BREEDING AND REARING OF PHOFITABLE CATTLE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2369, 27 July 1899, Page 4

BREEDING AN D REARING OF PHOFITABLE CATTLE.

Awakened to the futility of attempting to produce a good class of commercial animal, whether steer or heifer, that will repay either grazier or dairyman if mongrel sires are used in a herd farmers are evincing a desire to requisition the services of purebred bulls, having been convinced afc last that without the impressive influence of high-class &ires of pedigree blood improvement of ordinary herds, and in due course of time that of the general cattle stock of the country, is not possible. Theyliave liacl enough of the unprofitable mongrel sire, and are bent upon relinquishing their former antiquated methods in favour of those pursued by the more enterprising and resourceful breeders. In spite of the familiar cry that dairy farmers were obliged to steer clear of pedigree bulls in case they would " pedigree away the milk," they are now about convinced that the most sensible and remunerative course owners of milking herds could pursue would be to utilise the services of a bull of approved merit and sound pedigree attesting descent from a milking family of the breed. It is no more possible to pedigree away the milk than it would be to pedigree away the beef, but if either the one or the other propensity is materially deteriorated, the responsibility for such a result lies with the management, and not with the principle. The pedigree' principle is the very foundation and essence of successful stock breeding, and only when indiscriminately and injudiciously pursued can it result iv the impairment of any valuable quality. Consequently, if depreciation of the milking capacity of cows results from the use of pedigree bulls by owners of milk-producing herds, the cause is to be attributed not to the system, but to the manner in which it is carried out. Of course, on this point we may be met with the assurance that pedigree bulls that will not tend to the diminution of the milking qualities of their offspring are not to be obtained. 'JLhat is only true to some extent, but farmers, have themselves largely to..blame for the circum-_ stance, since they have, always been fbo scrupulously careful, about the price they would pay for the right class of lulls". If they were left only with pedigree bulls that tended to reduce the milk yield trey were themselves the first offenders, in that they starved out of existence the class of bull that better answered their requirements. A really good bull will make a herd even from moderate cows, whilst an inferior bull will ruin a herd regardless of the high qualities of the cows it may contain. In making a purchase of a purebred bull with the view to improve an ordinary herd, there is first of all the family history of the animal to be inquired into. Were his ancestors all good ones? Were they regular breeders and good milkers? and were they sound and robust in constitution? These important points satisfactorily fulfilled, the bull selected will not only improve the milking qualities of the herd but will beget a superior class of store cattle for beef production. Milk production is, to all appearance, nofc long to remain the moderately successful and comparatively smooth-going pursuit it has been for some time past, and farmers may not be ill-ad-vised in diverting some share of their attention to other markets — the breeding of superior store cattle to suit graziers' and feeders' purposes, for in&tance. But whether milk production is to be curtailed or not, one thing admits of no. doubt, and that is, -that farmers would be justified in bestowing more consideration to the production of a class of stores ■which would be likely to pay themselves or some one else to fatten, and which, when fat, would meet with the approval of the discriminating butcher.

A p?-per ou " Rearing and Feeding of Commercial Cattle," which "n as read at the January meeting of the (Jlasgow and West of Scotland Alt -cultural Discussion Society by Mr W- S. Ferguson, the wellknown breeder of Aberdeen- Angus, and feeder of crossbred cattle, may, wiiUflut

hesitation, be termed one of the most able,; practical, and suggestive lectures that that flourishing debating society has ever listened, -to. The subject was familiar in all its details to the lecturer, and sticking closely to his own extensive and exceptional experience, Mr Ferguson compiled Such a treatise on the rearing and feeding of ordinary commercial cattle as may be read, studied and acted upon with universal .advantage. From first to last the paper bristles with hints and facts of the utmost practical importance, which are to be commended to the notice of cattle owners and farmers in the colony, because in the main, they are applicable to all parts of the colony and to all breeds.

A fundamental element in the i earing of commercial cattle or stock of any description is the possession of the ptoper class of animals to work upon. If the calves are not hereditarily of a kind'adapted to grow and lay on flesh speedily in response to liberal treatment, obviously failure and loss are a foregone conclusion. Mr Ferguson insists mqst emphatically upon this point because its importance ;s; s forcibly demonstrated to him on -many hands. While the production of . a good class of calves amenable to skilful., management is emphasised, it is a fact worthy of note that such a type of stock may be procured at a cost and trouble well -within the reach of the smallest farmer. We . shall have something more to say on this subject next week.