AMONG THE AYRSHIRES

Waikato Times, Volume 122, Issue 20465, 4 April 1938, Page 9

AMONG THE AYRSHIRES

FENCOURT FIELD DAY EDUCATIVE DEMONSTRATION MR W. C. WALLACE’S HERD Educative and interesting, the field day promoted by the South Auckland Branch of the New' Zealand Ayrshire Breeders’ Association and heid at Mr W. C. Wallace's farm, Fencourt, on Saturday was an outstanding success, the large gathering of breeders being indicative of the keen interest in the Ayrshire breed. Mr Wallace’s “Thirdpart Ha’’ Ayrshire Stud, one of the most prominent Ayrshire studs in the I Dominion, includes many outstanding specimens of the breed and the gathering was fortunate in having the opportunity of being able to inspect the vari- | ous animals that have done much to uphold the reputation of the breed. I An informative demonstration was ' given by Mr Andrew Weir, well-known judge and breeder, during the afternoon, while judging competitions aroused keen interest. Besides the breeders present, a party of Hamilton Technical school-boys with their instructor, Mr A. W. Green, attended the field-day, which gave them the opportunity of studying at close quarters a first-class pedigree herd that was being i maintained under purely natural conJ dirions. Dairy Points Demonstrated ! In welcoming the gathering as proprietor of “Thirdpart Ha” and president of the South Auckland Branch of ; the New Zealand Ayrshire Breeders’ ' Association, Mr Wallace expressed the opinion that Ayrshire breeders thought , that their breed, if not the best, was one of the best breeds. The breed, however, was only as good as the breeders themselves made it. Thirdpart Ha Minnie, one of the most successful show cows of the Waikato and winner of the dairy championship over all 'breeds at the last Cambridge Show, was the cow selected for Mr Weir’s demonstration. Mr Weir first of all stressed the value of the wide nostril as being excellent evidence of constitution. There should be a rough square formed by the horns and eyes and this should be just slightly “dish” shaped. He did not like to see the shoulders too light as constitution would he affected, while the dewlap should be light with no surplus flesh on the brisket. The cow should be wide underneath with plenty of space ; between the front legs, i Mr Weir then dealt with the other i desirable points to look for in the ideal ; dairy cow, particularly stressing the importance of correct type. The judging competitions with the matrons of the herd, the heifers, the bulls and bull calves, proved highly informative, Mr Weir explaining his reasons for his particular placings. The competitions also helped to Indicate the quality of the excellent young stock at “Thirdpart Ha” and the success of the establishment’s breeding programme. Imported Bull Greenan Barascope, bought by Mr Wallace at a high figure at the Wel- , lington sale of Imported stock from Scotland, and a bull from the highest i producing family in Scotland, was also ! inspected by the gathering. Barascope ! was bought by Mr Wallace because of ; his great butterfat backing. ißy Buri ton Butterboy and from Dromore Damjsel, 1158 gallons of milk at 4.22 per i cent, in 45 weeks, this great bull has 1 a maternal grandsire in that famous Scottish sire, G.G.S. Lessnessock ! Sunny Jim, a proved bull that has done much to enhance the reputation of the • breed in Scotland, while on the paternal side of his pedigree he traces to G.G.D. Torrs Missie, a name famous in ; Ayrshire breeding. He also includes 'in his pedigree Rigg Jupiter, an animal ' with 57 proved daughters. After the gathering had been enter- ! tained by Mr and Mrs Wallace to after- . noon tea at the homestead, Mr A. W. Green, secretary of the New Zealand Milking Shorthorn Society, expressed the appreciation of the guests, while , thanks was also depressed by Mr R. Wattam, a well-known Jersey breeder of Fencourt. i