HEART OF SHOW

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31195, 20 October 1966, Page 22

HEART OF SHOW

Although the main function of agricultural and pastoral shows may be obscured by the carnival atmosphere, the heart of the show is its competitive displays of livestock.

The stock displays provide another incentive for continuing efforts to improve the quality of the livestock—so important to the economy of the country. The gathering of stock at one central ground for a show enables other stud breeders and farmers to more easily compare the relative merits of the animals. The Rangiora show has long established itself as a yardstick of farming endeavour in North Canterbury with steadily increasing entries and record gates. The show is noted for the quality of its stock exhibits.

Competition in the dairy cattle sections is probably the strongest in Canterbury, apart from the Metropolitan show. Winners from Rangiora have frequently gone on to take major honours in Christchurch. The main breeds in the province are catered for, with the strongest support for the Jersey and the Friesian breeds.

As it is to be expected with the show gaining such strong cattle entries, the surrounding North Canterbury district is the home of many of the leading cattle studs in the province. Upsurge Support for the sheep section has shown a marked upsurge to 769 entries, an excellent number considering it was not many years ago that the figure was as low as 240. The strongest section at this week’s show is the Corriedale and the support in these classes is such that it has been necessary to increase the judging panel from two to three. Part of the growing interest in the sheep section at Rangiora is attributable to the introduction of a fat lamb competition in the pen, followed by an export on-the-hook competition at the North Canterbury Freezing Company’s works at Kaiapoi in the next

week. This competition was introduced largely through the enthusiasm of the late Mr Colin Mclntosh, then a director of the company and a former show president. Gaining a prize in this competition reflects much credit on both the farmer and the ability of the lamb buyers or stock agents, who usually help the farmers to draft the lambs.

One of the aims of the competition is to help farmers to produce the type of lamb carcase favoured for overseas markets. The competition at the works enables farmers and drafters to discuss the requirements with the New Zealand Meat board and works graders. This year’s competition has a record entry of 96 pens of three lambs in the killing competition.