EARLY MATURITY OF CATTLE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2455, 3 April 1901, Page 7

EARLY MATURITY OF CATTLE.

How the Breeds Stood at Birmingham and Smithfield. — With the object of erablintj our readers to see how the various breeds cf cattle exhibited at the last Smithfield and Birmingham Christmas shows stood in regard to early maturity, we append tables, which show at a glance the best beef-making performances of the representatives of the different breeds which succeeded in getting into the prize-list in their respective classes.

The carcase competitions formed an interesting feature of the great Smithfield fat stock show. In the four classes for cattle there were 15 entries, and of these no fewer than 11 were crossbreds, the other four consisting of two purebred Aberdeen-Angus beasts, one Dexter, and one Kerry. In the class for steers not exceeding two years of age leading honours went to a crossbred got by an Aberdeen-Angus biill out of a Hereford cow. At the age of 616 days this animal scaled 12011b, co that its daily increase in weight worked out to almost 21b. After being dressed the carcase weighed 7841b, so that the proportion of carcase to live weight was a fraction over 65^ per cent. Second prize went to an Aber-deen-Angus-shorthorn cross, which at the age of 549 days scaled 13331b, and thus had to its credit the very fine record of a daily gain of over 21b 7oz. The carcase weight of this beast was E47lb, so that its percentage of carcase to live weight was 63.50. The place of honour in the class for steers above two and not exceeding three years of age went to a purebred Aberdeen-Angus which, at the age of 994 days, weighed 13751b, or a daily gain of lib 6oz. Upon being slaughtered this beast was found to give the very high proportion of 63.21 per cent, of carcase to live weight. The second prize in this class went to a crossbred got by an Aberdeen-Angus bull out of a ehorthorn cow. At the age of 1095 days this animal scaled 14181b, and its net daily increase worked out to lib 4oz. Its carcase weighed 9271b, so that its proportion of carcase to live weight was a little over 65 per cent. An animal which most of the experts thought should have stood higher in this competition was the Dexter sent over from Ireland, and which got reserve. This steer at the age of 1064 days scaled 12841b, and its carcase was generally credited with being one of the best in the class, the meat being beautifully marbled and very firm. This animal's carcase weighed 8171b, so that its proportion, to live weight was over 63£ per cent.

RESULTS AT J3IR.MIiNG-.tl AM. Steehs Under Two Years Old. Daily Breed. Age. "Weight. Gain. Day 3. Ib lb. Hereford .. .. 685 16S0 2.45 Shorthorn .. .. 711 1537 2.16 Devons 071 1292 1.92 Aberdeen-Angus .. 647 1212 1.87 Welsh 719 1512 2.10 Crossbred ' .. .. 673 1613 2.37 Steers Over Two and Under Three Years Daily Breed. Age. Weight. Gam. Days. lb. lb. Hereford .. „ .. 936 1935 2.00 Shorthorn .. -. 900 178G 1.98 Devon s 1010 1683 1.66 Aberdeen- Angus . 1028 1876 1.82 Galloways „ .. 931 1680 1.80 Welsh 1095 1980 1.80 Crossbred .. .. 956 1954 2.04 Kerry or Dexter . 1063 1239 1.16 RESULTS AT SMITHFIELD. Steers Under, Two Years Old. Daily Breed. Age. We.ght. Gam. Days. lb. lb. Hereford 685 1633 2 46 Shorthorn .. .. 704 15S8 225 Devons 694 13C5 1.99 Aberdeen-Angus .. 695 1547 2.22 Galloways 663 1374 2 05 Welsh 689 1453 2 10 Red Polls .. .. 675 1405 208 Ciossbreds .. .. 717 1C32 2.27 Sussex 639 1378 2.15 Steers Over. Two and Under Three Years. Daily Breed. Age. Weight. Gam. Days. lb. lb. Hereford 936 1087 2.12 Shorthorn .. .. 1072 166 i 1.73 Devons 1010 1674 1.65 Aberdeen-Angus .. 946 1914 2.02 Galloways .. .. 1054 1747 1.65 Welsh 1090 1919 1.78 Sussex 916 IS4O 2.00 Red Polls .. .. 1050 2187 2.08 Highland 968 1580 1.63 Croasbreds .. „ 1037 1992 1.92