THE FARMER AND STOCKBREEDER.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19039, 8 December 1923, Page 7

THE FARMER AND STOCKBREEDER.

THE FIRST ROYAL SHOW. Written for the Otago Daily Times. By Stockman*. Comment is made in a recent issue of a prominent English live stock paper upon the intention of New Zealand to initiate an annual It oval Show. It would seem that we aro presumptions in such intention. As buyers of English stock wo aro welcomed with open arms, but when we take steps to tell the wide world that we ourselves can supply them with, we are to be frowned down. It is a great .pity that our Department of Agriculture had not more enegry and enthusiasm so that it might have given our shoop-breeders a lead and encouragement to send Homo live stock to the Empire Exhibition. Wo aro to be represented by a display of fleece wool from some of our leading Romney, Corriedalo, and Merino flocks. On the other hand, Australia is sending live stock. Tasmania's famous merinos of the fine-woolled Gibson type, and the -t'eppin type of New South Wales and South Australian merinos, will give those respective States a great advertisement. Stock on the hoof always attracts. The expense to a country like New Zealand should not have counted. What an opportunity wo have missed in not sending forward a complete representation of our best types of Romneys and Corriedalos. They would have created extraordinary interest, and how the English papers would have criticised them!’ That sort of advertisement would have been worth untold money to us. But it is not to be. Surely we have passed out of the pioneering age. The farmerbreeder—the backbone of the country —ts for once true to his past traditions. He is content to allow a football team to advertise God’s Own Country. Even the Prime Minister takes his publicity officer along with him to the great Metropolis. But New Zealand’s wonderful ' sheep productions—the world’s most valuable dual-purpose sheep—are to bo represented by their fleeces only. The New* Zealand rtugby Union might go one further at least and ask our Sheep Breeders' Associations to provide them with free wool for the jersevs to be manufactured and worn by the All Blacks on thoir next year’s tour. A New Zealand all-wool jersey stands extraordinarily had wear. But the fact ought to be made freely known that the all-conquering All Blacks are clad in New Zealand all-wool football togs. _ Possibly as prospects are now so much brighter for producers and the country, and the Prime Minister has created a prepedent, the Government will decide upon sending a publicity officer with the All Blacks, not to see that their achievements are adequately recorded, for the newspapers have never lacked in enternriso in that regard, but to boost the dominion, its products, and its resources. The All Blacks will give us tremendous advertisement, but their country should not miss the opportunity that the presence of the team in England will give for something, more lasting than a football reputation. NEW ZEALAND SHEEP FOR AMERICA. Prior to the war, New Zealand Corriedales and Romneys, the former particularly were finding their way" into North America, and many of the sheep sent filled tire bill admirably. Then the trade ceased. Now the Minister of Lands in Canada has announced his intention of taking steps to increase the number of sheep in British Columbia from 60.000 to 1,000,000, An English paper states “ A million sheep is not enough for Canada, because it will take more than a big fleece to supply each inhabitant with virgin wool, and they should have some to sell us until we catch up. Wc wonder how they intend to get that million. They have only 50,000 now. They cannot grow them. Suppose they have lambs 100 per cent, and hau are ewes, there will be a total of but 820,000 by 1930. Then sheep grow old, and some meet with accidents, so we must allow a loss of fully 10 per cent., which loaves but 740,000. ’They will have to buy 260.000 extra, or buy along the way to raise that number. That is good news. We must tell them to look this way. We musttreat Canadians as nicely as we know how. None of the domestic animals respond to skilful breeding and good care more readily than sheep. It is seldom that a man pays too much for a ram.” The English breeder knows how to study his customer. This trade is one, however, which should appeal to the Now Zealand brooder, os the Corriedalo and the New Zealand Romney would bo very suitable for conditions in British Columbia. THE BRITISH VIEWPOINT. The English breeder, while remarkably keen to do business with the “colonial,” has not the slightest intention of permitting stud stock from the dominions to enter -.into Britain. While the Imperial Conference was discussing the question of the import into Britain from the dominions of breeding stock, it was stated that." ‘no matter what decisions are made on this subject, the certainty exists that no body of farmers in this country desires the importation of breading cattle from overseas, and that, so far as can 'be gathered, the only animals likely to be so imported if the agricultural wish is to bo ignored ate Friesians, as speculators in all parts of the world seem to think that any black-and-white animal sent to Britain will realise a fabulous price. Such speculators are probably the only persons who really desire importation of breeding cattle, and signs are not wanting that they have been increasingly active of late. Owners of British Friesian cattle and members of the British Friesian Cattle Society must be united on . this matter. The society has already stated its determination not to register in the Herd Book any breeding animals sent to this country from overseas, should facilities for sending cattle to this country bo given to the overseas ■ dominions against the wishes of the agricultural opinion in this country, and of this society. Members of the society should take care that, if animals cannot be prevented from coming