DAIRY SCIENCE.

Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, Issue 1736, 7 May 1930, Page 7

DAIRY SCIENCE.

| BREEDING OF SHORTHORNS. I •ort A CANADIAN'S ADVICE. ent _ Farming is the hobby of Mr Alex, low Maclaren, of Quebec, who, with his of family, is visiting New Zealand, ich partly to escape the unpleasant cou:ss- ditions when the Canadian spring first Che turns the snow to slush. His business ver interests are considerable, but he dere- votes his leisure hours to the control of old the Neralcam Farm, near Ottawa, where of ( he has collected one of the finest herds the of pedigree milking Shorthorn cattle in •s). all America. ju- | "i hare long been a firm believer in an the beef and milk type of Shorthorn," he • Jfr Maclaren said to a Wellington "Doit J minion" reporter. "I long ago coned eluded that the Shorthorn cow which »b-1 would function as a liberal producer of •ar. milk, and whose animal produce could » rc . be developed into prime beef, where M- such a method proved desirable, is an ire , economic necessity on. farms where" ce . mixed farming is the rule. ot I "I gave much thought and time to | a study of the breed in Canada and in ' ig j England where the dairy Shorthorn has ' r# j proved so popular with farmers, and 10 j leads all other breeds in the milk supply 1C of that country. Accordingly, in the : IC spring of 1917, I began the purchase ' of the material for the Neralcam herd. ' W I have, of course, learned much in my 13 thirteen years of close identity with my * herd and the breed, and that I profited e by these experiences, if I may be par- '' j doned in referring to it, is reflected J ' ; in the remarkable record made by the ' *' Nelarcam herd- in milk production and 1- in jfrize winners at the leading exposiy tions of North America. •• "By elimination and the use of a " trio of stock bulls of different types, j *• which has given me considerable lati- . tude in mating, I have succeeded in | iJ producing a class of bulls and females j. '• of more uniform conformation and ! 8 quality which has won the approval of •t the best judges of Canada and the 1 ! - United States. 1 "My observations have quite clearly • s convinced me that the beef type of bull 1 is of a phlegmatic disposition, whereas •- the strictly milking type is of a highly '- nervous disposition. Consequently in 1 . breeding for the dual purpose type e where beef and milk are looked for, . r temperament, I believe, should bo t taken into consideration, and I have endeavoured to so direct my breeding - ' operations to bring about the desired L results in this regard. 1 . "Neither do I believe that wc should * strive for milk production to the extent f that we neglect beef form, quality, - and conformation. These arc the fune- ' tional qualities which give our breed ; distinction over all others, and arc the ■ reasons for its fast-growing popularity ) 1 in every part of the world where it lias ° had the opportunity to demonstrate its value in the production of (suck a profitable type of cow." 3 Mr Maclaren said he considered it a good sign for a man to speak Well of 1 Ids own eouutry, and had much to say 3 for the vast resources of Canada still * waiting to be tapped. In spite of its 3 cold winters, the country had a won- * derful future as a supplier of many ' markets from primary produce to J metals. "The United Siatcs would ' like to have us," he said, "but there ' will never be a cliancc of our throwing 1 in our lot with her." Several barriers blocked the way for Canada ever to consider joining the J United States.. First and foremost was the attiudu of the French-Canadian 5 population, which never would agree to ■• the proposal. Secondly, Canada's legal f and banking systems were better than i ' those across the border. She also administered her laws more efficiently, >' and crime was not so widespread as in 1 the United States. " Then, Canada's administration of the * liquor laws was far in advance of ths ' 3 United States. Under State control J Canada had managed to do-.away with [ e many of the abuses of liquor eonsump- J tiou. One curious feature of the effect I '■' of Prohibition in the_ United States was \ the vast sum finding its .way into ( 9 Canada each year for the .purchase of j * good, liquor by Americans. Liquor I 0 could he bought anywhere in the J e United States,: but there was a daily [ • procession across- the boTder into Can- •" ada to buy spirits of good quality. [ Quebec alone.would make about 2,000,1 1 OOOdol out of this trade tliia year, and I * it was being spent in building roads J '* and schools. ... •'■ Wood-pulping has now claimed Mr * Maclaren's attention, and he is concerned in the purchase of 2000 square * miles of forest land whose timber supk plies are expected to last for seventyr five years. Canada was not yet worryIC ing very,much about reafforestation, he said,-for her forests were huge and tini- • ----iijrr -supplies, almost unlimited. P ~: ■ •—-——-= ie * Work on the. piers of the Alexandra • , v Bridge to make room for the new pipe- J, r *-line is now well in hand. Mr Lindup, j ( a cngiaecr, Public Works, is supervising j ,c the undertaking.