IMPROVING THE DOMINION’S STOCK.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19033, 1 December 1923, Page 2

IMPROVING THE DOMINION’S STOCK.

TARANAKI’S CONTRIBUTION (Written for the Otago Daily Times.) By Stockman.

The present position of the dairy industry in the dominion—its domination as an earning power—owes a great deal to the specialisation in that system of farming by < the same body of settlers in the Taranaki province. In the “cow” province the dairy animal has. been bred to an exceptionally high_ standard, and for many years now it his been possible for other provinces to draw upon Taranaki for foundation stock both for pedigree and grade herds. There are many wonderful dairy herds in the province. This is due to the long years of experience (and experience is the great teacher) that the dairymen of the province have had, and to their consistent use of pedigree and butter fat sires. The position is well exemplified to-day in the knowledge that both the champion butter-fat cows of the dominion, the great Friesian cow. Alcartra Clothilde I’ietjo, 11451 b of buMer-fat, and the now famous •lersey cow. FreUv’s Flirt, 10101 b of butterfat, were- bred in Taranaki. Or further than that, i' could be pointed out that the recently deposed champion Jersey cow, Sultan’s Daisy, 9581 b of butter-fat. as well as the great majority of the 8001 b and 7001 b cows of that breed were bred in Taranaki. Similarly, the great bulk of the BCOlb and 0001 b Friesian cows arc either Taranaki owned or by Taranaki sires. Further illustrations of the wonderful standard of Taranaki dairy cattle have just been witnessed in the two great dairy shows hold at Hawera and Stratford. At the latter show, completed last week, in the dairy cattle classes ihero was the great total of 550 entries. In one class no _ less than 34 heifers came before the judge of Jerseys, Air IV. 11. Both, of Middle Run. Carterton, and many other classes had more than 20 animals forward. The judging was a whole dav business, lasting from shortly after 9 o’clock in the morning until 6 in the afternoon. The Friesian judge. Mr C. E. Robertson, of Wellington, had a formidable task in his adult classes, having two rings of cows such as has never before been brought together in any part of the Southern Hemisphere. Twelve of the femal's alone had butterfat records averaging 7501 b. Among these were many heifers, and two cows which had both Produced 10001 b of butterfat. No less than six of these females received certificates from the judge in the ring, but, it was fullv one and a-half hours before the final verdict was given. THE ETERNAL QUESTION. The judging question is an eternal one, and the reversing of decisions within a week is naturally the cause of much heart-burn-ing. There is generally room for a difference of opinion, and this is the more apparent when the standard is high as it was at the recent Taranaki shows. The ambition of the breeder is to produce animals combining beauty of form with all the outward appearances of constitution and heavy production. As yet the perfect animal has not been evolved, nor yet the near perfect. Some animals are endowed with beauty of form to a remarkable degree. Their appearance at once claims the attention of the connoisseur of beauty. Other animals have the evidences of a, great constitution and capacity remarkably developed. In the show-ring the judge must weigh the one with the other, and it is only through long experience with the best that ho becomes capable of giving a decision that will hold water. His decision given, the ringsiders are immediately critical. The one section favours beauty of form and breed type. Those are the “type” men The others favour those animals lacking finish or quality but showing all the’-out-ward evidences of the heavy producer. This class of animal comes under the definition of ‘‘dairy” type. The judge- aims to place the animals not aeording to the standard of cither group, but in accordance with an ideal ho carries in his mind, in which is combined in the highest degree the qualities both of type and production. The dairy cow is, however, essentially a utility animal, and to continue successful as a breeder, the only firm foundation is that of constitution and performance. A cow may be sweetly pretty, but if she cannot maintain herself in good health and return to her owner a good profit over and above her keep, she can only bo regarded as a robber cow, a term vyhich is entirely correct. It can be readily seen then that a conscientious judge faced with rings of highclass animals has a most difficult task, and invariably a thankless one. ROYAL SHOW JUDGES. Who will judge at the Royal Show is a question already filling the minds of breeders. The