PEDIGREE AYRSHIRES

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 6, Issue 99, 17 August 1943, Page 6

PEDIGREE AYRSHIRES

NATIONAL SHOW AND SALE £100 VOTED AS PKIZIi MONEY Amongst progressive steps taken at the annual meeting of the New Zealand Ayrshire Cattle Breeders' Association recently held in Wellington was a decision to vote £100 in prize money in connection with the forthcoming First National Ayr.shire. Show and Sale to he held at Claudelands, Hamilton, on Friday, September 10. The prize money, which is a record, will be distributed amongst the classes for two-year-old bulls, yearling bulls (two divisions), three-year-old and older bulls,, yearling heifers, heifers and a group of a yearling bull and two yearling heifers. Substantial prize money is also to be awarded for the Senior and Junior Championship and Heserve and the Grand Championship and Reserve Grand Championship. Mr J. G. Donald, Ardgowan, Feath* erston, was appointed official judge. The event is planned to be one of the most outstanding yet held in the Dominion and entries will represent leading studs in all parts of the North Island. The larger entry will, of course, come from the Waikato but prominent studs in Taranaki, Manawatu, Poverty Bay, North Audkland and Bay of Plenty will also be represented. Amongst the older exhibits will be some of the notable prize-winners and champions at leading shows, while the younger stock will represent the best sires and, many of the best dams both for butterfat and show-ring performances associated with the breed. Ayrshires to-day are occupying a position of prominence throughout the world and in the Old Land in particular arc making record prices. The same is, however, taking place in Canada and the United States, while here in New Zealand a fresh record for all breeds was established recently when the rising yearling bulls at the annua] Ardgowan sale established a record for all breeds when they averaged 100% guineas. Since the New Zealand Ayrshire Breeders' Association went in for its progressive policy of importing the best cattle obtainable from overseas countries such as Canada and direct from the home country of the breed in Scotland, Ayrshire cattle have made tremendous strides in the Dominion. That this progress is to be maintained is indicated by the establishment of the National Show and Sale and also by the fact that importations are. still being made, one leading breeder having recently landed a bull from Scotland at a cost bordering on £1,000. A half-brother to this bull has since sold at auction in Scotland for 1,000 guineas sterling.