MILK AND BEEF.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19918, 11 April 1928, Page 15

MILK AND BEEF.

POPULARITY OF RED POLLS. SPLENDID DUAL-PURPOSE CATTLE In practically every part of the world where cattle breeding is extensively followed, whether for milk, beef or butter production, changes, if they have not already taken place, are in contemplation. The tendency is most marked in the direction of the development of dual-purpose cattle, the necessity for which is being enforced on herd owners for several reasons, not the least of which is greater economy in the production of milk, butter and beef. In Great Britain the combination of milk and beef in one breed has become imperative through the none too remunerative prices for milk and consequently the rearing of the steer calves which come to early maturity is being more widely adopted. This by no means unimportant sideline in dairying, particularly when it can be associated with the keeping oi dairy herds averaging 800 to 900 gallons a year is fast leading many tc concentrate on dual-purpose stock. Signs are not wanting in Australasia, South Africa and particularly in the numerous countries embraced in the South American continent, that this policy is to be actively pursued, more especially when it is possible to have a breed of cattle dependable for iiigh quality milk, for butter-making and for the production of beef of just that stamp and quality which meets the modern requirements of the meat trade.

The cattle which have come prominently to tho front as highly suitable for supplying the needs of those who wish to embark on dual-purposeness is the Red Poll. The extent to which new herds have been formed in Great Britain, the number of sires which have been acquired for cross breeding, the extent to which importations of Red Polls are proceeding in South America, tho favourable reports on the breed from both dairy and beef points of view in Australia and New Zealand, and the increasing attention which Red Polls have received in South Africa, is indicative of the recognised value of this breed for milk and beef production. Probably at no time in its history has the Red Poll demonstrated its worth in this connection than at thd national shows in Great Brita'o in 1927, as well as on tho commercial cattle markets during tho whole of the past year. Apart from the Red Poll breed's successful performances in tho milk trials at the London Dairy Show, where they beat all breeds but one, there is the fact that at the Smithfield Show, where Red Polls had by far the biggest collection of baby steers under 15 months old, the stock there was out of high milk-yielding cows. The winning young steer was the get of a bull whose dam has averaged 1250 gallons for the last two years, while the champion of the breed was a steer by the same bull and whose dam was out of a cow which has averaged 1100 gallons for tho last, fivo years. At the Norwich Fat Stock Show the winning steer was out of a 900-gallon cow, while numerous other winners at both the shows just mentioned had a big milk ancestry. In other parts of the country the success of the Red Poll breed has been equally marked. Herds which have been singularly successful in the production of beef have, in 1927, averaged milk records oi over 800 gallons; in fact, the performances of Red Polls in this latter respect has never been so striking as shown by the official records. Equally good in all these several respects is the Framlingham herd of Mr. W. Woodgate, which again shows an average of well in excess of 80001b., and which, last year, provided the breed champion for the Smithfield Show, as well as the best and weightiest baby steer in the Red Poll section.