FARM AND STATION. CATTLE AND SHEEP AT THE SMITHFIELD CLUB SHOW.

Otago Witness, Issue 2086, 15 February 1894, Page 6

FARM AND STATION.

CATTLE AND SHEEP AT THE SMITHFIELD CLUB SHOW.

That the profits of a farm are just in proportion to the quantity of live stock kept is now generally admitted, but with the proviso that the animals are of a suitable stamp and judiciously managed. Cattle and sheep, if judiciously bred, reared, and fattened, are productive labourers, just as under defective systems of management they must continue, as in the past, to afford inadequate returns. Beef and mutton have fallen in value to such a low level that these foods are now practically within the reach of all classes in importing countries. Accordingly the demand has marvellously widened, but concurrently new sources of supply have been opened up, and which have intensified competition in the world's meat markets that can only be met by improved management on the part of those who breed, rear, and fatten live stock. Circumstances have therefore conspired to compel endeavours towards the economical production of animal food, and with strict regard to quality. The higher earnings and greater prosperity of the masses enable them to consume more meat than formerly, and familiarised to its use they have become discriminating in their purchases and exacting in their tastes. There is no longer a demand in the principal markets for extremely fat beef or big coarse mutton, and accordingly breeders of cattle and sheep of classes once famous for these characteristics now dispose of their stock well matured at much earlier ages than was formerly thought practicable. Consumers' preferences are now distinctly in favour ef meat from young animals, and farmers proficient in their business find it much to their advantage to cater to the tastes, because a beast up to two years old and a sheep up to one year pay the feeder better than if kept to more advanced ages, while it is well known that the meat obtained from the youthful animals has a larger proportion of lean than that from the older. Therefore the disposition to mature early is a prominent consideration in the selection of stock for profit, and thus it is that the "battle of the breeds at shows" continues to be waged without intermission. Breeders, like other men, have their fancies, prejudices, or predilections, and especially if interested in the breeding of stud stock for sale, co it is not to be wondered at that their frequent disputations lead to confusion in the minds of farmers as to the intrinsic merits of the various breeds of cattle and sheep as meat producers. The necessity for the dissemination of accurate information on the subject has suggested the compilation of the subjoined tables showing the breeds, ages, weights, and average daily gain in weight, of the most noted animals at the Smithfield Club Show. The figures are quoted from the valuable report of the proceedings in the Mark Lane Express, in which the like particulars are given concerning all the prize animals ; the data for the first prizewinners will, however, be sufficient for the present purpose : — Breeds, Ages, and Weights of Cattle and Sheep, winners of First Prizes at the Smithfield Club Fat Stock Show, Islington, London, December 5, 1893 :—

Cattle. I Steeiis — Under two years old. I

I Ages and Weights of Sheep. I Wethers— Oyer 13 and under 24 months old.

The weights given are the averages of the sheep in each prize pen. In addition to the olass prizes there is a j champion prize offered " for the best animal of the breed." In the shorthorns -the winner was in the class over three and under four years old ; in Herefords, a steer 942 days old ; Devon, a steer 974 days ; Sussex a steer 1233 days ; Aberdeen-Angus breed, champion and champion of show, a heifer 1077 days old ; Galloway, no award ; Welsh, heifer, 1056 days ; Highland, a steer 912 days ; Kerry and Dexter, a heifer 999 days ; Crossbred, a steer 1382 days old. In the sheep classes, the "breed champions" were: In Leicesters, wethers 608 days old; Cotswolds, lambs 294 dayß ; Lincolns, wethers 662 days ; Shropshire, wethers 676 days ; Southdowns, wethers 676 days ; and Hampshires, wethers 725 days old. Stockowners will do well to contrast the averages of daily gain in weight at the different ages. In the cattle classes- the steers under two years old show the highest average. In the next older class there is an appreciable diminution, while the figures for the aged class, steers over three and under four years, are lowest of all. In the sheep classes the contrast is notably pronounced, the averages for the lambs throughout by far exceeding those to the credit of the older sheep. The facts adduced ought to convince sheepfarmers in the colony that there is ample room for improvement in their modes of management, and that they may add considerably to their profits by the liberal feeding of lambs from birth.

Age in days. Live Weight Average daily gain. Shorthorn Hereford Devon Sussex Aberdeen Angus Crossbred 725 5Si 713 698 674 616 lb 1577 1257 1232 1370 1290 1394 lb 217 2*14 172 1-9(5 191 2-26 Over two and v: ider thri Ie years »ld. •Shorthorn Hereford Devon Sussex .. Aberdeen Angus Red Polled ... Welsh ICerry and Dexter Crossbred Highland 975 942 974 1018 986 1064 1034 973 1000 912 1774 1846 1541 1884 1812 1656 1892 988 1908 1593 177 1-96 1-58 1-85 1-83 155 1-83 l'9O 174 Over three and mder f oi ir years ild. Shorthorn Hereford Devon . . Sussex Aberdeen Angus Galloway ... Welsh ! Crossbred 1291 1400 1450 l'< 33 3373 1368 1242 1382 2296 2320 1881 2170 2127 1900 2048 2236 177 1-37 1-29 175 154 1-38 1-64 161 Heifers — Urn ler threi years o. Id. Shorthorn Hereford Devon Sussex Aberdeen Angus Galloway Kerry Crossbred Extra Stock ... J069 942 563 965 107 997 999 1000 1044 1800 1344 1420 1431 1980 1498 896 1624 1841 1-88 1-44 1-48 1-48 1-81 150 •89 162 176

Age in Days. Weight Lverage daily gain. Leicester Cotswold Lincoln Suffolk Shropshire Oxtord Kent and Roinney . . . Dorset ... Devon Cheviot and Mountain breeds Southdown Hampshire Crossbred First cross from Cheviot or Mountain ... 608 638 662 711 676 711 618 716 6d9 lb 281 281 311 283 210 285 257 284 276 oz 7 P 61 6i 6* 41 561 676 725 711 237 213 288 312 I1I 1 t 634 257 61 Lambs— um ler 12 mi itha old, Leicester Cots wold Lincoln Suffolk '.'.'. '.'.'. '.'.'. Shropshire Oxford Kent and Romney . . . Dorset Devon Cheviot and Mountain Southdown Hampshire Crossbred 243 291 318 257 304 273 318 250 160 271 220 ■ 192 191 141 215 162 101 14} 11 12 10 1? 101 10 287 180 294 351 318 163 191 205 8! 8? 10*