STOCK DEMONSTRATION.

Waikato Times, Volume 96, Issue 15357, 4 October 1923, Page 6

STOCK DEMONSTRATION.

IMPROVING THE DAIRY COW. UTILITY POINTS STRESSED. (NO. I.) The establishment of herd testing associations throughout the Waikato encourages the belief that farmers will be stimulated to go in for improving their herds through the use of the pedigree butterfat bull. Ah evidence of this was apparent in the keen and appreciative .gathering of dairy farmers and breeders which gathered to witness the demonstration by Mr C. E. Robertson, of Wellington, the well known stud stock expert and judge. The demonstration was held at the Morrinsville saleyards by courtesy of Messrs Dalgcty and Co., Ltd. Amongst those taking a keen interest in the herd testing movement, and the general improvement of dairy stock, are the directors of the Morrinsville Co-operative Dairy Co., Ltd., and the latest demonstration was the outcome of their interest in this important project. In introducing Mr Robertson, the demonstrator, Mr J. Leasom said it was well known that Mr Robertson, who was a pedigree stud stock exrert, was a highly qualified man, and liiey were greatly pleased that he had responded to their invitation to give such a demonstration. Included in the gathering was a large party of senior boys from the Morrinsville school, who took a very keen interest In the proceedings.

Typical stock for the demonstration wls provided from the Friesian stud of Colonel R. C. Allen, and from the Jersey stud of Mr C. Dickinson. From the former stud there was the herd sire whose two nearest dams have butterfat backing averaging 7701 b of fat, a cow with a good butterfat record, and a yearling son of this pair. This combination permitted a reference to prepotency to be illustrated by example. Younger heifers were drawn from Mr Dickinson's stud, one being a well known prize-winner.

Mr Robertson prefaced; his remarks ty congratulating the Morrinsville Dairy Company on initiating herd testlog in their district. The progress of this system in the Waikato had spurred the whole Dominion to similar action. The influence on the industry which herd testing would exert could hardly be forecasted. Not only would it result in the elimination of the non-profit-making cow, and stimulate dairymen to improve their 1 herds by the more general use of the pedigree butterfat sire, but it would prove of great educational value. The system of semi-official testing had done more than all the shows so far held in the Dominion towards the improvement of their dairy stock. It had educated their judges by continually impressing upon them that essentials rather than fads or show ring points were necessary in a cow that was to be both a heavy and an economical producer. One was apt to be carried away by mere beauty.' This might be only superficial. A cow was of no value if she would not produce and return through her year's work a good profit to her owner. An example often quoted as demonstrating what injury could be done to a breed by persistence in breeding for show ring fads and fancies was the experience through which the Ayrshire breed had passed. While this example was correctly quoted it could not be said that such a circumstance in its history was peculiar alone to the Ayrshire. Fortunately the type evolved had passed. That fad was for a class of vessel and teat that was of no value for general utility. Breeding for this show type vessel resulted In fleshy adders with button teats, and there ultimately followed a general tightness all over the animal. A compact or neat, close-ribbed animal was of no value of the dairyman.

The Essential Type.

The cow of open frame typified the producer. .Scotchmen had been educated to thisi through the introduction of their milk-recording system, and the dairy type was strongly in favour. The cow of tlu's type paid the rent, and was the type wanted by overseas buyers also. In a consignment of Ayrshires just brought out from Scotland the more expensive animals were those showing pronounced dairy quality. The Jersey breed had also a "past." (Laughter.) Ten years ago the standard had been changed on the island of Jersey itself. This had been done to safeguard the dairy ability of the breed, and more points were now allowed in the standard for those culward evidences of the producer. High prices were paid by wealthy Americans for the pretty neat types. These men had not the practical experience, hence their mistakes. The Island authorities had realised the danger, and had endeavoured to guard against it by altering their standard. They had now introduced a system of semi-official testing on the Island also, and it would undoubtedly be found that this system would be of more value to them than even an alteration in their standard of points. The Jersey cow was a butter cow, and her popularity was due to her ability in that regard. A warning note had also been sounded in the Dominion, where extremely high prices had been paid for pretty types of the breed, lhat the essentials must be more keenly sought after. Friesian breeders had an even more difficult proposition, as there were two distinct types in their breed—the dairy type and the dual purpose type. Semi-offlcial testing had proved which was the type to go for, and the dual purpose type was distinctly out of favour. Size was imperative in all the dairy breeds, and v\as one of the greatest asseLs of the Friesian breed. Breeders should not be misled into mistaking the dual purpose form as being indicative of capacity for milk production. The type was quite distinct. Feeding capacity in a cow was chiefly evidenced in the large roomy middle, and certainly not by width of top. In a dairy cow the ribs should not come straight out from the backbone, which gave them that barrel' shaped appearance affected by rirs that carry ilesh, for milk producing ability 'and not the flesh forming propensity was the aim of the dairyman. What applied to the Friesian breed probably applied to the Shorthorn breed in even greater degree, for beef types had been mixed in the past with the dual purpose type. It was clearly demonstrated, however, that Shorthorn breeders realised the type to aim at. Recent sales of C. 0.11. slock were the evidence. Then there was the Red Polled breed, the latest to be taken up in the Dominion. Although the dual purpose type was the standj ard bred for both in England and Australia, the New Zealand Association had I resolved to breed the special purpose dairying type, a fact which spoke for itself. What Demonstrating Showed. In demonstrating on individual anirr.alsl Mr Robertson first sketched the model of the beef breeder, impressing that the type of animal which had made the Scotch Shorthorn and the Aberdeen Angus world-famous was a specialised type just as much as was

