THE MO KING QUALITIES OF SHORTHORNS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2293, 10 February 1898, Page 7

THE MO KING QUALITIES OF SHORTHORNS.

The conciliatory settlement of the question as to the preservation of the milkicg propsrties of ghorthorn cattle, indicated in the report of a recent council meeting of tho Shorthorn Society (says the Field); will be universally welcomed. It speaks well for the prudence and sincere motives of both parties into which, for a happily brief period, the breeders of shorthorns were more or leag clearly ranged that the difference between them ehenld have beea 'discussed in so amiable a spirit and disposed of in so sitiafactory a manrier. Poe&ibly some more definite a ruling would have been welcome to the chief members of whichever party was fortunate enough to have the better of tbe conflict. The advocates and users of a milking shorthorn •would pei-baps have wished a more proiM>unc«d concession in support of encouragement for the type specially adapted for their purpose, while the breeders to whom the milking capabilities <of tho breed are ot Ittta account than the tendency to develop meat easily and at little cost might presumably have preferred to move along on the old line*. But, whatever the pereo&al desires might have been, it i« gratifying to have Buch unmistakable asturancea that personal considerations have been relegated to the background and the general interest* of breeders and of the breed alone taken cognisiuece of. The amicable solution arrived* at supplies clear proof of the universal desire to preserve the shorthorn A* the Diemier general-Dui'Dsse breed of cattle.

and to svoid its division into two distinct;, but inferior because specialised, types.

The terms upon which the recent differences of opinion, more acute in regard to the mebhod of procedure than to the motive in view, have been sunk are contained in the following resolution :—": — " That the council of the Shorthorn Society of Great Britain and Ireland strongly recommends that the three natioual societies — viz., the Royal, the Highland, aod the Royal Dubliii — and other prominent societies should iuscrucfc tbe judges at their shows to make tbe milking capacity and fcirm of udder oue of the chiof points in awaidiog prizes to purebred shorthorn cows and heifers, and that the secretary be iiscructed to forward this resolution to the said societies."

It mu3t not be thought that with the framing and passion of a recommendation agreeable to all the supporters of the breed the duties of breeders have terminated. Oa the contrary, the time for effective action has only nowbigun when breedeis, stnnding on a united platform, can control the destinies of the breed from a single point. Moreover, if the present. timely agitation is to lead to the attainment of any tangible result;, as we trust ifc may, spirited and unrelenting action is easentinl. In the light of past experience in matters of the kind, it may s*fely be assumed that unless the clear expression of opinion summed up iv the foregoing resolution is strongly and determinedly supported by the concentrated energies of breeders the effort will be of little avail in accomplishing the end in view. The societies promoting the shows may formally direct their judges is> the manner prescribed, but in a sense it reioaius with breeders to see that these instruction* are given reafeon-ible effect to. It must be admitted that fche carrying ovsfc of the directions involves a question of. vary considerable difficulty. Different judges may interpret the meaning of the resolution with varying degrees of importance. As many may over-estimate as undervalue its right to coutrol their decisions in the show ring, and unprofitable lean animals may as frequently triumph as over-ftd unremuuerative specimens. But these are points which, uuder existing methods of judging by inspection alone, must be allowed to take their chancs. It is quite certain that if the uuammous deaire of shorthorn breeders, aa ebown in the resolution quoted, are observed with even a fair degree of intelligence a considerable proportion of the most regular priz-3-tviDiiißg animils in recent years, or their, equata in type, will be debarced from achieving th^wyard distinction in future years. We do not refer S3 mneh to an>m<ls carrying an abundant covering of meat as to those exhibiting palpable; dr-feets in their milking organs. The formation of the udder and other dairyiDg characteristics are points to which weight might very properly be attached by judges, and which, if overlooks!, rnig-nt reasonably bs insisted upon by vfelleupported protest* against the oversight. The condition of cows as to the amount of flesh they cany at the time of exhibition must always remain a fruitful question of debate. We cannot; 3ee any hope of defiuita conditions in regard to this point bsing laid down or fairly ob&erved. It is the peculiar function of the shorthorn to lay on flesh as well as to yield a liberal quantity of milk, snd this being so, ib would bo obviously unfair, and perhaps in-j-jrions to the f alfiiment of the object aimed at, to rfeject an anims.l bscause of her well-fattened condition, provided she complied with the requirements as to the shape and development of her milk vessol. Experience is by no means unanimous in proving that the hard skin and bone cow is always tbe heaviest milker, or that a poverty-stricken appearance is necessary to, r.o more thftii it is an infallible indication of,_ the profit able development of the milkicg properties. As most breeders are aware, there is a class of atiun:d more plentifully represented than is d^sirAblewhic'iia adapted neither to milk nor fafcteu profitably, aod there is a danger lest this | moat deceptive type should-be unduly favoured or tolerated by judges if milking »ppearances oalj are to be considered.

It is to be hoped theNafciocal and other leading soeifci ics who are to be approached on the subject -will give due attention to the undivided representation of breeders, »nd impress upon their judges the desirability of recognising, in making their awards, the twofold object of the breed. In carrying oat fchwe directions the jadges will have sever*! serious difficulties to contend against for the first few seasons at lenat ; bat we believe that those fearleas of criticism will succeed in interpreting them to general advantage. It will be the duty of breeders to shield judges who honestly make their awards upon the basis of these rceomm»Hd«.tionß against thoughtless and unreasonable crioicism, and in every -way to encourage the cultivation of the genuine, and not & merely nominal, general-purpose type.