FIELD DAY

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXIX, Issue 20097, 2 May 1935, Page 10

FIELD DAY

FARMERS SHOW MUCH INTEREST INSTRUCTIVE ADDRESSES An instructive field day for farmers was held on the Fairlie Sports grounds on Tuesday, and judging from the attendance, which was considerably more than 100, the idea found much support in the district. Much of the credit for the scheme belongs to Mr S. A. Cooper, the senior assistant in the District High School, who took much trouble to organise the day and to arrange for the presence of lecturers. Mr H. A. Munro also took a prominent part in the work involved, and the scheme was supported by the Mackenzie A. and P. Society, the Fairlie branches of the Farmers’ Union and Crown Tenants’ Association, and the boys of the Fairlie school. Stud beasts for demonstrations were lent by Messrs V. LeCrcn, G. Giddings, R. A. Grant and A. Grant (sheep), V. LeCren and F. G. Saville (cattle), and A. Grant (horses). Each animal was judged by the demonstrator, who enumerated its points and answered questions. Jersey and Shorthorn Cows Mr E. R. Goulter of Fairlie, opened the morning session with the Jersey cow as his subject. He mentioned that the position of demonstrator incurred considerable responsibility, because if he made any wrong suggestions about the Jersey he would be liable to put people on the wrong track. The “escutcheon”’ theory of judging Jerseys was, Mr Goulter considered, nearly always reliable. It had been evolved by Francois Guenon, the son of a French gardener, because he had noticed that the hair on the udder and thighs grew in an opposite direction to the hair on the legs. Further examination had proved to Guenon that in that respect there was a great difference between cows, and he was convinced that by this area of upgrowing hair, which he called the “escutcheon,” the good cow could be distinguished from the bad. The escutcheons, that is the different shapes, took their names from the figures they made on the back of the udder. Included in the escutcheon, there were sometimes “tufts” and “ovals” of down-growing hair and they also had considerable significance.

Mr Goulter emphasised the point that because of the district’s high altitude, the main thing that local breeders had to watch was constitution. He went through the various points that had to be considered when a Jersey animal was judged, and after his description the spectators were invited to award marks, on the principles he had explained, to the demonstration cow. At the same time Mr Goulter judged the animal himself and of the totals handed in, one equalled his and many more were almost the same. Owing to the absence of Mr S. Kingston of Timaru, who sent an apology, Mr Goulter also demonstrated the points of a Milking Shorthorn. The demonstration animal was, he said, an outstanding beast and he particularly pointed to its strong constitution. Another healthy sign was the yellowness showing in the colour of its ears. The Clydesdale Horse. Mr J. McDonald of Timaru showed the points of a Clydesdale and he mentioned that the home of that horse was Scotland. At the Chicago Horse Show he had seen a team that a meat packer had imported from Scotland at great expense, and putting all the other teams in the shade, it had carried off the prizes at that big event. A pure Clydesdale had to show good deep hoofs, said Mr MacDonald. It walked away with its hocks close and carried its head high. The hocks had to be well up the leg. He thought that if the animal had feet and legs that were up to standard, the body could be largely made by feeding. A description of a horse from the veterinary point of view was given by Mr E. J. Lukey, veterinary surgeon, Government Stock Department, { n Christchurch. The first thing to do was, he said, to stand back and take a general view of the animal, for then such things as a curb could be more easily picked. Injury to the poll between the ears, was not so prevalent in this country as in Britain where horses hit their heads on the top of low stable doorways. A candle or similar light at night would show if there were any cataracts in the eye; in the daytime the eye could be inspected when it was shaded with the hand. Traces of strangles would be shown in the nostrils. The cannon bone in the leg had to be felt for splints. Cartilages above the hoof should be springy. If they were hard, they were a defect known as side bone. A narrow, contracted foot was another defect, and the frog should make contact with the ground. He mentioned particularly that in front the horse took the shock of concussion in the hoof, whereas its rear legs bore the shock in the hock. The foregoing points were, said Mr Lukey, the chief ones to watch in the search for hereditary diseases and general defects. One thing that he had to mention, he added, was how to lead a horse in the show r ring. The person in charge should hold his hand at least 18 inches from the head and so much depended on the man at the head of a horse that he could often hide defects. Points in Sheep Breeding The afternoon session was given over to sheep, and in the place of Mr Geo. Murray, who had not found it convenient to repare the demonstration, Mr E"; R. Goulter enumerated the various points of the Merino sheep. He explained how the ancestors of the breed had no belly wool and remarked that such a throw-back defect was liable to occur in present-day breeding. Some breeders were trying to make the wool as fine as possible, but he contended that if it was bred too fine it became light. Much could be done by careful selection, and he exhorted sheep men to maintain a good breed without chopping and changing. Sometimes the results of such breeding -were good, but generally mixing bloods was a procedure that required great skill. Mr J. Waddell explained the various features of the Romney sheep. The gold exported from New Zealand was, he said, small in comparison with the value of the sheep exports, and in New Zealand there were twice as many Romney sheep as all the rest put together. The Romney came from the cold marshes of Kent, and it had proved itself to be a general utility sheep. It arrived in New Zealand about 1866, and since then it had proved a great asset to the country. There was a growing demand for Southland Romneys, but in his opinion there were sheep equally as good in South Canterbury. One remarkable thing in connection with the breed was that ewe lambs were realising as much at fat lambs. Explaining points about the Romney, Mr Waddell said that a good constitution would usually be shown in the appearance of the head. It should be broad with a black nose and a slight blackness around the eyes; the nose should be wide above the nostril. A pointed nose was enough to condemn a sheep. The head should be covered A

