FARM NOTES

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXIII, Issue 11828, 9 January 1933, Page 2

FARM NOTES

BREEDING OF STOCK

OLD PROBLEM REVIVED.

APPEARANCE AND PERFORMANCE.

An old country controversy lias been, revived among tho cattle breeders in England by certain results of th e secant, London Dairy Show. Tho champion. cow, as well as certain other animals which distinguished themselves in tlie milking trials and butter tests, did not appeal very strongly to the inspection judges. A critic in tho “Live Stock Journal’’ write's that such things should, not,, escape .attention. They provide food for thought in tho direction of th G aims of) tho breeders and ishow societies. Ho mentions that “several of the heaviest milker's possessed hags which induced “quite a bit of chin scratching’ amongst visiting farmers. ’> According to thi s critic, the placing of the highest honours of the show during the la’st few years seems rather to discount the importance of inspection classe's. “Tho avowed aim of the British Dairy Farmers” Association,” ho states, “is the improvement of dairy istock, and it may he asked which is the cow that is most valuable genetically—she who wins a. first in the inspection class because 'she is typical of her variety, symmetrical, and has reasonable ability at the pail, or the matron who, while not so close to these standards, yields a prodigious amount of milk or butter and takes the highest honors in the show ? In other words, is a plain cow with a heavy yield better than a more typical one with a moderate yield? By 'better’ we mean of more value to her biroed -and the country’s dairy stock generally. The question is a difficult one. and brings up the old problem oi' pedigree breeding—appearance versus performance. Since the days of the old bull, Hubbacks, breeders have often found that it is not always the best-looking 'sires and dams which produce the most attractive progeny. Many a hull especially endowed with ability to transmit good qualities to liis offspring lias gone to the block oil account of his plain ness before his value as a sire has been realised. Undoubtedly, again in. the case of several breed craving for breed points lias lost many useful sires to the industry.

Of course, breeders usually pursue the middle course. The good looking cow is, its a ride, at least au adequate yiekler, and the cow iwlio gives a high yield is a useful specimen, on exterior con formation, of her kind. The writer finds, however, that “the trend of genetical research to-day is more and more to emphasise the record of production as the basis ol mating. Daughters or heavy yielder.s are united -with the sons and grandsons of heavy vielders. The preservation of breed standards is not the first- consideration. Thus a cow which, judged on conformation, is only mediocre, both in type and utility points, becomes a, valuable breeding animal because of the records behind her. The filiation, -which, comes to one’s mind is: “Does recording constitute a menace to breed type? “And”, he concludes, “ht the) light if *ueh although one wonders whether the London dairy show aulitorities might not do (well to give more prominence to m•spaction points iu awarding its leading honours.”

THE CLYDESDALE'S STORY

Tlio Clydesdale's story, Hke the Shire, is of mixed origin, and there is a good deal of difference of opinion as to tlie relative influence of the different elements entering into the composition. From early times the Upper Ward of Lanarkshire in th 0 valley of the Clyde has been noted for powerful farm-horses owing paitialE at least to the ability of the soil to support largo framed animals. At different periods the importations of Flemish and English horses iwere made, in addition to the interchange which would naturally go on in times when horses were the sole means ol transport by land. For many years however, no Shire of foreign origin ha been introduced, and it is hardly necessary to say that the two leading breed's of British cart horses are distinct, though having many ancestors and characteristics in common. Among the most celebrated ol the earlier horses imported into Scotland and used to improve the native breed were Flemish, stallions brought by John Paterson of Lochloycb, about 1720 an English liorso Blaze, introduced by another Paterson about 1780, while successive Duke, of Hamilton imported Flemish horses at different periods.

The best and most noted modern Clydesdales trace to dancer (1535) alias Thompson’s Black Horse, bred about JlBlO by Somerville, Lampits Farm, Carnwath, although belonging to the Locklyoch Flemish connection. Ho was a very perfect horse in all points except the hocks, which tune considered to he “a>little lull. Both hind legs were white and hia clean, sharp bones were fringed withe nice flowing silk hair.” From Broomfleld Champion (95), the great grandson of Thompson’s, dancer the most famous isireis. of the breed, including Prince of Wales (673) and Darnley (222) were descended.

The blending of the blood of Darnley mares with that of Princes of Walds and his male progeny, was m large measure responsible for the modern- Clydesdale. The Prince' of Albion which cost Sir John 'Gilraour, Bart, of Moutravc, £3,000, was a son of the Prince of Wales by a daughter of Darnlep; and the highest price ©voi paid foil, a two-year-old Clydesdale filly was given, at Moutrave sale, in 1892, for animal of the same faaluonablo blood, .JlbutraVo Dosea, registered as Queen of Boses (12302), the oilspring of two champion's, Urnico of Albion (6178) and Moss Rose (6203). Baron’s Pride. (9122), the most 1»luoiid. sire of, modem times, was descended from the Prince of Wales— Darnley connection, lie was not fully appreciated while he remained « life breeders, Messi'S. B. and * Findlay, of Spring Hill, Badlieston, Lanarkshire, but lxis offspring have gained more premiums at shows' than

all the other competitors put together. Perhaps the most famous of his sonsi arc Everlasting, Silver Cup and Baron o’ Buchlyvie. All these were first, prize winners at the Highland Society’s Show, the two former three times each ; the last-mentioned recently realised the 'record price of £9,500 by public auction.