CATTLE

Press, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 26887, 13 November 1952, Page 10

CATTLE

Competition is becoming stiffer in the cattle section and in all sections where entries are good this year the judges noted exceptionally even quality. Visitors to the Royal show of 1950 will not be surprised, as in that year outstanding yearling classes were shown and now these animals have graduated to adult competition. Early promise has been well realised, but results were by no means a foregone conclusion, as many well-known breeders have recently made notable importations. New blood from overseas was seen yesterday in a number of sections, and some breeders have bought stock from other parts of New Zealand. All this meant fresh interest in the cattle judging yesterday and the rings were lined with spectators until the last classes were finished late in the afternoon. All cattle have been brought out well, their condition belies seasonal difficulties, and there is no evidence of any set-back through the recent stormy weather. Exhibitors have obviously been able to give more time to preparation, and in bloom and handling more than 600 entries show the benefit. SHORTHORN There was comment again this year on the division of the Shornhorn exhibits into beef and “dairy” sections, with the latter nearly duplicating classes available in the Milking Shorthorn competitions. The judge (Mr P. N. Murphy, of Gisborne) said this was the only show he knew where this arrangement persisted. There might be some difficulty, he said, about separate herd book entries for dairy and milking shorthorns but it should be possible to simplify the situation. The champions, chosen over both the beef and dairy sections, were both imported animals. The champion bull. Cluny Bambi, came from Scotland and was exhibited by W. and F. Mcßride. Considerable quality and excellent handling were immediately apparent, but to Mr Murphy his chief appeal was low and thick setting. “They will grow leggy on their own, but you have to breed them low,” Mr Murphy said. This bull should helo the breed. The veteran breeder, J. C. Chamberlain, had the reserve champion bull, Thongsleigh Ranger 41st, bred by the exhibitor. The judge remarked on his nice smooth fleshing. A nuggety pure white heifer imported from England by Mr J. M. Chamberlain, son of the well-known breeder, took the female championship. Walshford Rosebud" 33rd had good lines and Mr Murphy thought she would develop into a first-class cow. J. C. Chamberlain also took the reserve championship with an aged cow, Thongsleigh Snowdrop 41st, a familiar specimen of good type. Mr Murphy said a bigger entry would have been encouraging. ABERDEEN ANGUS Since he was last here in 1948, the Aberdeen Angus judge (Mr E. Dono'an, of Hastings) noted a better standard of entry although numbers were smaller. He had no hesitation in classing the champion bull, Roberts and Company’s Euclid of Incheoch, the best animal in the section. This imported sire had beautiful conformation and was nicely deep set. Mr Donovan said. He handled well. The reserve champion. J. Y. Scales’s Proud Prince of Mangatoro was also a good bull. “Another outstanding animal,” was the judge’s description of Jefflid Erica of Bibbonwood, R. K. Ireland’s champion cow, bred by the exhibitor. In type and breed characteristics she scored heavily. J. Y. Scales took another reserve championship with Eetty of Willowdene, one of his own breed. An older cow, she was still well fleshed. GALLOWAY Bringing a team of Galloways from distant Wanaka, Miss Leslie Hunt was deeply disappointed to find that no other competitor had entered. Miss Hunt has supported the Canterbury association loyally since Galloways were first admitted in the Royal show of 1950. Then there were four exhibitors including some entries from the North Island.

There was some compensation in the praise of the judge (Mr Jos. Webb, of Taihape). “The champion bull and

cow could be shown with success anywhere in this country. It is a pleasure to see these beasts turned out in natural condition and not overfed,” he said. The champion bull, Aspiring of Fork Farm, the owner’s own breed, had a great coat, good constitution, and plenty of character. The imported champion cow, Milnholm Trim, had good breed type. Belted Galloways were not represented. though they attracted a lot of interest when first seen a few years ago. MILKING SHORTHORN The standard throughout in the Milking Shorthorn section was high, said the judge (Mr W. McGowan, of Auckland). The female classes were strong, particularly in the senior and junior divisions, the animals showing plenty of quality. The champion cow, Arran Rose, was shown by L. D. Bowis. It was a good example of a real Milking Shorthorn with great dairying ability. It had had a long life as a working cow but its appearance was first-class, said Mr McGowan. The udder conformation was good and it was in even condition. The reserve champion, Arran Mildred, was exhibited by Mrs L. Richards. This animal was a three-year-old and looked a good dairying type, but lacked a little of the character of a champion. In the male classes the winners were up to the standard of the female section, but there was not the same general quality throughout. The champion bull, Lincoln Knight, shown by Canterbury Agricultural College. Lincoln, was well prooortioned with a good frame and constitution. Although only a three-year-old it showed great promise. It should have more wins, said Mr McGowan. The reserve champion, Haeremai Scoutmaster, was exhibited bv S. H. Lili. It was older than the champion, and, although it was well proportioned, it showed a lack in colouring. It was not quite so well finished. The senior yearling bull champion was Kenya Snowball, owned by S. H. Lili. This animal showed an even, amount of condition and evidence of good dairying quality. Mr McGowan was well pleased with the standard of entries. The standard in the Milking Shorthorn section was getting higher each year, he said. HEREFORDS There was no entry of Herefords. which caused general regret among officials. They recalled that the breed was once fairly popular in Canterbury,

FRIESIAN “The greatest line of cattle I have ever seen in my life” was the way the Friesian judge (Mr J. Stevenson, jun., of Taupiri) classified the Friesians. There was a huge entry often taking two lines across the ring. The competitors were almost wholly from Canterbury. Friesians were introduced to New Zealand by John Grigg in 1884. Yesterday the Longbeach stud made its first appearance in the Christchurch ring for many years in the name of J. H. Grigg (grandson of the founder) and it had success. His winning two-year-old bull was a recent importation, the first Friesian bull ever brought directly from England. “He is a real Friesian. Can I say more?” the judge said. The Longbeach herd is the second oldest established in the world.

