CHANGES IN LIVESTOCK BREEDING

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32702, 3 September 1971, Page 20

CHANGES IN LIVESTOCK BREEDING

Two terms in the livestock vocabulary have had to be redefined in the last year or two. One is “quality”—what once were considered to be desirable qualities are now regarded as undesirable. Fatness is one such quality. Now we are finding that “stud stock” are not what they used to be.

We were proud of our purebred livestock and while quite appreciative of the good points of the first cross of two pure breeds we were quite sure that we must persist in defining and breeding pure-blooded stock. In this month’s report one of the most interesting sales is that of some crossbred bulls which are going to be used as sires in herds of purebred cows for the purpose of introducing a foreign cross into the present pure breed and there perpetuating it and thus making a new “pure” breed.

In the Putaruru saleyards a yearling bull from an Angus cow inseminated by a Charolais bull was sold for $590, while some others from the same breeder but from Hereford cows made from $260 to $450. These were good looking bulls not quite the full 12 months and their weights were announced. They ranged from 8301 b to 9601 b, the Angus being the top weight. An interesting aspect of the sale of the Herefords was that the best looking bull was the lightest but made the top price of $450. At the recent meeting of the Simmental enthusiasts in Christchurch to form a breed society there was considerable discussion and quite a divergence of opinion on how best to up-grade crossbred Simmentals to qualify as purebreds—some wanting to bar certain dairy breeds and others disagreeing. One of the most interesting things about this meeting was the great number of farmers from all over the country who were either at the meeting or expressed interest in being breeders of Simmentals. Included in this near century of enthusiasts there can be found the names of many of the farmers who have been leaders in the industry right from the beginning of farming in this country. Many of these leaders were considered to be the most conservative of conservatives and here we find their sons and grandsons being innovators. This is good, for they are the right types of stockmen to handle new methods of breeding stock.

yard news recently and this has reminded me of some figures I read recently of some weight trials in Britain where the Devon c£me out on top. A group of bulls of the three orthodox beef breeds and Devons (the Red strain not the South Devon) were run

together for 500 days. The Devon bulls averaged 12571 b at the end of the trial while the next best breed weight was 11821 b and ran down to 10671 b. There are not many Red Devons in this country but every now and then a line of steers will top the market when they appear in the yards.

If one cannot include the Lions in a stud stock review at least one can include the comments of one of the followers of the Lions on a matter of vital interest to all stud farmers —indeed all farmers. This man was a wholesale butcher in a big way in Wales.

He is sure that within a few years after Britain’s entry into the E.E.C. we, as meat suppliers, will be getting better prices than we have ever had in our farming history.

His contention is that our meat, especially lamb, is so cheap by European standards that even if tariffs as high as 20 per cent are imposed, our present prices will be more than doubled. He quoted me some wholesale prices ruling in Britain at the moment and their counterparts in Europe; in most cases they are double. For instance, beef steaks range from 65 cents for stewing to $l.BO for fillet in England, in France $1 to $2.75. Lamb 43 cents against $l.BO and legs of lamb 60 cents as compared with $2.25. He was emphatic that we would be getting more than double our present range of prices within five years —provided that Britain went in. He conceded that there was a slight possibility that Britain would not enter but then, he thought,

that Britain would soon become so weak commercially that we would be in trouble with our trade with her. We should do all we could to ensure that Britain entered the market. From Lions to pigs. The chairman and secretary of the Pig Producers’ Council are at present overseas investigating improved breeds of pigs—in U.S.A, the Lacombe, and in France the Petrain. Both of these breeds are reputed to have a higher proportion of meat, and therefore less fat, than the breeds at present in this country. It would be some years before these pigs could be imported, if they were found to be useful to us, because of our strict quarantine requirements. But it is interesting to find pig producers, like beef men, investigating new breeds to see what they have to offer.

A recent press message concerning the increase in stock commissions in which Mr P. Bartholemew, chairman of the Manawatu branch of Federated Farmers, states that farmers are angry and up in arms about it does not tally with my experience round the yards since this announcement was made. I have heard no word of criticism from any farmer at the four stock sales I have attended during the last week. Indeed when I questioned farmers they all agreed that the rise was just and inevitable. It is 17 years since the rates were last raised and during that period such other charges against the farmer as stock railage has risen 66 per cent ( including one rise of 15 per cent in one year, 1963, and stock cartages, which are about double those of 20 years ago.

This seems to be the great record-breaking era. The currency inflation makes it possible for record prices to be paid for livestock even though the true value remains the same. But when it comes to butterfat performances, inflation (except in the teat cup) has nothing to do with it—yet, up go the records almost every year. Last season a Jersey cow, Maple Starstitch, created an all-breed record when she produced 11331 b of butterfat in the 305-day period. Towards the end of this season an Ayrshire cow, Ora Cristabel, came to light with a national record of 12791 b and seemed to have the all-breeds record safely in her keeping. But a few

days later it was announced that a Friesian cow, Tarata R.I. Winnie, had bettered this performance by producing 12831 b, a mere four pounds more than the Ayrshire but enough for her to win the coveted title. A farmer would only need 25 of this stamp of cow to have a profitable herd producing 30,0001 b of fat. The Royal Show auction sales have long been a feature of the Sydney and Melbourne Royals; now New Zealand is to have her Royal Show auction. Dalgetys and Wright Stephensons have joined together in promoting such a sale at Palmerston North in conjunction with the Royal Show in November. It is proposed that all classes of livestock, sheep, cattle, pigs and horses will be eligible for entry in the sale, but each beast will have to be a competitor at the show and the entry of such beast made at the time of application for a place in the show. I believe that this will be an additional attraction at the show at a time when great efforts have to be made to keep up the public interest.

The accompanying stud stock review for August has been prepared by ]. T. McCaw, of Palmerston North.

The Devon breed has been appearing in the sale-