SMITHFIELD CLUB

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 75, Issue 190, 13 August 1932, Page 8 (Supplement)

SMITHFIELD CLUB

EARLY RECORDS. ’ *4 recent issue of the Monthly Letter fe Animal Husbandmen, published by Armour’s Live Stock Bureau, United Btates, contains interesting information relative to beef cattle breeding in Great Britain a century and more ago. It appears that the Smithfield Club of London was founded in 1798. It had for its abject the improvement of the stock of the country, and particularly the bringing out of the principle of early maturity, “which is only another instance of the application of quick returns in trade to agricultural matter.” In 1808 the Duke of Bedford, at the annual dinner held during the show, aoted “the gradual banishment of numerous coarse and unprofitable breeds from our pastures, and the supplying of their place with breeds disposed to early and perfect maturity.” We gather that the term “early maturity” in those days, as it is to-day, ■was used in a relative sense, and probably meant fitting a beast for slaughter at about five instead of seven or eight years. Maturity also evidently meant a maximum of conditon, for the adage 4< too dear to buy, too fat to eat,” as applied to show exhibits, seems to have been coined early in the 19th. century.

Though apparently not shown at Bmithfield it is worth noting in passing that Charles Colling’s famous “Durham Ox” was alive about the date to which the above notes refer. He was calved in 1796, and travelled in England and Scotland until 1807. when he met with the accident that necessitated slaughter. His live weight at five years tf age was 30241 b., and in spite of having lost condition after the accident and before the slaughter, dressed at 23641 b. In addition the “Durham Ox” produced 1561 b. tallow and a hide that weighed 1421 b.