MANAWATU SHOW

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 109, 4 November 1939, Page 9

MANAWATU SHOW

HIGH QUALITY STOCK

VARIETY OF ATTRACTIONS

FINE PEOPLE'S DAY

(From "The Post's" Special Reporter.) PALMERSTON N., This Day. With brilliant sunshine from an almost cloudless sky for the greater part of the day, People's Day at the Spring Show of the Manawatu and West Coast Agricultural and Pastoral Association yesterday was an Unqualified success. There was a big variety of attractions, not the least of which were the open hunters' competitions on the oval before the grand parade, and the demonstration of working five sheep dogs simultaneously, following the parade. The herding by the five dogs was a remarkable demonstration of intelligence and obedience; each dog answered only to its name in starting or continuing work, and would ignore the sheep if there were no instructions, no matter.how close they passed. The demonstrator was Mr. R. Fortune, of Timaru. There was an excellent response from the public, the grounds at all times being thronged. The main events today are the shearing championships of the young farmers (all day), a cycle race, trotting race, motor-cycle chariot racing, car-cx*ashing, and another demonstration by Mr. Fortune. This evening there will be gymnasium and skating exhibitions, an amateur cycle race, and : more car-crashing stunts. The general quality of the stock exhibited at the show, has been high, although in some cases entries were not as high as expected. THE SHEEP SECTIONS. Considering the high quality of the wool produced by Lincolns, and the large potential market, particularly the Argentine, it is rather surprising that the breed is not better supported by farmers. Fleece, constitution, and conformation were of a high standard in the sheep penned, but most of them came from one exhibitor. Evidence of a steady general improvement in the open Romneys was apparent, with old faults being eliminated. The section was strong and the average standard good, scarcely any of the sheep showing major faults. A particularly healthy class was the two-tooth shorn rams, the sheep being well clad and showing sound leg and character. The natural condition Romney ewes were not up to the expected standard; the wool on the back was not good, and cannon bones were too long. A'falling-off in quality was also noticeable in the naturalcondition Romney rams, with a definite weakness in bone and feet. The shorn rams were sound, but the shorn twotooths, although numerous, were not quite up to the" standard reached at tlie last Royal Show held in Palmerston. Quite up to the quality of past shows were the natural . condition Southdown rams. Competition was keen among the younger sheep, but rather lacking among the older sheep. The natural condition Southdown' ewes were generally well up to the mark, a few ;sho"wilig some:; improvement. Some of the best competitibii seen in the Manawatu for years was found in the section for,; open Southdowns, which, had drawn larger entries than last year. The average quality was good and there was no sign of deterioration. The Dorset Horn class, contested by three* exhibitors, produced really fine champions, the only fault being that they were perhaps a little too strong in the wool. The Corriedales were disappointing. The unfavourable season was reflected in the entries for the fat lamb class, which were not up to the usual Manawatu standard. With some excellent exceptions, there were few really good pens. CLASSES FOR CATTLE. Both in number and quality the Herefords were as good as any for several years past. One or two carried too much hard fat, but generally the beasts were a fairly even line. The yearling bull class, with eighteen entries, was outstanding, the best indication of all of an improvement in the' breed. The trend seemed to be for breeders to go more for a smaller and compact.beast. Quality compensated for lack of numbers in the Aberdeen Angus section. The cows . were generally better than the bulls, although an excel-' lent yearling bull was exhibited. There was a disappointing response from the Milking Shorthorns. A good example of the old Shorthorn was found in the champion cow, a bold, strong type with all the breed characteristics. The yearling heifer class was the strongest. The first prize winner had particularly good lines, the two-year heifer was true to type, and the three-year winning heifer, an exceptional animal, should, be the mother of future champions. The champion* 1 bull, a three-year-old, had all the qualities looked for in the Milking Shorthorn sire. The Friesians, first brought to the Palmerston North show-ring some thirty years ago, fulfilled expectations so far as -quality was concerned, although entries were disappointing. The aged bulls were a very fine class, both size and quality being typical of the 'breed. The three-year-old which won the championship was an outstanding beast, full of type and quality. The aged cow class produced a beautiful animal, and thej yearlings and two and three-year-olds were strongly characteristic of the breed. Several of the entries in the twoyear heifer class for " Jerseys carried too much condition, apparently because of recent calving. The first prize animal in the yearling was aj nice, long, lean, open-framed animal, but the class generally was not good. The sole entry in the aged bull class I was a stylish beast, showing both breed and character, and the winner of the two-year bull class, although perhaps a little light in the body, had a good head and was well finished in the tailend. There was a fairly good class of.yearling bulls/the choice going to a beast better-boned than the others. The Jerseys on the whole were well up to standard, but there was not the competition one would expect at a show like the Manawatu. Competition was also below expectations among the Ayrshires, but there was nothing lacking in quality. Unusually enough, the champion cow came from the dry cow class, but *t answered all the essential requirements of the breed, and other competitors possessed obvious faults. One or two potential champions were found in the yearling heifer class, and the two-year section also contained some fine specimens. The champion and reserve champion in the aged bull class were excellent examples of the breed. Several nice beasts suitable for the chilled beef trade were paraded in the fat cattle section, most of them in good condition, but some slightly on the heavy side. HIGH QUALITY PIGS. Cfood type and, splendid constitu-

tions were shown in the aged classes for Berkshire sows and boars. The fact that the younger pigs were not quite up to standard, few showing type having been carried through, was hard to understand, and the same fault was apparent in the Tamworths, which was one of the smallest sections seen at a Manawatu show. Only the aged animals were outstanding. In the Large White section there was a good entry and the standard was high, the champions being up to Royal Show standard. The Large Blacks were generally sound, but not outstanding. It was emphasised by the judge that breeders should go in lor a commercial type of pig with good hams, light shoulders, and deep sides.