general opinion is that, where possible, the judges of the “Royal” should., be drawn from outside the country. Among the dairy breeds there are several men in Victoria whose appearance in a New Zealand show-ring would be welcome by Ayrshire breeders, and milking - Shorthorn men would undoubtedly welcome the great Australian breeder of the “Melbas.” The Jersey and Friesian breeders are not so fortunate. If -is oven suggested that some loading American judges, for in that, country judging has become an art, should be brought to the dominion to officiate. The Royal Show will certainly provide a remarkable display of dairy cattle, and no effort must be spared on the part, of the authorities to bring forward adjudicators of ripo experience. AMONG- THE WINNERS. At a Taranaki show the Jersey breed provides an exhibition that is not rivalled outside of that province, although in the Auckland province the standard is rapidly being raised. The Royal Show should, however, settle differences of opinion in that regard, because at the first “Royal” every province is bound to make a special effort to be represented by its best. Among the Jerseys at Stratford two new champions appeared. The champion oow, Mr H. Stonnex’s Rewa Maize, showed beautiful type. This nighpriced cow was brod in the Wairarapa, bein* by Ironmaster of Meadowbrook, a Watson bred sire. Reserve to her was Mr H. B. Lepper’s noted producer. Elf s Beauty. Bred from famous old Taranaki strains, this is the nrovincc’s second heaviest Jersey butter-fat producer, she having a record of SOojlb of butter-fat. Among the males, the champion was Mr A. Uhlenburg’s five-year-old Loighurst’s General. Bred m Taranaki bv Mr W. V. Harkness, this bull is the son of a former Stratford champion in the Jersey Island-bred sire, Rozel’s Sultan. Ho was typical of the breed. As at former shows' this year, the younger classes were notable for the consistency with which the progeny of Mr R. L. Horne’s sire, Owlcr of Puketapu, appeared in the prize-list, and nt the end of the day the Manawatu brooder Hvas declared to have won. for the second time, the cup valued at 100 guineas, for most points. Mr Horn won no less than four of the heifer classes, was first, second, and third in yearling heifers in a class of 34. It was a remarkable evidonee of consistent breeding, all three being bv the one sire. AN INNOVATION. A successful innovation at the Taranaki shows in the adoption of an American practice of awarding senior and junior championships in each section might, be adopted by other societies who enjoy competition on an extensive scale. The system is to award junior championships and reserves to both the best bulls and heifers competing in the two-year-old classes, and in the younger classes. Similarly, senior championships and reserves .are awarded each for males and females in the older classes. All the champions, both seniors and juniors, then meet, and the gi-apd championship is awarded. Invariably the senior champions will win, but the system, is an excellent one, as the best youngsters are brought into prominence. Other excellent classes were for breeders’ groups, a. bull and three females over two years of age, and the junior group of a hull and three heifers, all yearlings. FRIESIAN ONE THOUSAND POUNDERS. In connection with the great parade of competing dairy animals at Stratford, an interesting item was the announcing per megaphone of the breed, name, and owner’s name of each champion animal as it passed in procession before the grand stand. There were also paraded three Friesian cows whose records averaged over 10001 b of butter-fat. the performance of each being retailed over the megaphone also. Included were the two heaviest producing cows of all breeds in New Zealand—Alcartra Clothilde Pietje, 1451 b of butter-fat, bred in Taranaki byMr Newton King, and Hilda Min to De Kol, 10461 b of butter-fat. The latter Canadian bred cow made her record at Whangavei. North Auckland, and was in Taranaki for the purpose of being mated with a son of the former mentioned champion. The appearance of such wonderful cows. although both arc now well up in years. created much enthusiasm. In 'addition to the champions, other great Friesian producers competing included

