SOUTHLAND AYRSHIRES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3775, 20 July 1926, Page 14

SOUTHLAND AYRSHIRES.

GREENPARK AND IVANHOE STUDS. GOOD AVERAGE PRICES. Two important sales of podigree Ayrshire cattle took place in Southland during the week ending July 10, when over a hundred head of first-class milking cattle went under the hammer. Prido of place, of course, goes to the sale of Ivanhoe Ayrshires, conducted by the well-kno vn breeder. Mr A. M. Weir, of Menzies’ Ferry, who submitted 40 animals for sale. The confidence Mr Weir enjoys from purchasers all over the Dominion was eloquently demonstrated by the large number which visited tbo Ivanhoe homestead on Wednesday, while a further testimonial to .the name he has established was present in the prices purchasers were willing to pay for the stock on ctfer. A pleasing feature was the extent to which local buyers operated and although a good number of the beasts will carry Southland’s tame to distant parts of the North Island, a large proportion is being retained for the home province. It must have been gratifying to Mr Weir to seo Mr James Donald, of Featherston, on the buyers’ benches, for this purchaser has attended all of the Ivanhoe sales. His repeated reappearance and the extent to which he operates speaks volumes for the satisfaction given by the Ivanhoe cattle.

In connection with the Ivanhoe stock, it is interesting to notfe a reference to this famous stud in a report issued by the Royal Agricultural Society of New Zealand on the exhibits at tho Royal Show at Addington in November last. The report mentions particularly the cattle sections, and particularly praises the quality and general excellence of the entries supplied by South Island breeders of all classes of cattle. Speaking of the Ayrshire sections, the report says that in the female classes the highest honours were ail taken by animals front the studs of Messrs A. M. and R. S. Weir, and that “the display of this splendid milking breed has never been surpassed in quality at any Dominion show Assertions such as these reflect further than the breeder himself. The province as a whole can share in the glory from the fact that it provides the conditions and potentialities which make the raising of quality stock possible, and there is a certain mea sure of satisfaction in the knowledge that in one respect at least the north has been afforded a true perspective of the worth of the land in the far soutn. Severn animals were brought from Southland to Otago. Mr Peter Walker, of Palmerston, purchased the bulls, Ivanhoe HappyTlo-Lucky, Ivanhoe Pilgrim, and Ivanhoe Bandsman. Messrs Bissett Bros., of Kaitangata, bought the bull Ivanhoe Scotchman. , , # _ . . , Mr D. J. Ireland, of Goodwood, secured three animals from the herd of’Mr 11. _S. Irving, whose herd was sold in conjunction with Mr Weir's stud. His purchases were three heifers Mrv Thom. Cinderella 11, and Mi3s Thornhill. Mr P. Walker bought the heifer Kate s Fancy from the same herd. The highest price paid was lOOgns for the bull Ivanhoe Grandee, by Ponrua Stvle lll—lvanhoe Fancy, which was sold to’Mr J. Donald (Wairarapa). Other bulls went at 70gns, most of them being bought by North Island breeders. Mr R. i?. Weir (Seaward Downs) took Ivanhoe Fashion Plate home for 77igns. Mr J. Donald bought five animals which cost him ove- £3OO. Prices were generally satisfactory, though some local dairymen acquired some wonderfully cheap cattle. Thursday saw a new breeder in the person of Mr G. R. Herron, Pukerau, on the market with pedigree Ayrshires. As* a farmer Mr Herron has long been a prominent figure in the province, and to him belongs the distinction of having taken the steps which resulted in the successful establishment of herd-testing in the province. As a breeder also he has been well to the fore, and many show successes indicate that life has adopted the right lines in his activities as a stud-master. Dairymen had here an excellent opportunity of getting in on some exceptionally well-bred cattle with good production records behind them; but for some reason or other advantage was not taken of the chance. Included in the lots to be offered were several well-grown rising two-year-old bulls by the well-known sires Rising Star and Glencairn Baron, and it was thought that there would be quite a keen demand for these youngsters from dairy farmers anxious to improve the butter-fat standard of their herds. After the first four or five lots of bulls had been offered the rest met with a dragging sale, and Mr Herron very wisely decided to withdraw the remainder of the bulls. It cannot possibly pay a oreeder to produce high-class stuff, such as was offered last week, and accept less than 25 guineas a head for them. Besides, they were cheap animals even at that price, but evidently buyers' appreciation did not run to anything like those figures. The Royal Show bull Rising Star was offered under reserve, and, after opening at 50gns, the bid of Mr H. S. Irving, he went on to 76gns, Mr A. M'Lay, Pukerau, being last bidder, but having failed to reach the reserve was passed in, and so Rising Star remains at Grecnpark. Mr M'Lay was a very free buyer, as was also Mr R. B. Tennent, on behalf of the Department of Agriculture, for the Galloway Experimental Farm. Mr Tennent secured six nice heifers, and paid the top price, 24gns, for young females.