RED POLLS AS MILKERS

Northern Advocate, 16 February 1926, Page 6

RED POLLS AS MILKERS

SUCCESS AT LONDON DAIRY SHOW. Signs have not been wanting in the last eighteen months, as is claimed by leading experts in dairy cattle, that there is a decided trend in the direction of the 1000 gallon cow. Whether or not the abnormal yielding dairy stock, which has come greatly into prominence during the last few.years, is in the long run desirable, is an open question when constitution and other things are considered. In view of the milk trial results at the London Dairy Show, there is testimony for the strong belief of those who feel that it is undesirable as far as the average farmer is concerned to divorce milk from beef.

At this year’s dairy show no fewer than fifteen breeds were competing in the milk trials, and while the champion honors, as far, as the best collection of cows is concerned, went to that fine dairy breed,,the Ayrshire, they were immediately followed as reserve champion by the Red Poll. The success of the Red Poll was all the more remarkable, not only because of the distinctly dual character of the Red Poll group of cows, but also because they reflected to a striking extent the distinctive merits of the breed for persistency in milk yielding , over the lactation, longevity and their beef attributes. The success of the Red Polls in what was probably the strongest competition ever resulting at the London Dairy Show was noticeable from the fact that there were only six cows of the breed in the show, and yet they were reserve champion. More than this, they included in their number one from Cheshire, which, yielded Ct gallons on each day of the trials, lier age being 14 years. . Then there was the 12-year-old 2000-gallon cow, Hardwick Ashberry, which distinguished herself by a like per-: formanee. This cow, notwithstanding her fine milking properties, w-as placed third on inspection only because she had the splendid fault of being exceptional!}’ be.efy in appearance. _The winning cow, Tendring Floss XXIX., which was reserve champion at this year’s royal show, was a splendid example of how the Red Polls maintain their yields; she gave 41 gallons a day six months from calving, and also won the breed butter prize. And this is a breed which, though it can hold its own in fat stock- shows, comes right to the front under the severest test of leading milk experts who had the allotment of the champion cup for the best group of cows in the show. TMe Red Roll team of six averaged 5J gallons, and their average age was between nine and ten years. Do not these results afford substantial proof that milk and beef when closely allied are a considerable asset?