IMPROVEMENT OF AYRSHIRES

Taranaki Daily News, 13 December 1932, Page 12

IMPROVEMENT OF AYRSHIRES

GREAT EFFECT OF IMPORTATIONS. BREED SOCIETY’S-: enterprise. One of the most. important yet conceived in connection with the. un provemeht of New Zeatends stock was the Ayrshire Cattle Brede.s £dciaX of New Ze.land’a ungovement scheme. This came into 1929 and in the following year the pre dtal Mn A. M. Weir, Southland, and the vice-president, Mn Fred Mills, of Hawera, Taranaki, mad a visit to Canada and there selected from leading studs five of the best young bulls in that country'. . . . - s __ These bulls represented the best strains in Scotland as imported, into Canada. As individuals .they were .of . very high merit, their sires were in each case outstanding breeding bulls and the dams were cows of exceptional type and c ass and included the worlds champ on three-year-old, 755 lb. fat on. two milkings a day, former worlds champions With records of 809 ,Ib. fat and 978 lb. fat and the aged champion with 676 *b. lat at 15 years, efc. This importation scheme was made possible by 25 members of the Ayrshire Breeders’ Association guaranteeing the funds required for the purchase aiid importation expenses. Alter the importation the bulls were sold at auction in Wellington by Messrs. Wright Stephenson and Co., Ltd., and realise the following prices:—Harnelbel Calamity Pride, Mr. A. M. Weir, Southland, 210 guineas; Credholme Top Grade, Mr. H. H- Olson, Taranaki, 170 guineas; Avonsyde Star of Fame, Mr. J. G. P°™ ld ’ Wairarapa, 305 guineas; Seiwood First Choice, Mr. Fred Mills, Taranaki, 200 guineas; Seiwood Highland Prince, Mr. T. G. Dobie, Southland, 180 guineas. The five bulls averaged 213 guineas, and the result of the sale was a very considerable profit to the association. The proceedings at the sale were broadcasted and the result of the. enterprise was to greatly stimulate in teres in the Ayrshire breed. All of ffie bulls imported have developed splendidly in New Zealand and have accounted for championships in practically every 'part of the Dominion. In addition to these five bulls, a further six bulls were imported from Canada either as a result of the visit to Canada by Messrs. Weir and Mills, or direct by the breeders concerned. The butter-fat records behmd these importations ranged up to 1200 Ibthe present world’s record. These bulls were imported by or for Messrs. J. G. Donald, Tauherenikau, Wairarapa; D. Buchanan, Tiakitahuna, Palmerston North (2); R. S. Weir, Edendale, Southland; A. M. Weir, Mataura Island, Southland; and T. M. Thomson, Waiuku, Auckland. The first bull imported, and prior to the importation scheme, was Mr. J.. G. Donald’s Thorncroft ~ Star Boy. This bull has been undefeated in New Zealand and has scored championships at successive Royal Shows. His . Stock give an evidence of the value of the importations made will prove to the Ayrshire breed as well as the dairying dustry as a whole. Last , year his first crop of yearlings swept the board at the Wairarapa, Manawatu, Hawera and Royal (Christchurch) shows. This year, his two-year-olds, have made a phenomenal record. His sons have won championships alreadys at the Wairarapa, Royal (Palmerston North), Timaru, Dunedin and Hawera shows, while his two-year-old daughters in milk have won championships and reserve championships at the Royal, Wairarapa and Hawera shows and his two-year-old daughters in milk under O.H.T. are giving at the rate of 50 lb. per day—a wonderful achievement. The sweeping successes of this bull’s stock are indicated by the fact that at the Wairarapa Show his sons were Ist. and 2nd. and champion and reserve in two-year-olds, Ist. and.2nd ’.in yearlings, and his daughters were Ist. and reserve and second in two-year-olds and Ist., 2nd. and 3rd. in yearlings in a class of nine. At the Royal, almost similar, honours were won in very large classes, the progeny of Thorncroft Star Boy also winning for his owner the Sir Charles Ferguson Challenge Cup for most points. Already the oldest progeny, now yearlings, of Star of Fame, the top-priced bull at the Importation Sale, are assisting in making new breed history, as several of these were also prize-winners at the Royal and Wairarapa shows and another was first and reserve champion at the Gisborne Show. The success of the Ayrshire enterprise should focus the attention of other breeders’ associations to the value of collective effort in the bringing about of herd and stock improvement.