RED POLLED CATTLE.

Southland Times, Issue 19435, 26 December 1924, Page 9

RED POLLED CATTLE.

To the Editor. Sir,—As one who has watched the trend and change of things for a lifetime, will you allow me to point out a few tilings to perhaps a younger generation that may save a lot of bother and disappointment to those who may not be able to afford experimenting, and that is this flying off at a tangent so to speak to establish new breeds in stock that they know little or nothing about. Even if they did know a little that little might be dangerous to many. Now, to my mind all this hubbub about a Red Polled herd for Winton or Kew recalls to my mind what the devil said to the pig when he tried his hand at shearing, to which was: “There’s a terrible lot of squealing for all the wool I’m getting.” Beef is beef and milk is milk, and if anyone can show me any better breeds for Southland than those we have already with us then I shall be surprised indeed. It seems that every now and again someone breaks out in a fresh place with some little fad of his own conceiving. It is taken up by enthusiasts and it is run like a new toy in a child’s possession, and then dropped for something else after a lot of money has been spent and lost. If breeders wish to do a little side-steping in this or any other rfirection let them experiment on their own, and if its a success all the better for those who take it on, but why all of a sudden do

people want to develop the Red Polls more than any other breed? They are good cattle of course, so are most of all the other breeds if mating is carefully adjusted and they are properly looked after. Many yeaxs ago Black Polled Angus were all the rage. The had their time and passed out. Then Herefords were all the go. They are still with us though not so popular, but still are splendid animals for high cold country. Then came Shorthorns, as good an allround animal as one can breed for dual purposes, but Fve never been able to define what they call the milking strain of Shorthorns, which meantime Tm going to regard as a distinction without any material difference. As in other distinct breeds some are better milkers than others. People are often tempted to keep the heifer calves from these unusual milkers, and as like often begets like in time these one time ordinary Shorthorns are honoured with the title of the “milking strain” Shorthorn. The Ayrshire was all the go at one time in Southland. That popular animal dropped back for quite a long time and now, for want of something fresh, it is again coming into its own, and a real good cow she is if a little ticklish to handle. Even the Holstein, with all her wonderful records, would appear to have shot her bolt, and although as good as ever she was. Many breeders are tiring of these splendid toy fashions and tastes in breeds of cattle change as do tastes and fashions in clothes. This Red Polled wave will run its little course and fizzle out as sure as sure. Jersey and Alderneys are also grand animals in a suitable climate, but too thin in the skin to my liking for Southland. I have one or two in my lot, and on a cold snap, even in sum-mer-time, I notice a decline in their milk yield. They tremble so in real bad weather that I have either to house or cover them. What is really wanted in New Zealand are stud cattle farms, conducted on the same lines as stud sheep or horse farms, each man breeding to his own taste as to kind. We want not one or two, but 20 or 30 of such places throughout New Zealand where we could send by long order for the kind of bull we desired to use, whether for milk or beef as the case may be. This could all be done by private enterprise, and by so many that the makeshift bulls would have no chance of keeping many of our farmers much poorer than they otherwise need be. Red Polled cattle would have its chance then along with other breeds. Why some people want to make a special herd of this breed all of a sudden beats me, and strikes me as muccle to do about that which matters very little.—l am, etc., AGRICOLA.