with as much wool as possible, but if many white hairs showed themselves, the sheep should be discarded. A sheep that was not high on the shoulder did not fatten well; and the shoulder had to be level with the backbone. The long-legged type of Romney did not usually have a good body. On the belly the wool along the skirt had to run in as far as possible, and end short and crimpy near the crutch. Kemp showing on the legs was a bad sign. The public wanted a light lamb, said Mr Waddell, and the Romney was more fleshy than the Southdown. The breed was very adaptable and that fact could often be used to advantage. In the Orkney Islands, for instance, because it often fed on seaweed on the beaches, the extra salt consumed seemed to be responsible for an extraordinary fine type of wool. Demonstrating further points he showed how the ears should not stick up out of the head. The tip of the wool should not be pointed, and the lock should be round. A piece of good Romney wool was crimped to the point. The foot should lie on the ground at an angle of 45 degrees. He recommended Romneys with a large bone. Border Leicester and Corriedale Addresses on the Border Leicester and Corriedale were given by Mr C. H. S. .Johnston. Taking the Border Leicester breed first, he stated that it was more for meat production than wool. It should have a broad, straight back with width across the loins. Wool was not supposed to be on the back of the head. The Corriedale was a dual purpose sheep, said Mr Johnston, and it was bred both for meat and wool. It originated in a place in New Zealand called Corriedale. The head had to be broad and strong featured, and without horns; the muzzle black with no spots about the face. Wool blindness was a defect. The legs should be short and well set, dark hoofs being preferable to light coloured ones. The characteristic of Corriedale wool was evenness throughout, and it should run well up the back of the ear. There should be no pinkness about the eyes, and the head should be high between the ears. If the toes opened when the foot was on the ground, there was less tendency to footrot, because the dirt was then allowed to fall through. Appreciation Expressed Mentioning that he had been deputed to speak for the gathering, Mr C. J. Talbot thanked the demonstrators for the very able instruction they had given. It was, he said, very satisfactory to the Mackenzie County to know that its stock was so good, and further, he was pleased to see that the Mackenzie County was able to supply some of the demonstrators. The field day had probably been better than an A. and P. Show, because people were shown how the animals were judged and what kind of animals they should rear. By supporting Mr S. A. Cooper in that work, the local branches of the Farmers’ Union and Crown Tenants’ Association were perhaps doing a more practical service than criticising the Government. Anyway, he said, it was one very good side of their work. One very satisfactory thing was the presence of boys from the rural schools. He congratulated Mr Cooper for the forward step he had taken. Mrs Cooper, too, deserved thanks for the work she had done to supply morning and afternoon tea. At the Fairlie Show, Mr R. McGillivray, of the Agricultural Department, had mentioned that about an acre of ground was required near Fairlie for experimental grass plots. "I am sure,” said Mr Talbot, “that some person will try and meet that request.” Mr Cooper returned thanks and mentioned that more boys and adults should join the local Young Farmers’ Club. Mr G. S. Ridley, agricultural Instructor, said he saw evidence of a very successful day, and he wished to pay a tribute to the work done by Mr Cooper. The attendance would encourage his efforts. “It is not the least thing that between you,” said Mr Ridley, “you are providing the best agricultural instruction for your District High School pupils.” It Is proposed to hold a farmers’ day at the school some time in August.