R. E. Gillman and Son’s aged bull, Koromiko F.P. Jester, took the championship. His form was good enough to win on the day but he is faced with stiff competition from youngsters. The same bull won last year. Mr Mcßride, jun., had the reserve champion bull in Deloraine County Batman, for whom the judge predicts more honours. He is a full brother to the winner of the Friesian oaks yesterday. A tried performer, C. W. Humm and Sons’ Mahoe Southern Serenata, won the cow championship. She began her major successes by being reserve champion of the 1949 South Island show .and since then has earned very highly commended classifications and recorded up to 6141 b of fat. The judge rated her as a great dairy type with a beaptiful vessel nicely quartered. She milked out well. Mr Stevenson said all the milking cows were shown in fine bloom. R. E. Gillman and Son won the reserve with Koromiko Champion Dell who has produced up to 5161 b of fat. The Friesian classes gained much interest from the commentary for spectators given by Mr Noel Roper, secretary of the New Zealand Friesian Association, who recalled the records of winning cattle and their owners. RED POLL Sir R. Heaton Rhodes was the only entrant in the Red Poll section, and his herd, the oldest in New Zealand, was exceptionally well brought out. The cattle evidently had been well cared for and much attention had been given to their condition, said the judge (Mr John Donaldson, of Stirling). The whole herd had good backs, which showed careful emphasis had been placed on breeding. The champion bull, Otahuna Majesty, was faultlessly formed with good fore quarters, and an excellent, pure, colour. The .reserve champion, Parihauhau Highland Chief, was described by Mr Donaldson as strongly built, but a trifle lacking in the fore quarters. It had a good dark colour. Otahuna Madeline 18th, the champion cow, showed dual purpose quality in milk and beef. The udder formation was good, with straight hanging teats. The reserve champion, Otahuna Yvonnie 2nd, was as well formed as the champion, but it was handicapped by being dry. Its colour was good. Mr Donaldson said that in the last five years there had been wonderful improvement in Sir Heaton Rhodes’s herd. With the young stock coming on the herd could not help but improve, he said. JERSEY About 10 years ago there was a wide difference in the type of Jersey shown in the North and South Islands. Yesterday’s judge (Mr Gordon R. Scown, of Manutahi) comes from the heart of the Jersey country near Hawera and found standards between the islands now much closer. The yearling classes impressed him especially. A Waikato bull, Glenmore Winning Hit, brought south by F. E. Martyn and Son won the championship and though only a two-year-old had all the Jersey characteristics and refinements in clean, flat bone, fine flesh, and good carriage. R. W. Frost’s Silverlea Viscount has been a fine bull in his day, but with age is showing some weakness over the loins. In type he is still good. Roseneath Gamboge Bib, W. J. Russell s champion cow, followed spring successes as champion as Amberley and reserve champion at Rangicra. “She should hold her own in any company,” the judge said. This animal won the North Canterbury Jersey oaks last year at Rangiora. The reserve champion, D. H. Jones’s Rongamai Nola, won the Jersey oaks yesterday. Her type and production showed that these attributes went together, said the judge. Jersey classes are growing bigger every year and yesterday they had a big gallery. * AYRSHIRE Ayrshires, an ever-increasing breed m Canterbury, were again a feature of the cattle section. The animals shown were of a high class and the standard compared favourably with the best shows in New Zealand, said the judge (Mr F. S. Hutchings, of Rotorua). The animals in the aged female class We J e °L an exce Ptionally high standard- “The whole line-up was something to fill the eye,” said Mr Hutchings. The champion. Lakeside Daphne, bred by J. Legg, was a beautifully proportioned animal, well fleshed, and with a very good skin and coat. Legg also exhibited the reserve champion. Lakeside Bev. This beast was also well proportioned and showed a good dairying capacity. The reserve champion also took first place in the three-year-old heifer class. There was good quality among the aged bulls, said Mr Hutchings. The champion, Ardgowan Golden Sun. shown by M. F. Butcher, was described by the judge as a good, all-round animal. The reserve champion, Rosshire Snowboy. was shown by the breeder. R. H. MacKenzie.

Mr Hutchings criticised the handling of the aged bulls in .the ring. “I feel it would be better for everyone concerned if the aged bulls were held under better control.” he said. “They require at least two men or a pole. There have been too many accidents because of poor handling.” The yearling heifer class produced some very nice animals, Mr Hutchings said. “There were at least a dozen animals that showed up well.” The junior yearling bulls were a good bunch and the winner showed great depth, character and proportion. GUERNSEY

Competition in the Guernsey section was limited. The animals were uniformly good, well formed and in fair ondition. The judge (Mr R. J. Gilbert, of Ellesmere) said that the standard was not as high as in the past Peter Rennell’s Spring Time won the

two-year-old cow or heifer class This animal had an exceptionally good back and was in good fettle. The back udder was well quartered, but there was a defect in the front udder. It was not quite true to type, but was easily the best in the group. C. A McLachlan’s Covar Coquette, which gained second place in this class, was not in good condition, but had good teat placements.

The winning entry in the two-year-old heifer class. Spring Fashion, was also shown by Rennell. This animal had good fore quarters and showed even condition.

The yearling heifer shown by B. L. Roper was warmly praised by the judge. It was a pity that it was the only entry in that class, he said. This heifer was in fine fettle and showed signs of developing into an excellent two-year-old.