to this country, they can at least fail to fulfil the expectations of speculators on the only question that concerns them—namely, price, and it cannot be too clearly stated that any member who purchases a brooding animal that may be imported into this country does so at his own risk and with no guarantee that the society will recognise the pedigree or identity of such animal. If the breed is to be at the mercy of speculators, its future will bo impaired, because only the second-rate animals would be sent to this country in the hope of realising first-rate prices.” A VALUABLE IMPORTATION. Through the specialisation of North Island sheep-men and those of the Southland province, our Romney sheep have bean developed to a standard which is superior to that of the Romney in its native Kentisn home. Similarly, specialisation in Canterbury and Otago has resulted in the production of our justly world-famous Corriedalo sheep, and the improved standard of our English Leicesters. Similar specialisation is taking place to-day in the breeding of pedigree dairy cattle, and a higher standard in all breeds is being annually attained. This is proved by the improved quality of the stock exhibited at our foremost A. and P. shows, and to a greater degree by the many notable butter-fat records being constantly credited to members of the various breeds undergoing the semiofficial test. It is still found necessary, however, to import the best sires and outstanding females from the land of origin of the respective breeds. Unfortunately, the selection of the majority of these animals has been left to the breeder, and the result has not always been satisfactory from the Now Zealander’s viewpoint. The importations of Jersey cattle made of late years have, however, generally proved satisfactory, and these and their progeny have been very prominent of late. It is, however, the very highest class of animal that is required, and for that kind there is an unsatisfied demand. The two shipments of Jerseys which have just arrived in the dominion direct from Jersey Island will, therefore, be of great interest to breeders throughout the dominion, for those constitute the the largest and best collection of Jerseys yet brought here. Those cattle wore personally selected by Mr E. 11. Martin, a well-known and highly-experienced Canterbury veterinary surgeon, who, as a young man, had experience with the breed through his father’s activities both on Jersey Island itself -and in England. H> is, too, fnllv conversant with the reputation of the leading animals of the breed, its best blood lines, and Ilia type required in the dominion. Mr Martin, who has for a partner in his present venture the wellknown South Canterbury sheep and cattlebreeder, Mr George Murray, of Braemar, went to the island determined to got the best, not only for the sake of his own reputation, but any man with the true instincts of the breeder always looks to the country’s interests also, and Mr Martin has certainly succeeded in selecting cattle which will be of very great value to the breed in the dominion. The first shipment consisted of six males and four females, and the second shipment of eight males and six females. Both shipments have been placed under a forty days’ quaxan-

fine at , Quail .'lsland, in Lyttelton Harbour, from which they will. be released about the end of January. They will then be taken to Palmerston North and placed on exhibition for a period of two weeks, when they will bo > sold at public auction. Already the first shipment has created much interest, and leading breeders who have inspected the animals are in raptures regarding them. They are sired by the leading bulls of the day—Zenia’e Sultan, just sold for 6000 guineas; Masterman of_Oaklands, a champion bull both on 1 the island and in America, to which country he was exported at a big figure, and one of whoso imported sons was champion at the Waikato Show last week; and by Blonde’s Oxford Noble, whose progeny ere winning not only on Jersey Island itself, but in America, where they are also being credited with the merit of having- proven themselves outstanding butter-fat producers. When these 24 island-bred cattle are brought together at the one time and place it will h© a great opportunity for breeders of Jersevs to secure an indication of what the island breeders of the day are producing. ROMNEYS AND LINCOLNS COMING BACK. _As elsewhere in the North Island, the Waikato has long since adopted the Romney as the foundation of its flocks. The Lincoln has lost much ground, as it has in all parts of the dominion, even in those areas _to which it is_ particularly adapted. The improved and improving position of crossbred wool will increase the value of the existing Lincoln flocks now. With crossbred wool in demand, the Lincoln as a bail-filler and the sheep for rough and wet country is bound to claim more attention. The position of Lincoln breeders is likelv to be improved also through the knowledge that fine wool has seen its peak price. Evidence of a saner view being taken of the wool-producing business on the part of sheeprfien is already evidenced in the demand for flock Romneys carrying medium quality or “true” Romney wool. Probably the flock Romney rams sold for forward delivery this season exceed in numbers any forward sales of previous years. The sales have been on an extraordinary scale, and Wairarapa, Southland, and Manawatu breeders alike hare participated. The East Coast of the North Island is the principal purchaser, and those leading breeders who do not patronise the annual sales have sold right out. Prices have' ranged Up to 12 to 14 guineas, and one old-estab-lished and reputable breeder averaged the latter price right through. There is _no doubt about the suitability and adaptability of the Romney for a vast area of our oou'ntry, and the standard to which it is now bred makes it a most profitable sheep. WAIKATO HERDS AND FLOCKSThere are now quite a number of good Komney flecks