536 



Journal of Agriculture, Victoria. [11 Sept., 1916. 



In an article in the Journal of this Department for July last, Mr. 

 R. R. Kerr wrote — 



The Jersey bull " Pretty Noble," imported from the Jersey Islands 

 by Mr. W. Woodmason, has proved himself the sire of very fine heifers, 

 and the yields of the first seven to complete the nine months' test are 

 given, which, for consistency and general ability, would be very hard 

 to beat. It is a matter of satisfaction to know that our breeders, 

 generally sjoeaking, now import only animals having records of butter 

 production. Though they are desirous of securing animals true to type, 

 they realize that production is the main essential. 



* The names are now given as accepted for Herd Book. 



The dam of this bull, " Boutilliere," has had a wonderful record, her 

 last obtained at 12 years of age being 12,103 lbs. milk, yielding 798f lbs. 

 of butter. She is a winner of many show ring prizes and butter contests 

 — her photo, shows her to be a typical specimen. " Pretty ISToble " is by 

 " Noble of Oaklands," sold in America for £3,000, another specimen 

 typical of the breed, and full of dairy qualities, inherited in turn from 

 his dam, " Lady Viola," who had a wonderful record behind her both in 

 the Show Ring and as a heavy testing cow. 



That individual records are not the main object of the test is sho\\Ti 

 by the regulations under which the same is conducted. For instance, 

 a lactation period of only nine months is taken instead of twelve months 

 as followed in some countries, thus reducing the inducement to keep 

 cows barren during the test, which would tend to increase the individual 

 record. No breeder could afford to keep the whole herd out for the 

 time required if this were done — nine months is taken as the fair period 

 during which a cow milks, allowing her time to dry off and recuperate 

 for the following season. To give an idea of her staying properties, the 

 amount of milk given on the last day of the nine months is recorded, 

 and a common basis is established upon which comparison may be made. 

 In the same way butter fat production is taken. Nearly all countries 

 of the world have now adopted this base, for no comparison can be made 