the notable young cows, Jessie Monona Johanna of Oakview and Coldstream Pontiac Wayne, which, when tested as junior two-year-olds, produced respectively 7271 b and 7141 b of hutter-fat, the imported cow. Queen of Canada 8491 b, the Taranaki-bred cows, Pontiac Princess 8311 b, and Knownot Pride 7001 b, (he Manawatu cow, Dominion Queen Elizabeth 7111 b of butter-fat in 265 days, and many others of almost equal notoriety. The judge stated that the display easily provided the best ring of mature cows ever brought together in New Zealand, and, therefore, in Australasia. The championship. after most careful consideration, was awarded to the young cow Jessie Monona Johanna of Oakview, bred and owned by the Manawatu breeder, "Mr H. R. Green. The reserve champion was Mr V. Marr's aged cow, Alcartra Clothilde Piotjo. Both cows had previously won many championships. including on separate occasions (he North Island championships, so that it was a case of age succumbing to youth. The Taranaki-bred sires triumphed in the contest for male championship, Mr J. O'Shea’s throe-year-old, Galatea Kozine Segis, winning the senior and grand championships, and Messrs G. A. Mnrchant and Sons’ Poplarvale Galatea King the reserve. Both these bulls are of similar breeding, and the dams of each are great producers. The iunior championship was awarded to Mr H. R. Green’s two-year-old, Wrodcrest Bosch of Oakview, another sire of great butter-fat breeding. Two classes that provided magnificent displays in this section were those for a pair of cows, and the breeders’ group, consisting of a bull and three females. Six magnificent groups appeared in the Tatter class. Both classes were, won by the Manawatu breeder, who also scored by a large margin the 100-guinea cup for most points. The display of Friesian cattle was a remarkable one. Two of the competing breeders bad teams of 24 heed apiece entered, winch speaks fer itself as far as the quality of the dominion’s herds are concerned. An examination of these cattle gave cause also for thought as to what, is the ideal environment for Frlesiana. The Taranaki cattle have not the same robust appearance as those reared on heavier soils, hut they undoubtedly are producers, a fact which is emphasised by the knowledge that a Taranaki-bred Friesian is the leading heifer in the £SOO Derbv Contest, which is decided on production alone. FURTHER IMPORTATIONS ARRIVING. There are in (ho dominion many men of progressive ideas who are anxious to assist the stock breeders of the dominion to improve upon the existing standards of onr breds. To raise the standard to-day of many of our breeds requires not only the great, skill which a good proportion of our breeders have proved themselves to bo possessed of, but we want also an infusion into our herds and flocks of the blood of the best strains other countries have developed. The action of the shipping companies in granting free freight from Britain on cattle, sheep, and pigs has stimulated a keen desire to import both mate and female stock, and to such an extent has the movement grown that some apprehension was being felt that importing would bo overdone. This uneasiness will now disappear because the authorities have found it necessary in Britain to prohibit the movement of stock owing to the prevalence of foot and month disease. This prohibition may last indefinitely. It cannot be over-emphasised that only the best is needed in this country. The average - animal will not bring about improvement in our stock, therefore, if importing is to be resorted to the best must be secured, and that class not only costs money but is worth it. The Old Country can send us stock we need, but to secure it we must pay the price, because the best is needed just as much in the Northern Hemisphere. The following extract, taken from an article by the agricultural correspondent of the Yorkshire Post (August 21, 1923), boars this out:—‘‘While it is true that our flocks and herds are many of them the finest in the world, and to which the world resorts periodically for the improvements of it inferior strains, it is also true that our pedigree stock is in a minority considered in relation to the whole, and that far too much of that whole is sadly inferior. The general standard of breeding in this country is seen not at shows where a selected few of the best are on view, but at the liyo-stock marts, and here it is undeniable that the average of merit—or demerit—leaves much to be desired. In other words, the popular phrase about our being the ‘stud farm of the world’ is only half a truth; the world see onlv our best—the worst would be scorned in any company.” Of the stock lately imported we certainly are getting what is required. Such high-class animals as some of the recentlyimported Clydesdales for the South Island, the Scotch Shorthorns for Bushey Park, Otago, now in quarantine, and the shipment of Southdown rams made by Messrs Slack Bros, and just released froin quarantine are right up to the highest standard. But these animals were not only selected with extreme care, but the prices paid have probably never been exceeded in this country before. Such enterprise is not only a credit to the country, but will bring the owners a just reward.