 9

FRIESIAN ASSOCIATION

ANNUAL REPORT A YEAR OF PROGRESS The annual report of the New Zealand Friesian Association for the year ended March 31 states inter alia: — The year has been a particularly successful one inasmuch as testing returns again show the marked superiority of our breed as producers of milk and butter-fat. It is very noticeable that as dairy-farmers have experience with Friesian dairy cattle they become very strong advocates for the breed. This has been strikingly demonstrated during the past season by the very large increase in the number of transfers registered by the Association. We have every reason therefore, to anticipate highly successful years for breeders of pedigree Friesian cattle. Messrs R. H. Dickie, L. H. Leslie, C. H. Steadman and Major R. A. Wilson, retire from the Council this year, but are eligible for re-election. There are now 7 honorary life members, 3 life members, 392 members, 18 junior members, 140 associated members and 6 scholastic institutions, a total of 566 members, belonging to the Association.

During 1937 the First Class Certificates . issued to Freisians totalled 60 and consisted of three 305-day test certificates and 57 yearly test certificates. The average for the 305-day certificates was 10,034.51bs milk and 422.86 fat, while the 57 yearly certificates averaged 15,511.41 b milk and 559.461 b fat. Fourteen Second-Class Certificates were also issued for records completed during 1937, these certificates averaging 15,4671 b milk and 598.61 lb fat. The total number of First-Class Certificates (yearly test), issued to Friesians by the Dairy Division since the inception of C.O.R. Testing is now 2,302, the average for these certificates being 14,105.01 b milk and 500.371 b fat. This average is easily the best for all dairy breeds in New Zealand.

The superiority of Friesians for production of milk and of butter-fat under ordinary herd conditions is shown by the Govt Official herd test returns for the 1936-7 season. The 425 pedigree Friesians tested under G.O.H.T. averaged 9,611.1 lb milk and 342.481 b fat in 286 days—the highest average recorded by ’any dairy breed in the Dominion. New Zealand Records. —Oakview Keyes Trojan calving at 2 years 131 days, produced 22,146.81 b milk, 836.981 b fat in 365 days; a splendid performance inasmuch as by so doing she broke the long standing Junior 2-year-old record of 20,501.1 lb milk, 740.501 b fat held by Monavale Queen Bess. During 1937 fourteen cows produced over 2,000 gallons of milk, making a total to that date of 240 for the Friesian breed. The total number of times Friesians have produced over 1001 b fat in a month was raised to 112 by the addition of nine such records during the year. The completion of a C.O.R, test of 802.71 b fat by Moneville Mercena Domino Zozo makes the tenth time in which records exceeding 8001 b fat have been made by both dam and daughter in the Friesian breed in New Zealand. The record of 965.541 b fat made by Ohio Domino Sensation is the highest production ever recorded by any breed under C.O.R. test in Southland, and is the 27th record exceeding 9001 b fat made under this test by New Zealand Friesians.