QUALITY OF NEW ZEALAND LIVE STOCK.

Otago Witness, Issue 2205, 4 June 1896, Page 4

QUALITY OF NEW ZEALAND LIVE STOCK.

| All those who live by the land have everything to gain and nothing to lose by the publication of facts, although the disclosures may very frequently reflect upon the skill and enterprise of the agricultural community. Of course, in a country like this, with such diversities of soil, climate, and financial resources of the farmers, systems of management must be correspondingly variable management; but when defective practices, easy of amendment, prevail widely, a plain statement of those most conspicuous presented in convenient form for consideration may help to hasten needed reforms. The leading agricultural feature at present and prospectively is the breeding and "feeding of animals for the production of meat, milk, wool, and in relation to horses " the exercise of force " —that is, for their labour. As to the use and adaptation of foods, the final results must almost absolutely depend upon the class of animals to which they are fed. Therefore special attention should, in the"fir»t instance, be paid to the breeding of farm animals themselves, and it will be well to take measure of the attention given to this vital question, because food consumed by inferior live stock caDnot possibly obtain the best results. From the live-stock statistics for 1895 recently published, it appears that there are somewhat over 18,118 bulls in the colony, but of these who must exercise such a potent influence on the future oi herds, there are only 9447 purebred sires against 8671 crosses. Now tbe first and main object of all breeders should be the production* of superior food-consuming animals in their flocks and herds, and so far as cattle-breeding is concerned it must be obvious that, according to all the recognised rules adopted by skilled breeders, the use of half the bulls in the colony, being cros-breds, must perpetuate the deterioration of the catfcle stock. Of the purebred bulls, a total of 944-7, 5,796 are shot thorns; Ayrshires come next with a representation of 1203 ; then follow polled Angua, 838; Jersey, 833; Hereford, 628 ; and " other purebred "—whatever they may be—l 49. Looking at the list, no one can say that there is not ample material, so far as resources in purebred stock are concerned, for such an improvement in the cattle stocks of the colony as is imperative in these progressive times. This will be more apparent when it is shown by the official returns that of the " cows for dairy" 259,265 are crossbred. "Now the owners of these almost without exception disregard all principles of breeding, use any bull handy, have little regard to the excellence of progeny or possible profits therefrom, and so keep the general cattle stock of the colony at & discreditable level as regards quality." That there are abundant materials at command for improvement is made manifest by the statistics, which show that in the " cows for dairy " there are 18,028 shorthorns; Ayrehires, 3401; Jersey?, 2518; Herefords, 932; polled Angus, 830; otber purebred, 283; and crossbred, 259,265. Again, in tbe Hst of "heiferg for breeding," thee are 3648 shorthorns, 524Ayrshires, 295 Hereford*, 211 Jerseys, 163 polled Angus, 125 other purebreds (probably Devons and Holsteins), and 28,346 croesbreds. Again, in the returns it is shown that "cows for breeding" comprise 18,193 shorthorns, 2907 Herefords, 2873 polled Angus, 229 Ayrshires, 175 Jerseys, 64 other purebred?, and 73,564 cro.-sbreds. Further, in the returns of "heifers for breeding," shorthorns 'are represented by 6293, polled Angus by 824, Herefords 779, Ayrshire 156, Jersey 89, other purebred 125, and crossbred 22,968. From the lists the immense disparity of the "purebreds to the crossbwds will at once be seen, and while very decidedly declining the advocacy of the purebreds as the most profitable on farms generally, we are compelled in a manner to point oub the utility of the 6ires as the only means possible for the improvement of the cattle stock of the country." The main object of all farmers breeding cattle Bhould be the breeding of a better class of calves and the gradual improvement of stock tow*ids an increased money value. It is nob the purpose here to advocate the use of bulls of any particular breed iv order to i ffect improvement in a herd —farmers have different notions iv regard to the merits of different bresds —but should they fixedly determine to use no other than a purebred sire among their cows, the cattle ftock of the colony ■will not for long be the reproach to them it has been for so many years. Above all thiugs they should bear in mind that if one or other of the parents is defective the probability is that the

particular defect will be repeated in a greater or lesser degree in the offspring. The advantage in the use of a purebred sire is that his potency is so great as to overcome that of a defective female. Unfortunately the male produce of very worthless females is frequently retained to be used for breeding purposes. Breeding from these weeds is most iijudicious, and a certain cause of permanent mischief. So much for breeding sorts of cattle in the colony. Now let us turn to tbe review of those for meat production, and see in "what direction I farmers generally seek to provide against the i competition in the meat market, a competition which, as sure as the sun rines daily, must increase in intensity. The official statistics show, for. steers, 22,588 shorthorns, Herefords 2039, polled Angus 2239, Ayrshire 531, Jersey 120, other purebred 264, and crossbred 131,243. And so we take the figureß under the classification for dairy or fattening purposes. Tbe shorthorns or their crosses are a long way at the head. But the statistics afford testimony in tavour of other well- known breeds for general purposes. Farmers have discovered what baa been well known to experienced breeders of stud cattle, but remains a mystery to the spurious scribblers of the day— that there are distinctive characteristics in purebred calttle which may be perpetuated by their services among ordinary iarm stock. But in efforts made for improvement, it is greatly to be regretted that careful sel< ction of males ha 3 not been sufficiently attended to. To this cause may easily be traced most of the failures and disappointments experienced by farmers in well-conceived efforts towards the improvement of their stock. Looking at the enormous preponderance of almost worthless crossbred cattle in the colony, and the very considerable number of high-claps purebreds, the growing proportion of sU-e'S gob by purt-bred bulls tj the nondescript si-rti is a testimony to tht> awakening of tnu very numerous class of breeders in a small way to the advantage of using purebred bulls. Farmers, however, have such a choice now of stud bulls of different breeds and at unusually low rates that they undervalue the animals.