INFLUENCE OF SHOWS

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XL, Issue 12315, 7 April 1933, Page 2

INFLUENCE OF SHOWS

Strong criticism cf the effect of shows on dairy stock breeding was a feature of an address by Mr"’Robert Boutflour to young farmers at Stafford, England, recently. Shows, said Mr Boutfiour, had led breeders into a rut, and had encouraged them to breed freaks. They had set a fashion in cows, and that fashion was a cow of the beef type. He thought they had made a serious mistake in thinking that by .putting beef into the back of the cow they were building up constitution. - The most serious mistake that had been made .was in the selection of their bells. There was only one wav to get improved dairy cows, and that was by realising the importance of the proven sire. There was no short cut to the selection of the bull; testing was the only way. To-day they had many poor cattle because they were not using tested bulls. The bull was at least half of the herd. Pedigree breeding reduced the chance of getting. a bad bull, but it was not a definite assurance that they would not get a bad one. From 14 months to two months before calving. At this stage less illeffects resulted from under-feeding, while heavy feeding might have a bad effect on ultimate milking capacity of the stock. (4) The two months before calving. Heifers needed proper preparation for lactation, and some concentrated foods were desirable. That was particularly important for heifers which had been running on ant.nnn grass or had been wintered on a straw ration.