PRODUCING BEEF CATTLE

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6889, 20 April 1929, Page 12

PRODUCING BEEF CATTLE

Cross-Breeding is Distinct From “Mongrelism” At tt.e present time* cross-breeding in cattle seems to have become a high form of art and the specimens of such raising nowadays such a great feature at ail the great fat stock shows are the product of the most scientific methods of breeding, writes T. B. Goucher in on English agricultural paper. Why, it may be asked, has cross breeding become so popular? The answer is because it is more easy to produce those carticular qualities that are much in demand in the commercial animal by means of crossing two pure breeds than it is to produce them in the- purebred animal. One breed usually possesses certain characteristics that another does not, and feeders and butchers require certain qualities which perhaps are wanting or are not fully developed in some of the pure breeds, so that cross-breeding is resorted to in order to attain such desired qualities. Those who breed for beef are giving particular attention nowadays to tho art of ©Yoss-breeding which is extending its influence in all directions and is becoming a highly popular form of commercial cattle breeding. It should, however, always be borne in mind that pedigree must form the basis of successful cross-breeding. Unless it does, the system cannot be called cross-breed-ing, but is simply “mongrelism,” which must distinctly be avoided if we

ars to keep on the path of improvement and development in cur commercial stock. The fine specimens of cross-breeding seen at fat stock shows aro without exception the produce of pedigree sixes and, in the case of first crosses, of pedigree dams as well, whereas in the second and third crosses the sire is purebred and the dam’s sire is purebred, although a crossbred herself. Anything in/the nature of “mongrelising** must be avoided and an aaumal that has more than three crosses cannot be called other than a mongrel bred one. Why systematic cross-breeding is productive of such good results is not difficult to understand because in pedigree breeding and particularly in breeds that are somewhat closely bred an outcross. by which is meant the use of a sire of the same breed out of a totally diccrent lino of blood to the rest of the herd, often brings out good qualities that have been lying dormant and which need an infusion of fresh blood to bring them to life again. Thus it happens that in crossing two pure breeds the best dualities m both are brought out in the progeny, provided of course that the parents on both sides have merit. The crossing ot two unsatisfactory animals, pure bred though they be, cannot be expected to produce satisfactory results. For some years tho crossbred classes havo produced more entries than any others at the fat stock shows and the numbers continue to increase, which proves that the principle of cross breeding is extending. Breeders of pedigree beef cattle of the more popular breeds have a steady and increasing demand lor

bulls'and heifers for crossing purposes The best sires may be sold for export or for heading high-class herds at home, btu the next grade aro mostly m demand for crossing for commercial purposes. Perhaps some small defect in colour or some fancy point is su.ncient to spoil their market for export or as herd headers, but slight defects of this kind are of no account in cross-breed-ing provided the main points are well developed. . , , r „„_ Quite a useful trade is done by some breeders in producing crossbreds for exhibition purposes and purebred dams of one breed are as essential as tnc purebred sire of the other, so that 1 advisable to obtain pedigree females for tbe purpose as the initial outlay will be amply repaid in the end. For instance, if it vs desired to pro duce the popular blue-grey it is advisable to use a purebred win e btortborn bull on pedigree Galloway or Aberdeen-Angus females. This produc es the first cross. Then the heifers that arc the produce of this cross may be mated to a purebred Abcrdeen-An-gus bull. The progeny is then a second cross If the heifers of the second cross'aro then mated to a pedigree sire of any breed, ShoTthorn, Angus, or whatever it may be, then the progeny constitutes the third cross. Beyond this good results cannot be relied upon.