FIRST IMPRESSIONS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18547, 6 November 1934, Page 12

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

JUDGING DAIRY CATTLE FURTHER WAIROA ADDRESS (Herald Correspondent.) On the evening of the day wiien Air, S. Dale, Hamilton, gave a demonstration of the Jersey breed at the Wairoa Showground lie gave a further address at the Masonic Hall to a moderate attendance of farmers, illustrating his remarks by a number of drawings and. photographs of various breeds of dairy cattle, prominence beiilg given to the Jersey, which is being fostered by the recently formed club in Wairoa. Air. F. Shaw, the Wairoa club president, in a few words, again introduced the speaker. Mr. Dale said ho would like in somo measure to ' supplement his earlier remarks. Ho bad outlined the points of the top line of the -record cow, and stressed the greater importance of the under lino in the dairy cow, and on the wall ho exhibited a photograph of an undesirable (cull) cow, which, as one present said, illustrated “how not to do it.” He went on to deal with judging or picking foundation animals, and pointed out that the Red Poll was.supposed to be a dual purpose animal, but there was no such thing ; it must be beef or milk production, not both combined. The'speaker then dealt with judging at shows or sales, the points to be closely observed being the muzzle, jaws, nostrils, face, eyes, horns, ears, head, capacity, circulation, neck, nervous temperament, and so on, with all the points, giving his reasons for each, contrary in many cases to show judges.' An animal that did not come up to the conformation lie had given was not a good producing dairy cow. Type was as essential as production, and a good carriage in both sexes stood for a lot. Cohstitutiou was, of course, the basis of successful work in raising and maintaining the standard of production, and yet it was most neglected. The show judge, he remarked, should judge quickly, for first impressions were generally right-, and there should he no such thing as “I think” or “I thought.” Testing was an absolute necessity if they were to get anywhere, and breeders and farmers wore beginning to realise that to keep fewer but better cows was a business proposition. Testing brought a new interest into the home, even, and it made the family keen. Without testing, many a farmer went on thinking he had a prize cow when he only had a dud, and it was certain that a calf from a tested cow was more valuable. The farmer, he said, used to keep cows, but now the cows have to keep the farmer. On the present outlook, hbwever, there was a hard job ahead of the cows. It the farmer did his part in feeding the oows, he would find the answer in the test sheets.

They had heard of averages of 4001 b. of butterfat, and even over that in a few herds, but they had a long way to go before even <the 3001 b. average was reached for the Dominion. They must not forget that high-producing cows, generally speaking, conformed to a typo and never forget that- “like produces like.”

Dealing with -registration, lie claimed it was an absolute necessity to get rid of scrubs or duds, but registration should only bo permitted after inspection. They advocated using registered bulls, yet many breeders were still breeding culls, and not- all bulls were fit to be registered. They should not forget that regis-

trution was no proof of a good eow. One should test it by the points he had mentioned, and remember that a good reputation would last a farmer all his life; so would a bad one. Classification, too, was a step in the right direction, and before long there would come those important letters, c., h.c., and v.h.c., and those men who were responsible for the letters indicating the standards achieved should know their job, and should be given all the credit due to them. The rules should be tightened up however, and classification should be compulsory. Mr. Dale then dealt with what he called “fitting” in relation to shows and sale rings, holding that preparation should begin some months, or even a year, before the show or sale, and by fitting slowly the condition held better. How to carry this out the speaker explained at some length, including feeding, but not so as to pamper the bull, for when the new owner got him he might go to pieces .and the breeder would he blamed.

A number of questions were asked and answered to the satisfaction of the questioners, and so interested did they become that they forgot the late hour. Mr. Shaw thanked Mr. Dale for his useful address, and the vote was carried by acclamation.