VALUE OF SHOW RING COMPETITION IN RELATION TO HERD IMPROVEMENT: PRODUCTION SHOULD BE CONSIDERED

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 13, Issue 20, 15 November 1948, Page 5

VALUE OF SHOW RING COMPETITION IN RELATION TO HERD IMPROVEMENT: PRODUCTION SHOULD BE CONSIDERED

The undoubted value (5f the show lies in the fact that the townspeople are given one of the best oportunities—which are all too few—of seeing the stock and gaining some appreciation of the interests of the : farming community. As far back as 1801 the famous “Durham Ox” : started a tour of exhibition lasting -six years. This doubtless increased the interest taken in Charles Coll- : ings as a breeder., All activities of the farmer, however, must be subjected—at least by the younger generation—to a scrutiny based on a .demand for better’ economic production of the commodity which the animal is maintained. ‘Grading Up Influence As an emphasis on the ideal of the breed rather than of the individual prize winners, shows can have a mild “grading up” influence by favouring the breeding from highly placed stock. Too often however undue prominence is given to the champions* which may excel by only small margins. This cannot help the learner and it is interesting that in Y.F.C. competitions there ihay be as much instruction as there is rivalry. A grading of all exhibits that {holds from show to show, and the minimising of showmanship aie two practical requirements Type classification’ is of course a step in the direction of standardising levels of breed type, but the value'of classification could be greatly increased by a system based on the scoring of points for desirable characters. :Such a system could be then linked to Progeny Testing which is regarded by world authorities as the best way of obtaining herd improvement. {Looks Not Everything It is unfortunate that there is only .a small correlation between the visible characters in dairy stock and their productivity. Even in meatproducing animals the use of detailed and tedious carcase measurement is slipplanting appearance on the hoof as a guide to desirability •of stock. It is surprising then that in dairy pattle it has taken so long ;for the industry to demand of its breeders that "production should be (Considered. For some years the “Oaks” competitions have included production

records, but until recently no classes were offered that emphasised the 'proved necessity for continuous testing. The need for an animal to have completed a stipulated series of records before entry, is putting the correct emphasis on the fact that ;a cow must be a producer before any selection is made on her appearance. A Family Affair ' A further step has been made by providing classes for families of cows. In this case the Graqddam had to be in the Lifetime Merit Re-, gister, the Dam in the Intermediate ■'.Merit Register, and the Daughter to gain full points required a single record of at least Intermediate Merit Standard. This class emphasised the generally accepted principle "that a cow with good descendants :is better than one without good -daughters—however spectacular her own production might be. Perhaps the most striking class ■was that where bulls were judged in their absence. Too often it is fori .gotten by dairymen that herd sires . <can make or mar their future herds and that a bull is kept, not merely /to get cows in calf, but also to raise the herd standard. The stringent rules limiting choice of daughters showed that the authorities framing the rules are conscious of the .'necessity to average the unselected “get” of a sire in order to assess his true valtie. No Attendants The large entry was impressive in that it demonstrated that the ■dairy type left by high level bulls is comparable with the best. For entry, sires had to be of “Merit” /standing and this in itself denoted their outstanding quality, but the -details of daughter averages gave a good indication to spectators that herds built up on such bulls would soon be averaging 4001bs of fat per ;year. A feature of the judging was the absence of attendants as the group of cows grazed normally in r. small padocks. This eliminates the ability of good stockmen to show off their animals in the pose usually associated with photography. - The effect that such a class can have on the breeding of dairy stock -depends, as do most aides to selecting, on the use breeders make of the placings and information provided. It is worthy of comment that

.{By W. H. Mandeno, Consulting Officer Herd Recording Dept., N.Z. Dairy Board) The remarkable interest taken in the “Merit” classes at the. recent Waikato A. and P. Show prompts a discussion on the value to the New Zealand dairy industry of showing stock.

two bulls out of the seven entered, have been acquired for use under A.I. at ‘Ruakura. In this way the widespread use of bulls judged both on production and type, will have a great influence for good in the National herd—far greater in fact than could possibly come from increased popularity of a bull judged on less exacting standards.