in the Waikato, and at the recent record show held at Hamilton some quite good sheep were shown. Mr Richard Seddon, who has bought in the past of the best from the noted dominant Wairarapa strain, was a prominent and successful exhibitor. Further north there are also good Romney studs, for the popular breed in the Auckland province is the Romney also, and for fat lamb production the Southdown used on the Romney is the favourite; in fact, the Waikato is like other parts of the dominion in challenging the reputation of Canterbury for its quality If,mb. The improved Romney is an ideal mother for the cross lamb of this breeding, and it is satisfactory to note that another shipment of Southdown rams has just arrived from the Homeland. These also are for the previous importers, _ Messrs Slack Bros., of the Manawatu. This consignment was drawn from the noted Luton _ Hoo fleck owned b- Lady Ludlow. Both in the flock competitions, the breeders’ competitions, and the shows, the Luton Hoo flock is equally noted. The ewes imported both from H.M. the King’s and Lady Ludlow’s flocks are being retained by Mr B. H. Slack, but it is intended to sell at auction the whole of the 38 imported rams. These rams, it should be noted, will be sold in the Wairarapa and not in the South Island, as in Canterbury the Southdown nlays only second fiddle to the English Leicester. In the opinion of many experienced breeders this popularity of the Southdown, and the Romney as the fat lamb mother is the reason for the improved quality of North Island lemb. The Romneys and Southdowns exhibited at the Waikato Show were both up to a good standard. THE HOME OF THE CHAMPION. As the home of the new champion Jersey producer, Pretty’s ’ Flirt, 10101 b of butterfat, the Waikato claims a new interest for dairymen to-day. The showing dairy breeds was a splendid . one, both Jerseys and Friesians making particularly notable displays. The Stratford Show still stands alone in this respect, however, although the fact that- at Hamilton there were 120 Jerseys entered and almost as many Friesians speaks for itself. One important feature was the success of «in imported island-bred Jersey hull brought out by' Mr Frank Day last year. This bull was sired by Masterman of Oakland?, a noted island sire, sold last year also to an American breeder. W© want all the good bulls we can acquire, and if this one breeds stock in.- keeping with his good looks he will be a great acquisition. The champion cow was exhibited by Messrs W. Dunn and Bens, and was sired by the imported Tara-naki-owned bull, Viola’s Golden. Laddie. Mr E. Griffiths, curiously, who imported the latter bull and bred the champion cow, won the reserve championship with one of his recently imported island-bred cows. A noteworthy success was scored in the younger classes by the owner of Pretty’s -ajfrt, Mr W. H. Miere. In addition to Pretty’s Flirt and her family of premising descendants, Mr Miers owns the great show bull. Distinction’s Twylish. This bull appeared at all the loading Jersey shows in the dominion and was undefeated. He .is following up his own record by leaving unbeatable stock, for last year Mr Miers brought out a trio of yearlings by him that swept the board wherever shown. This year at Hamilton he came back with his two-year-old in milk and scored again. One would like to seq more yearlings do this. And not only that, bufc two more of the daughters of Distinction’s Twylish won both first and second in yearlings and first in pairs against formidable competition. Mr Miers has, therefore, a most consistent breeding bull in Distinction’s Twylish; in fact, h© rivals o‘wler of Puketapu' in this respect. The latter bull’s daughters are doing exceptionally well under test, and the older daughters of Distinction's Twylish recently calved also promise well. Bulls of this calibre haring the power to reproduce a combination of type with the ability for heavy production in their daughters are most dfesirablo. FRIESIANS IN THE NORTH. Th© Friesian breed has always been held in high repute in the Auckland province, and the expanse of the dairying industry in the north has led to a remarkable increase in the number of Friosiaiig in that province; in fact, there are probably as many herds of black and whites there as in the rest of the dominion. The .province already shelters one of the three four-figure butter-fat cows of the dominion in Hilda Minto do Kol. This cow going on test at the advanced age of 12 years produced in the year 10461 b of butter-fat, a great performance. The best butter-fat herd in the province to-day is in the Morrinsvillo district. This is owned by Mr James Hart, who has heifers and cows giving 7001 b and 8001 b of fat per annum under test. At the Hamilton Show this breeder supplied the champion bull, and one of his famous cows was reserve champion in females. The champion cow was a maternal sister (from the same dam but by a different sire) as the Taranaki phenomenon. which produced 11451 b of butter-fat. The Friesian breeders are making wonderful progress in combining type and production in their best animals. A further illustration of this was given in the two-year-old hull placed reserve champion. This young sire, bred by Mr W. D. Hunt, in Southland, and owned by the Piri Land Company, who operate a 1000-acre block of land which is destined to carry only purebred Friesians, was sired by Rosevale King Sylvia. This bull’s daughters are giving over 6001 h of butter-fat annually as junior two-year-olds, and bis dam gave, under test in on© season, 9851 b of butter-fat The dam of the two-year-old recently completed a record of 8781 b of butter-fat. and her dam gave 9391 b of butter-fat, while the latter’s full sister gave 8051 b of, butter-fat, both qf the last-named records being made in heifer form. Bainficld Netherland King Pontiac cod. his owners 510 guineas as a calf t but his merit ami butter-fat backing to-day point to the fact that he will be a very sound investment.