SHORTHORNS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 192, 15 August 1931, Page 20 (Supplement)

SHORTHORNS

' POPULARITY IN ENGLAND

RETURNS FROM MARKETS.

Mr. Alvin H. Sanders, the well-known Shorthorn enthusiast and writer, called the Shorthorn “the universal provider,” and that comprehensive title contains as much truth to-day as it ever did. In an age which is scarcely characterised by a nicely-balanced sense of proportion there is a distinct danger that tho solid and continuous contribution made by the Shorthorn to the welfare of the commercial cattle of the country may be obscured by the meritorious, but somewhat more spectacular, achievements of its rivals. For the plain fact is that the Shorthorn is the backbone of English commercial eattle, the one foundation upon which it is always safe to build. Although the consumer may to-day demand small joints, the value of the breed is unchallenged, for without the Shorthorn at some stage in the breeding operations there would soon be no small joints; sooner or later the Short horn cross has to be introduced to repair the defects and to restore the constitution of the stock. Of tho Shorthorn bull alone it can be said that his continued use means continued improvement in his produce. Again, much has been made of the fact that, owing to the demand for small, neat bullocks, the does not always command the highest price per live hundredweight. While that is often, though by no means invariably, tho case, it should nevertheless be remembered that, by reason of his greater bulk and of his early maturity, tho Shorthorn generally gives a better return. Even at a lower price per live hundredweight, greater weight for age usually means greater profit to the feeder. That the sterling qualities of the Shorthorn as foundation stock or for crossing purposes are widely apprcciat cd in the commercial cattle world is amply proved by the statistics obtainable from the various auction marts. For instance, in the districts served by the markets at Ashford, Reading, Basingstoke, Chichester, and Salisbury the cattle sold are predominantly of Shorthorn type and character. Thus, at Basingstoke, where over 6500 cattle are sold at 55 sales each year, no less than 90 per cent, are of non-pedigree Shorthorn type or of partly Shorthorn breeding; the cattle comprise fat stock, store stock, dairy cows, and young calves, and, while the average price for fat stock per live hundredweight shows little, if any, difference as between Shorthorn and other breeds, the prices for store stock favour the Shorthorn by anything from £1 to £6 a head for yearlings upwards, and by 10s. to 15s. a head for calves. In another series of markets, embracing Reading, Ashford, Nottingham, Leicester, and St. Ives (Hunts), 160 sales are held during the year and about 31,000 head of cattle are sold. Of these 56 per cent, are Shorthorns, and although bullocks or maiden heifers of other breeds sell fat at 2s. per cwt. more thau the Shorthorn, the latter finds a better market by 4s. per cwt. than its rivals, when fat cows or bulls arc in the ring. Amongst the store cattle the Shorthorn type fetch from £2 10s. to £4 10s. more for new milk or calving cows and first-calf heifers, while other breeds may make 10s. or so a head more for their two-year-olds and yearlings.

At Chichester and Barnham market? about 19,000 head are disposed of at 7f sales during the year, and Shorthorns make up 73 per cent, of the total. Here the fat stock prices favour its competitors by 2s. to 10s. per cwt., but in the case of store stock the Shorthorn scores by £1 to £2 a head for cows and for heifers with first calf, while the othei breeds register a slight advantage with their two-year-olds and yearlings. Al Salisbury 4500 head of store stock art marketed at about 100 sales in a year Shorthorns accounting for 71 per cent, and fetching £1 to £4 a head more thar other breeds. Consideration of the foregoing fact? makes it abundantly clear that the Shorthorn is indispensable. The uni quo crossing value of the breed, it? adaptability, and its early maturity combine to make it a rentpayer par ex cellence, and its prominence in the com mercial markets is but a just tribute tc its sterling qualities.