WINTER SHOWS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23517, 4 June 1938, Page 3

WINTER SHOWS

LIST OF OATHS Winter Show dates fixed for the various centres to date are as follows: June 3-9.—Dunedin. June 14-18.—Palmerston North. July 2-9.—Timaru. J- ' ( Type of Export Bull Mr A. J. Marshall, Stranraer, the well-known breeder and exporter, speaking at the annual dinner of the Scottish Shorthorn Breeders’ Association at Perth, said that the type of Shorthorn bull in demand abroad was changing. He advised breeders not to use too many whites. The Argentine preferred reds and dark colours. Thirty years ago demand in Argentina was for three-year-olds—the heavier the better, -Later, two-year-olds were wanted, and now requirements were for still younger bulls. That proved a loss to home breeders because Argentina now bought the best without those bulls having been used at home before shipment abroad Allowing for losses on exchange, Government tax and high expenses, between 32 and 35 per cent, of last year's exportations resulted in a loss to exporters. The present-day craze was for smaller type bulls, but the Shorthorn owed its value to weight with age. If these merits were lost they would play into the hands of the Aberdeen Angus men. Captain John MacGillivray, of Calrossie, president of the Shorthorn Society, said the Shorthorn had proved its worth in grading up the cattle stocks of the world, and the .breed would still be needed to grade up the stocks of Great Britain.

Australian Wool Exports The following table showing the destinations of greasy and scoured wool shipped from Australia from July 1, 1937, to April 30, 1938, with comparative figures for the corresponding Eeriod of the preceding season, has een compiled by the National Council of Wool Selling Brokers of Australia, from particulars supplied by the Commonwealth Statistician (Dr Roland Wilson):—

Annual Sheep Show Regardless of the extreme difficulties which stitd sheep breeders are now facing, gratifying support is being rendered the forthcoming annual sheen show, which will be held on the Sydney Show Ground from June 22 to 25, 1938 (says the Australasian), The merino section has again been divided Into superfine, fine, medium, and strong, all classes, for both rams and ewes, while competition for the best exhibit of five merino sheep, (known as the Stonehaven Cup Prize, classes for novice and small graziers, together with pen classes for ram and ewes have been retained. Liberal classification has been provided for the two Australasian breeds—Corriedales and Polwarths—which also applies to the British breeds. There are no fewer than 14 classses xor fleeces, and ample allowance has been made for fat sheep. The judging competitions on this occasion embrace both merinos and

British breeds. As in former years, there will be competition for both novice and open sheep dog trial workers.

Cradle for Pigs Mr J. Schwab, swine extension expert for Purdue University (U.S.A.), has devised a pig cradle that protects early spring pigs better than the old guard rails, makes the houses easier to clean, and gives the sow more room. “This pig cradle works like a hover because pigs will always cluster in the most comfortable spot in the farrowing house,” he says. To make it, saw off two 10-mch boards to a length of three feet. Nail them together at the end and nail on a tight diagonal top. If possible, line this cradle on the inside with an old coat or blanket.

“At farrowing time,” Mr Schwab suggests, “nail this pig cradle into a corner of the individual house and keep it well bedded with clean dry straw. In three or four days the little pigs will learn where it is and, under it, they will be out of danger from the sow.”

As soon as the pigs are well started, Mr Schwab recommends that the pig cradle be removed and stored for another season, thus giving all the floor space to the sow and litter. Attested Herds in Britain

A register of attested herds, just published, gives particulars of herds on December 31 last. At that date there were 812 attested herds in Eng land and Wales, and 640 in Scotland, as against 346 and 452 respectively five months earlier, when the register was last published. , The herds in England and Wales comprised 37,000 cattle, and those in Scotland, 50,500 cattle, a total of 87,500 cattle.

The progress made towards the eradication of tuberculosis was actually much greater than these figures suggest, since the owners of several hundred herds were at the date mentioned testing their cattle, with financial assistance from the Government, with a view to detection and elimination of reactors. Many of these herds have since become attested. High-priced Friesian

There is an interesting story behind the recent sale of the American Friesian bull Carnation Ormsby Sir Bessie to the Femco Farms in the United States. The price paid for the bull was a little more than interesting, for it was £9OO, the highest at a public sale since 1930. Naturally exceptional breeding stood behind this, also a strong faith in the Friesian breed’s ability to transmit its quality. It was breeding which had made the vendor buy this bull as a youngster, but at one stage he was a little disappointed that its heifer-dam had not done better under test. Eventually, to express his disappointment, he went to the famous Carnation Farms, where he had purchased the bull. He arrived at an opportune moment, for the bull’s dam was then in the fifth month of her test, and the day before had produced the extraordinary amount of 1191 b of milk. She was the peculiarly named but famous Carnation Ormsby Butter King, which went on in that test to finish the 365-day period with 38,6061 b of milk and 14021 b of butter-fat, never once yielding below 3.841 b of butterfat in a day. This was obviously the major reason for the high price pain for her bull progeny, but definite knowledge of the breed’s capabilities to pass on quality must also nave been present. The buyers of the full—Femco Farms—will be recollected in connection with the recent World’s record butter-fat production of 10021 b by Femco Alma, while under two years and a-half of age.

Bales. Bales. Destination. 1936-7. 1937-8. United Kingdom 1,006,136 984,734 France .. .. 255,592 374,705 Belgium .. .. 411,292 268,272 Germany ., .. 124,790 163,951 United States .. 259,581 15,822 Japan 243,346 192,976 Italy 97,590 93,845 Poland ,. .. 39,263 53,567 Netherlands 32,297 22,907 Czechoslovakia .. 36,022 43,238 Austria ., .. 18,000 8,883 Canada .. .. 14,847 •12,890 Sweden .. .. 8,442 12,785 Other countries 25,032 28,368 'Total .. .. 2,572,330 2 ,276,943