Extracts from The Jersey at Home, Summer 1965 – Editorial

Extracts from The Jersey at Home, Summer 1965 – Editorial

The 1965 Royal Jersey Agricultural Society’: summer show will long be remembered as the “ Three Man Show," for all the championships and all but one of the challenge cups went to three breeders.

These ardent cattle men, Messrs Avrill, Gaudin and A'Court had a real field day and in overcoming all the other opposition had a real tussle among themselves for the honours. For three only to sweep the board in this manner was a real achievement and undoubtedly reflected the highest credit on the three herds. It is a lifetime’s: work to reach such a standard with one’s cattle and only by selective breeding can this position be reached.

The victories by these breeders was no flash in the pan for all three always feature strongly at parochial and island shows and while not always at the top as on this occasion, they are always to the forefront providing the strongest possible opposition. 

As reported elsewhere the summer show was an extremely successful one with the senior female classes revealing some top quality animals - Jerseys at their very best.

It may not have been such a good day for the society with four trophies won outright - again by these three particular breeders. In one of the worst summers for nearly two decades the Society was at least fortunate with the weather, for it was a real summer's day with everyone present revelling in the bright sunshine at the scene that was unfolded before them. The weather was undoubtedly the making of the show for in such glorious conditions the cattle reacted accordingly and undoubtedly looked at their best.

Another milestone was also achieved this summer by Mr. F. A. Anthoine in winning the Pauline Challenge Cup and Scales outright with his aged cow, “ Supreme Vedas Design," who was the champion producer over Jersey for the third year in succession - an extremely fine performance. Silver and Gold Medal sires feature strongly in this remarkable animal’s ancestry, as do Ton of Gold cows. 

It is pleasing to see that the Junior Membership section continues to thrive and at these island shows the younger members compete against one another with great enthusiasm. They are also severe critics who know the finer points of cattle judging and it is most refreshing to note that the society acknowledges the value of these young members for it is in their hands that the future of the Jersey breed lies - and judging by the complete assurance they show the future is in pretty good hands. Additional interest at this last show was provided by an extra award, there being both junior and senior championships in this junior section. 

Overseas visitors were few at this show. Two German enthusiasts were present, one a director of the German Jersey Herd book. It is to be hoped that they were suitably impressed and that the need to buy fresh stock from the island home of the breed was emphasised by local exporters. At present the Germans buy Jerseys from Denmark and the breed is on the increase. Too often in the past, visitors have come and been impressed and then when one had hoped sales to some of these countries would materialise, nothing further has developed. Following the German visit, there should be a follow up with an intensive sales campaign in an effort to persuade the Germans to buy direct from the island.

In a competitive world such as we live in, it is imperative to advertise and campaign unceasingly in an effort to capture overseas markets. Other countries, including England, manage to export considerable numbers of Jerseys and the island is lagging behind. Without doubt an intensive campaign in an effort to remedy this is needed without delay.

Export figures over the past twelve months again show a drop. While more were sent to England than a year ago, and some 30 head were shipped to Turkey, very little interest was shown otherwise.

Belgium again took one while five went to South Africa. an increase of two, but 40 less were shipped to France and 59 less to Ireland where one was sent. A solitary animal made the journey to New Zealand but otherwise the list showed a blank . . .

Nothing at all to those great “Jersey " countries, Australia. Canada and the United States.

Such figures are undoubtedly depressing and one can but hope that there will be considerable improvement in the not too distant future. The commercial cattle industry is thriving on the island with better prices and a steady demand for milk and in these cases herds are on the increase. Despite this, however. the export trade is largely the life blood of the industry and intensive spadework will have to be done to build up once again this section of the industry.

Here we still breed for type and production, the true Jersey is readily available and most strains are in constant supply. For overseas breeders it is surely a necessity from time to time to come back to the island to renew their bloodstock and thus ensure a continuance in their herds of high production of rich Jersey milk.

This year will not easily be forgotten for the adverse weather experienced during the summer months and not since early June has there been any settled weather. From an agricultural point of view it has been a most difficult year and crop returns have only been moderate. Main worry at the present time centres around the tomato crop which is now being badly affected by the continuing wet weather and lack of sunshine. The crop is ripening very slowly and much of it is dying off due to this damp and cold. A month's dry weather with warm sunshine is needed but this seems too much to expect in such a year.

Combining these crop difficulties with the lack of demand in the cattle industry it will be realised that island farmers have not had a good year financially. in the face of ever increasing competition, growers are forming themselves into groups for marketing produce while a Potato Marketing Board is again being considered.

There is more and more of a tendency to co-operate in crop marketing . . . and this is something that could be followed by cattle breeders who need to present a closely united front in an effort to capture world markets in the face of fierce competition. Admittedly before any great measure of success can be achieved in this field, the question of transport costs will have to be studied with a view to solving this barrier to exports.