CARDIFF ROYAL SHOW

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLV, Issue 21180, 29 October 1938, Page 15

CARDIFF ROYAL SHOW

IMPRESSIONS BY Mr .1. C HAYHURST

SOME INTERESTING COMPARISONS While on his trip to the Old Country, Mr J. C. Hayhurst, of Temuka, visited the Cardiff Royal Show, and a recent issue of “The Farmer and Stockbreeder" contains an interesting account written by Mr Hayhurst, of his impressions of the Show in comparison with those held in New Zealand. Undoubtedly the most Interesting and happy week of my visit to Great Britain has been that which I spent at the Royal Show' at Cardiff. The “tang” of the country, peculiar to and inseparable from agricultural showgrounds, the diversity of interest and the warmly hospitable actions of the Royal Agricultural Society toward providing for the interests of overseas visitors are happy recollections. But I was also happy because the show provided valuable lessons in certain aspects of organisation, the practice of judging and the preparation of live stock for the ring. The immensity of the display was my most vivid Impression. And the wonder of this giant representation of British farming was its magnificent organisation. With apparently a minimum of officials the judging was carried out thoroughly and yet in keeping with the times arranged. The trade and commercial stands were so grouped, lettered and numbered that any particular exhibitor could easily be found. Judging Methods Approved Any complaint about judging, so far as the live stock sections were concerned, could hardly have been justifiably laid against the methods followed. Thoroughness seemed to be the guiding principle wherever I watched from the ringside, while a uniformly high standard was evident.

This extraordinarily large variety of breeds of cattle, sheep and pigs was something new to a New Zealander. Suffolk, Hampshire Down, Dorset and Wiltshire Horn, Kerry Hill, Clun Forest and the Devon breeds of sheep are unsuitable to the climate and general conditions of the Antipodes, while Belted Galloway, South Devon, Longhorn and Welsh, Devon and Park cattle are types quite impractical for the needs of the New Zealand fanner. I was Impressed with the evenness of the cattle and their remarkable condition. In New Zealand the judges —except possibly in the case of the Royal Show—are often faced with most trying variations in type and quality. At Cardiff the difficulty seemed to me to be to select the best cattle from among a splendid lot. This occurred most frequently in the lieiier and young bull classes. Almost all the beasts I saw in the Shorthorn, Aber-deen-Angus, Hereford and Jersey classes would have won in New Zealand rings. Beef Breeds Not So Heavy Interesting differences in type from the New Zealand standards were seen In the Shorthorn, Hereford, AberdeenAngus and Red Poll classes, the home breeds being more stocky, possibly shorter in body, and certainly proportionately heavier than the cattle raised in the Dominion.

Many of the British Friesians I had seen equalled in New Zealand show rings. The Friesian is one of the milking breeds of the Dominion and there are some remarkably good herds.

From the cattle I passed on to the sheep pens where there was sufficient to interest me for several hours. I was keen to see how the New Zealand type of Romney Marsh, Border and English Leicesters, Southdowns and Ryelands compared with the home stock. Apart from some minor details, such as the fact that the New Zealand Southdown is inclined to be rather bigger and have a darker face and that our Ryeland is possibly a little longer in the leg, I could see no essential differences. An aspect of sheep-showing that was strikingly different was the extent to which preparation has been developed in this country. In New Zealand until comparatively recent years there was a large body of opinion in favour of “naturalness” in exhibiting, but gradually trimming and colouring came into favour, and now they are indisputably adopted, yet not to the extent I saw at Cardiff. The Horse Section Of much interest were the horses. (The Dominion prides itself on the high standard of its breeding, and certainly that pride seems justified. From the draughts at Cardiff I was pleased to learn that the type and standard, of our Clydesdale is much the same as that of Great Britain.

Practically all New Zealand strains are kept fresh by frequent importations from England and Scotland, so it is little wonder that there is the resemblance. The Shire is too heavy a horse for the general farm work of the Dominion and, therefore, is not at all popular. Suffolk Punch was the breed that impressed me as having great possibilities in the Dominion, especially among small farmers. Arabs do not find favour generally, but, of course, the Hunter is popular and in type is much the same.

New Zealand has possibly followed the Mother Country in the matter of pig breeding for commercial purposes. Large Whites figure prominently in all shows, while Middle Whites and Tarnworths are also popular bacon breeds. Berkshires take a place in farm practice more for their suitability for crossing with above mentioned breeds. I was impressed with the evenness of the entries in most of the pig classes and I found that, generally, the English show pig is a bigger, better broughtout animal.

No agricultural show nowadays is complete without its stands of farm

implements and machinery. In the roar and clatter of the working models I felt as much "at home" as among the stock. As with the rest of the show, the machinery section was much larger and more varied than one ever sees in the Dominion. Among the quieter stands I saw considerable real value in the educational exhibits and the ethical and practical possibilities of the Bureau of Rural Industries impressed me. I spent a memorable two hours in the flower show, and was one among the crowds who saw the remarkable performances of the Innlskllling Dragoons in their musical and trick riding. Such variety there was that one could not easily tire of the show, for there was always something different conveniently handy, and sufficiently interesting to give relief. Then again, one was amongst country folk who, whatever their means or station, or wherever you go, are the "salt of the earth."