AYRSHIRE-SHORTHORN CROSSES.

Otago Witness, Issue 1900, 3 July 1890, Page 7

AYRSHIRE-SHORTHORN CROSSES.

This subject reoeived some attention at the last meeting of the Wyndham Farmers' Club, being introduced by a paper read by Mr T. Rankin,

Mr Rankin said the dairy industry waa one of the moat important, and it was only right that they should consider tho best breed of cattle for dairying purposes. It was important that they should have as good a breed in their byres as it waa possible to get, because it could not be expected that a scrubby lot of atock would pan out well at the end of the season. It was most essential that the best strain of "breed be used, as by placing a coarse bull among dairy cowa tho reßulfc would prove moat injurious in courae of time. The AyrBhire oow was looked upon ac one of the beat clasß of milch cowb, and it waß well known in Scotland and New Zealand that in every herd of Ayrshires, for one good cow you got you were likely to have three inferior ones, From an experience extending over 25 yearß he found that by putting a shorthorn cow to an Ayrshire bull— both animals being of the best milking strain— a farmer can get the best olaes of stook suitable for dairying purposes. The farmers can then rely upon getting size, quality, and all the other points necessary in good dairy cows. He (the speaker) had alao bred from the opposite croas—an Ayrshire cow and a Bhorthorn bull— and found that quite the opposite result took place. The stook thrown from such a oross was light behind, with heavy, coarse front, and not at all suited for dairy purposes. He also found that when a cow threw more bull calves than heifer calves the farmer could exppot 10 per cent, more milk from her. He had I jus v . given a few ideas of his own experience tf the best breed of cows suitable for dairy purpoeea, and hoped those present would give their opinions.— (Applause.) The Chairman said he would like to hear the paper fully disoussed, and a deoided opinion arrived at. Mr GuVame said the paper wag very CQngwe,

He had never had any experience of the breed referred to, but he took it for granted Mr Rankin's opinion was beßt. His own opinion was that although the Ayrehires might be the beat milkers the crossbred was the beßt allround cow. Mr Jameß Allan Bald he could bear out Mr Rankin's opinion in the matter of a oross of an Ayrshire cow and Bhorthorn bull. It was difficult to get hold of good shorthorn cattle. Of late years the shorthorn waß bred for beef and not for milking, and very often the one purpose waa neglected for the other. At Home now the farmers went in for beef and milk, and the purity of the strain was' neglected. Another objection to the Bhorthorn was that it is not suitable for the olimate of Southland. Further north it Beemed to thrive better j down south it was too cold. In Scotland the Ayrshire did well, and did ao here ; but the shorthorn waß too tender for these climates. However, where he found a pure orosß they were generally good cattle. Mr Doull said he always endeavoured to secure the best Ayrshire bull, mating it with ordinary orossbred cows, and be generally bred good cows. This class of cow waß hardier than the oross between Ayrshire and Bhorthorn. Mr Rankin, however, waa on the right track, and he had laid down good lines for general milking cows. In selecting oowb the object they had in keeping them should be borne in mind— it was for the quantity of muk they gave, or cheese, or butter. If they want.d oowb for milking, Mr Rankin'a description of cow was the beßt. Different breeds of oattle were good for different purpoßeß, aB he had stated. The milk of Borne cows had a greater percentage of cheeße and butter than others. The shorthorn oattle were not a success down here, for olimatio reasons. One great drawback to the buccobb of the milking waa the want of housing accommodation. If the miloh oowb were housed and fed, the result of such care would be seen in the quantity and quality of milk. The present Bystem tended to contrary results. Oows were mobbed and rushed and knooked about in the stockyards. He strongly advocated housing during milking time, whioh prevented them kioking and horning each other, and it was also profitable in every respeot to do bo. However anxious thay might be to obtain a good sire, of a really good strain, they must not be content with the sire only ; he must have a good padi gree, and come from a first-class milking strain, Breeders now looked to the sire more than anything else, and did not oare what the cow might be, if the bull was of a first-class strain. He thought more of the crossbred oow than any other.— Applause.) Mr 3cotf aaid he thought a halfbred AyrBhire with a pure Ayrshire bull wa3 the best.

Mr Carpenter thought the paper a good one. It really left the members nothing to say, as they could not very well gainsay it. He proposed a vote of thanks to the writer. This was seconded by M.: Ooahnie, and carried.