TYPE AND PRODUCTION

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXVII, Issue 4457, 14 October 1933, Page 8

TYPE AND PRODUCTION

HERDS THAT PROVE PAYABLE. Production and type are not antagonistic, they can be combined in the same animal, and it is the duty of the pedigree breeder to keep an eye on both. The encouragement of dairy cattle that are large milk producers as well as being of good type is effected in New Zealand by the continued selec tion of high producing cows mated with bulls that, in addition to proving winners in the showrings have sound butter-fat backing. The various breed societies keep a record of the names of all animals that have achieved a specified standard under official test. This is. a guarantee that an animal is good at the pail, as well as being true to type. The various sales of pedigree bulls in recent weeks} at Claudelands, Te Awamutu, Pukekohe, and other provincial centres have shown that animals conforming to type, with butter-fat backing and apparent constitution, have invariably attained highest prices. Discerning dairymen, whether th)ey intend to breed for subsequent sale or to improve their own herds, have passed by many animals that are lacking in at least one of the three essentials

named. They knew that suck an animal, even if purchasable at less than half the price, was not so cheap as it seemed to be. Some farmers arguled that as practically all the young stock would go to the Ibobby calf market there was no need to purchase high-pedigreed sires, but herd replacements are necessary every year, and it is bad business to use “ scrub ” bulls at all. Careful selection is an essential, and production, type and constitution are the most important factors. THE ENGLISH VIEW. In England this question is engaging some attention, as it is recognised that in seeking production records there may be a danger that type mjay be neglected. Scientifically, it is a fact that production and type are not antagonistic—they can be combined in the same animal, and it is the duty of the pedigree breeder to keep an eiye on both. A milky strain of uncouth appearance will not get far, and a very “ typey ” strain with poor production records, has no place in these days of balancing the budget. The English advice, which stands good also for New Zealand is for the dairyman who is trying to improve his herd to satisfy himself, when purchasing a sire, as to the production of the females,, and where possible, the progeny performances of the males in both lines of the pedigrtee, and also to assure himself that the dam of his prospective purchase is a typical specimen of the breed. A sire out of a good looking cow of good family will generally produce a majority of females of good type.