Cattle Of High Standard; Numbers Disappointing

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30288, 14 November 1963, Page 22

Cattle Of High Standard; Numbers Disappointing

Disappointment at the number of entries was expressed by nearly all judges of cattle classes, but the general standard was high, in spite of the bad winter.

Much attention had evidently been given to maintaining the conditions of mature animals during the bad season, said the judges, but its effects could be seen in some of the younger stock.

The over-all quality of Friesians, milking Shorthorn cows and Red Polls, drew high commendation. Among entries in the Red Poll section were some classed as “very close to perfect.” Friesian “A wonderful class of cattle,” was the comment of the judge of the Friesian section (Mr E. R. Elliott, of Frankton). The champion cow, a well-balanced animal showing great capacity, strength, and size, could win anywhere in New Zealand, he said. The cow, entered by M. B. Leslie (Tai Tapu), was sired by the imported English bull Terling Brabazon. Places in the mature bull classes were closely contested by excellent entries, he said. Few points separated all the animals. Very gratifying was the high standard of the younger stock. This augured well for the continued popularity of the breed, which was the strongest in Canterbury, Mr Elliott said. The only disappointing development was the appearance of some “tail-enders,” particularly in the junior classes. Mr Elliott attributed this to the bad winter. Care of the younger animals would have been secondary to keeping the mature beasts in good condition, he said.

Hereford

With more entries than any other breed, the Hereford classes comprised the show’s major cattle section. Broad and deep, with a good head, a bull owned by D. W. Morrow, "Montalto,” Ashburton, decisively won the supreme champion bull award after taking the championship in its original class. The champion cow award was also taken by an entry by Mr Morrow. Some very fine cattle were shown, said the judge (Mr E. Thacker, of O’Kains Bay), although in some cases overcondition badly affected walking. The champion bull, the largest animal competing in the class, was a particularly fine specimen, he said. In spite of the good overall entries, in some of the minor classes support was disappointing, said Mr Thacker. Milking Shorthorn Although a bad winter caused some entries in the junior classes to be not quite up to show standard, in the mature classes cows were of exceptional quality, said Mr H. I. Penberthy (Palmerston North), the judge of Milking Shorthorns. They were all of a fine dairy type. The champion was a well-attached specimen, particularly well caught up behind—a feature which earned her top placing over the reserve champion, which was also an exceptional beast, Mr Penberthy said. The mature cow classes were also marked by the highest number of entries in the section, which was well supported over all. Particularly fine specimens took top placings in the senior bull classes, which also had a good line-up, Mr Penberthy said. Unlike the junior animals, the condition of the senior beasts, in spite of the late spring, was very sound. Red Poll The entry of 15 was disappointing, but he had never before seen such a fine line of Red Poll cattle, said Mr W. C. Miles, of Taumarunui, who judged this section. Among the animals were some close to perfect, he said. Canterbury was the leading province for Red Poll cattle, and he had never seen entries in the North Island to compare with them. His most difficult decision was in the bull section, won by an entry from M. M. Fleming. The second bull was very close, and six to eiglit inches longer than the winner but was not as even Mr Fleming’s beast was better about the tail and shoulders and was of ideal colour, he said. Almost perfect was the cow entered by Mr J. T. and G. V. Prosser which won the premier award of its section. Jersey The champion Jersey cow was a fine, upstanding animal

which would take “quite a bit of beating,” said the judge (Mr A. Jenkins, of Stratford). Although it was one of the best Jersey displays he had seen for some time the overall standard of the animals was not quite up to the standard seen at North Island shows. Mr Jenkins said the top cows were excellent but that the tail end of the class he judged was not quite up to standard. The champion bull and its reserve were both really good animals. The younger cattle followed the same pattern of having excellent animals at the top of the class. The young heifer at the top of this class was top quality. Not many calves were exhibited, only four or five in each class.

Beef Shorthorn Young stock was better than the old in the Beef Shorthorn class, said the judge (Mr N. O. Moffatt, of Balclutha). Quality throughout was quite good, he said. There were some strong classes in the females. The senior champion in the breed, a two-year-old heifer, was a very good female. Mr Moffat said the champion junior yearling heifer should develop into a quite outstanding animal. Apart from the number of heifers the number of entries in the class was, to say the least, a bit disappointing. Aberdeen Angus The judge of the Aberdeen Angus cattle (Mr M. M. Marshall, of Takapu) was another who expressed disappointment at the number of entries in the class. There were five. Mr Marshall said that these compared very favourably with others he had seen at shows in the North Island. The champion bull was a very good animal with a beautiful head, said Mr Marshall. In spite of her age (about six years) the champion female was a wonderful example of the breed. She was still very smooth in the flesh. Mr Marshall said that the reserve female, a two-year-old heifer, was also a very solid and fleshy animal. She ran the champion very close, he said. Ayrshire What Ayrshires were exhibited were of a very good class and the quality was, on the whole, quite good, said the judge (Mr G. Brazendale, of Carterton). He said, however, that the quality of the younger cattle was not up to the standard of the older cattle. Of the older cows Mr Brazendale said there was not much difference among them. The number of entries was down this year, and the judge said this was a disappointment.