ARGENTINE SHORTHORNS

Waikato Times, Volume 110, Issue 18521, 29 December 1931, Page 12

ARGENTINE SHORTHORNS

BREEDING GREAT BULLS. BALCAIRN BLACKCOCK'S RECORD. If, at the moment, the prospects for the export of Shorthorn bulls to the Argentine are none too bright, breeders of the "red. white, and roans” need be in no way despondent, as a tiocldcd improvement may be confidently anticipated in the not distant future (says the Aberdeen Press and Journal).

Their special correspondent has had a chat with Mr K. P. MacGlllivray, Kirkton, Bunchrew, who has just returned from the Argentine, where he had the honour of judging Shorthorns at the show in Buenos Aires for the second year in succession—and he shares this view.

At tha present the export trade has been adversely affected by reason of the poor prices obtaining In Argentine for maize and wheat.

Cattle in the Argentine, according to the views given to Mr MacGlllivray by, tho big ranchers, arc leaving quite a fair margin of profit. A significant feature of the show — and one that, is distinctly heartening to home breeders—is that practically the whole of the leaders, in the 600 hear} of Shorthorn cattle that, camo under Mr MacGlllivray's inspection at the Argentine show were got by sires exported from this country. The ■champion, for example, was again got by Balcairn Blackcock. "Without exception,” said Mr MacGlllivray, "this hull was the best animal I have ever seen or ever put my hands on, A 2-year-old whito bull—incidentally this •was Ihe first lime that the championship had been annexed by a white — be sold for 31,000 dollars, the highest price for the year. The hull that stood second to tho Champion war" also got by Balcairn Blackcock. This was ihe beautiful roan, which was taken home by the owner as a stock bull. Owing to his great Shorthorn character and fine ■colour. It would have been interesting to see what lie would have fetched had he passed through the sale ring. Outside tho first three or four bulls In every class, Hie remainder of the bulls were not quite up to the standard one would like. Breeders, however, were now beginning to get more or less into one type—the thick, low■set, heavy fleshed cattle. “One tiling I would like to say," edded Mr MacGillivray, "is that there is no use sending out secondary bulls !o the Argentine, as they can breed belter ones themselves.” Balcairn Blackcock Is by Balcairn Baronet, one of Ihe leading sices in Scotland a! Ihe present lime, who Is also the sire of tlie fine old breeding row, Bushev Park Nonpareil, in Ihe Bushev Park herd of Mr J. A. Johnstone (Palmerston).