AYRSHIRE CATTLE.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 1 May 1926, Page 12

AYRSHIRE CATTLE.

SUITABILITY FOR NEW ZEALAND DEMONSTRATION BY MR E. MILLS.

The firsts Ayrshire cattle demonstration ever he cl in Taranaki was given under tne auspices of tne Taranaki Ayrsnire. Cattle lireecUr.s’ Club by Mr j? red Mills, otneial demonstrator to tne New Zealand Association, at Mr \\. Haij’s farm, iveliy Koad, last week, w klespread interest was taken m the demonstration, a number ol farmers journeying from Haweua and Okaiawa to be present, there being between 60 and 70 people present to hear Mr Mills’ address.

Mr \V. Hail introduced tile, demonstrator, at tlie same time commenting upon the success of Ayrshire, catte in Canada, where Ayr,shires topped the list at the Royal Show with 300 entries. _ . , „ , Remarking that it was the- first occasion on which he had spoken on Ayrs,hires in Taranaki, Mr Mills at the outset said there was a lot in favour of the Ayrshire. The soundest farmer in the world, the Scotsman, considered it best, and it would take, a l°t to get past that recommendation. In Canada, proceeded Mr Mills, the Ayrshire was (responsible for the high grade cheese that that country produced. Scotland produced cheese equally as fine, and made almost entirely from Ayrshire milk. In Mi: Mills’ opinion, New Zea'and was not going to be so much a buttermaking country as a cheese-making country, for the reason that there was more competition in the butter market. There were few countries that- could make good cheese and for years cheese had paid this country better than buthe*

HARDIEST OF ALL BREEDS. The Ayrshire was the hardiest of all breeds. Mr Mills said he had .sold two Ayrshire cows to. one of the mountain houses, where, 3000 feet above, sealevel, thev had fared well and proved very suitable. Again, in the Wairarapa, where a bad. season was being experienced, Ayrshire heifers were the only ones doing any good. It was proved that Ayrshires would do well in places far too. severe in climate for other breeds. Mr Mills then gave an interesting demonstration of the points to be ,looked for in a good dairy cow, and his remarks were closely followed. In answer to questions, Mr, Mills said that the best cows in his opinion was the Ayrshire-Jersey. He said tlmi temper in .animals was largely <a. matter of treatment and that any wellbred animal would respond to’ good or had treatment. He went on to remark the success of the Ayrshire at London shows, and said that the breed was more than holding it own in New Zealand. Additional, remarks were made by Mr R. \Y. D. .Robertson, who said he first saw the Scotch Ayrshire of the modern type at Ayr, in 1912. They were remarkable for their size, and he added that in New Zealand there was a tendency to breed too much for show and not for utility. The Ayrshire was, in his opinion, the intermediate between the two extremes. He said, in conclusion, lie was convinced the Ayrshire was coming into its own. On his motion a hearty vote of thanks was accorded to Mr. Mills for his excellent demonstration.

In acknowledging the compliment, Mr. Mills said that Ayrshire 'breeders were wisely concentrating on. herd averages and that some herds of upwards of eighty eowts averaged close on JOOllbs of fat.