HERD TESTING

Wairarapa Times-Age, 2 November 1940, Page 9

HERD TESTING

JERSEY BREEDERS' PROTEST. ALLEGED DISCRIMINATION. A well attended meeting of Jersey cattle breeders, testing their herds under the group herd test system, was held in Palmerston North on Wednesday. Mr R. C. Leach, of Woodville, was voted to the chair.

Representatives were present from the Hawke’s Bay, Wairarapa and Manawatu. The purpose of the meeting was to organise breeders to protest against the suggested move by the Council of the Jersey Cattle Breeders’ Association, discriminating between, bulls from dams tested under the group herd test system, as opposed to' the C.O.R. and official herd test systems. The Jersey Association Council, in making provision for certain standards of production by the dams of bulls before their association would recognise the transfer of such bulls from the breeder, suggested that they be classified into “stud” bulls and “breed” bulls, according to certain standards of production, in the different systems of testing. Those from group tested dams were to be classified as “breed” bulls, those from C.O.R. or O.H.T. tested dams as “stud” bulls. This would infer that the “breed” bulls were only second class bulls.' Many speakers considered this grossly unfair, in so far that they might have cows of far greater producing ability and even of superior type, yet they would be labelled as not fit for a stud herd.

Some 60 protests were received from breeders scattered throughout the Wellington, West Coast and Hawke’s Bay East Coast areas. Many speakers voiced their strong objection to the suggested discrimination, and agreed to do all they could to dissuade the Jersey Council from proceeding along the lines suggested. It was felt that to get results, it was essential to bring the purpose of the meeting to all group herd testing breeders throughout New Zealand. With this in view, a sub-committee was formed to organise breeders in other districts and obtain their support. The following resolution was carried unanimously:—“That the Jersey Breeders’ Council be written to asking them to make no discrimination between “stud” and “breed” bulls, for the purpose of transfer by the Breed Society.”