the type of the modern dairy animal. The Scotchmen and their following throughout both hemispheres had bred for top flesh; to carry that top flesh they required ribs which sprung right off the backbone and almost straight out. The shoulders, the chine, ribs, loins, hips and thurls were covered over with a thick layer of flesh. It would thus be seen that the improvement and development of the beef animal had been along the top line. The very reverse was the case with the dairy cow, for the development aimed at was In the underline. Every great producer clearly demonstrated that, and in consequence of a different development being aimed at a totally different type had been evolved. The one was compact in frame, the other open ribbed. It was no longer considered that an animal carrying flesh when in full milk was a cow showing great constitution. The high-class cow when in full working condition was lean and angular in appearance, whereas the beef animal was smoothly fleshed and rounded. Curves were more pleasing to the eye, and as the specialised dairy cow of angular frame was a purely modern production, the acceptance of this type would only become general through a process of evolution or education. The development of high-class producers had evolved a type of cow which was termed wedge-shaped. In the beeftype the underline was parallel with the topline. It was at an angle to the topline in the dairy cow developed for gieat capacity, as this cow was very deep below the loins. She had what was termed great depth of middle, and as her brisket should be fine and not prominent, full and rounded as that of the beef animal, and her neck and forepart show a general absence of flesh, the top and bottom lines of the dairy cow then formed a wedge. The conformation of the shoulders, which should be laid well back, and the prominence of the verterbrae or backbone (a great evidence of dairy temperament) gave the apex to another wedge which had its base in a wide chest floor. There was no need for width at the top of the shoulders, because there were no essential organs there and no flesh to carry. Width through the chest, given by a well-sprung forerib, and depth of chest, gave capacity for the heart and lungs. Great development here, particularly a fullness behind the elbow, would result in a dairy cow proving not only hardy but a great sticker. The Profitable Animal.

It had been said that the essentials required in a profitable cow were constitution, capacity, dairy temperament, blood circulation and ability. It would therefore be seen that there was much to learn about a dairy cow. The head was a great index, and was undoubtedly a study in itself. The cow's vessel was sometimes spoken of as the business end, but the head was the more important. Everything had its beginning there. The full, bright eye denoted vigour or constitution; the dull, expressionless and sunken eye, sickness either of the heart or lungs; tho large, mild, yet observant eye and the alertly held ears, the possession of doiry temperament. The large, open nostril denoted constitution, for it allowed the free passage of a large amount of air into the lungs, and oxygen freely supplied was essential to the hard-working cow. A large mouth and strong jaws indicate a good feeder, and were the first signs of capacity They were evidence of constitution also. Width between the eyes and ,a long, broad forehead, which tapered to the poll, indicated the possession 'of dairy temperament. In the space indicated here the brain was located. The brains controlled the nervous system, which in turn governed all the functions of the cow, such as digestion, blood circulation, and the power to make milk. It would thus be seen why. so much stress was put upon "width between the eyes." Prominent veins on the face indicated a good blood circulation. Dairy temperament, or nervous ' temperament, which was its proper name, was the great essential in a dairy cow. A cow to be profitable to her owner must be highly charged with nerve force. This should not be misinterpreted to mean nervousness. Lack, of width between the eyes resulting, in a narrow forehead and lack of brain-room would probably result in a nervous or "addleheaded" cow. Fineness and intelligence of the head also denoted possession of dairy temperament. The act of chewing the cud, strength or weakness in this particular, was another evidence of degree in this regard.

A comparison of the act of chewing the cud as between cows was very interesting. The cow that was always chewing her cud when not eating, and which chewed with a will, undoubtedly was a worker. She was endowed with . nervous temperament. This temperament forced her to be always working if in good health. The sluggish looking or non-active cow undoubtedly was a loafer, and would prove under test a boarder. There was, then, much to study in an animal's head.

(To be continued.)