THE MILKING PROPERTIES OF SHOWYARD CATTLE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2368, 20 July 1899, Page 4

THE MILKING PROPERTIES OF SHOWYARD CATTLE.

Years ago, in commenting on the ex : hibits in the classes for cows .and heifers of the Shorthorn and Aberdeen-Angus breeds at the Olago Society's annual show, special attention was directed by the present writer to the fact that the wellshaped udders, well-developed and trulyplaced teats, and general conformation of several of the animals, were unmistakable evidences of milking capacities, equal, at least, if not superior to those possessed by the very' best \of the Ayrshires exhibited In view, therefore, of the acknowledged influence of the pure breeds of cattle in the improvement of -the ordinary cattle stock of the colony it was suggested that the Otago Society should, in advance of the times, offer prizes for purebreds whose qualifications for milk production had not been " pedigreed out." The suggestion was a little aforetime here, as only a very strong lead carl induce inexperienced executives of agricultural societies to make any fresh departure from- their ordinary routine. This departure is now demanded of them by the signal victory Mr Richard Stratton has accomplished in his grand efforts in England to reform showyard abuses by causing cows and heifers that will breed and yield milk to-be premiuined instead of animals of no practical utility except to the professional showman. At the council meeting of the Bath and West of England and Southern Counties — whose shows are only second in importance to those of the English Royal — he carried by a large majority a resolution to the effect that at the shows of the society in future all cows and three-year-old heifers eligible to compete must be in milk. Heretofore in all societies' lists the competition has been open to incalvers as well, and indeed to many cows and heifers only professedly so, whose constitutions have been so vitiated by unnatural showj-ard training that they have become confirmed non-breeders, and after winning are unable to .substantiate their claims to the prizes. Ot this notable action of the Bath and West of England Counties Society, the Mark Lane Express says : "The cause of dairy cows in showyards is one which has lorn' been identified with Mr Sfcratton's name. Not long since he made an urgent appeal to the council of the Royal Agricultural Society of England to have dairy classes for every breed recognised. At present all cows, compete together, whatever their breed, in the dairy classes proper, the very existence of which is unnatural, as they are a standing intimation that dairy properties are not essential in the regular breed classes. Mr Stratton's efforts to change the tactics of the council of the Royal were only successful in causing more strenuous instructions to judges to be issued. They are in future to pay stricter attention to the udder of the cow's in the breed classes. The fact must not be lost sight of that the Bath and West of England Counties rule is to apply to all breeds. The proposition evoked considerable discussion, and several amendments were made unsuccessfully to modify the net result." The chairman — the Mark Lane Express reports — " made a definite attempt to affect a compromise by limiting the application of the new rule to the Shorthorn classes at first, but Mr A P Turner, the well-known breeder of Herefords, was the seconder of Mr Stratton's resolution, which had a good moral effect, for if that breed, whose calves generally get all the milk of their dams, is to be benefited by the change all other breeds are likely to be."' It is in this connection an unfortunate face that the tendency of the showing system is to deteriorate a general purpose breed like the Shorthorn in one or other of its chief properties. The showyard is peculiarly adapted to encourage 'the improvement of specialist breeds; but it is undeniable that its influence is inclined to prove detrimental to the best interests of. .

breeds whos& function itus to perform re-" muneratively in two capacities at once. The showyard, in a. sense — so dairy fai Imers in England say — has already' been the means of injuring the old Shorthorn. It has induced breeders to pay undue heed to the development of one function and to neglect the other, " until a. beef-pro-ducing Shorthorn is about all that is left to us."' This is what Mi Stratton and others plead as an excuse for their scheme, the in-ime object of which is to keep the dual faculties of milk production and fattening propensity equally operative and pronounced, and thus regain the patronage of the milk-selling farmer. In reference to the movement the Field says : " The Shorthorn is our best general purpose cow, and on account of her surpassing excellence in a dual capacity is essentially the cw~ f. r a rent-paying farmei. It is therefore a matter of supreme importance to a vest and varied section of the" larming community ihat this distinctive and inestimable characteristic of our premier bread should be maintained unimpaired." It would be a lamentable calamity should the breed ever be permitted to degenerate a - o f.ir as to become a one-purpose one merely, and the sliowing system will have nunh to account for if such a result ever- com? s about.