THE STUD BREEDER.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 69, 14 December 1907, Page 3

THE STUD BREEDER.

HIS'VALUE TO ;THE ; INDUSTRY.'^ ;<! V ■'_. '. A new departure; '•-;■■. . -:The'breeder of stud' stock' important niche/in the industry of farming in New. Zealand.'.lt'is hard adequately to conceive, the .'chaps and-the full' depth or the'despair into ',wbich'.our' farmers* would immediately- drop:if kKe professional-breeder of sheep, cattle, and horses—the '.' fancier " among farm : stock— ■ were .to'be suddenly'withdrawn. .The dairy ' farmer who is trying'his-best to improve, his oiilkyiold, would look helplessly around for-a reliable,bull to' help him in the task.- He would be driven to make his obeisance before that fearful and wonderful creature the-grade 'bull; and herds 'nondescript-'.calves..: presenting all the wild divergencies that the sons and daughters of half-bred sirc.s can.so well provide, would confront him and blight alPhis'schemes.- He would undertake a huge 'task--who would take ujrsuch.a'.mixturej- arid, , -without apnre'sire,;essay to evolve from it. a satisfactory dairy herd/ ; with fixed characteristics—a herd, that : would -reproduce its like. OrHhe-sheep farmer? Tbe.ro. are the Corriedales, it' is. true. And the'Gorricdales are- uncommonly; good, >for—shall we" say?— i mongrel-breds ? ,' No.-..-The,''word is not. now

For the Corriedales. are no longer even- crdss-breds. They are a distinct breed that has.-, been ' manufactured, with tremendous effort .and care,: from selected, purebred, .ancestors. There .has been., immense .-culling, vast variation,- distressing.disappoint-' :inents, arid;some/brilliant successes. But-the :cullingvstage still,remains. ■-Tho creation of '.the ; 'GoiTiedale*has: been- a great spectacular ■experiment. The Corriedale is'now.beconung accepted" ras -.a' breed, -but' the', achievement idoes not:discount,.the vaiue.,of pure blood. It simply emphasises-it. The fact- that the Corriedale has; been considered worth all the labour that has-been bestowed upon its manufacture, 'proves the'-ynlu'e oi a breed when •once; )'• No farmer who keeps lip the.size, -stamina;' and. clip.of ihis cross-bi;ed flock by the. use of a, pure sire would like' to face the prospect of muddling .along without and'.performing' all the labour that na's i produced -the, Corriedale. • ' ■ .' .:■'•'•'

.• ; Th.en..->there:-are; .pigs. The.r.Tarariaki iarmers )# .and farmers elsewhere, 1 are plunging heavily, into th'e. pig business; and' pure blood and.ready-farrowed l litters:and pedigree!'hours ■come-so automatically to-hand when needed that'.one is .naturally led. to forget 'the-faith-ful work.of ;'the maiv w'hb has made' these supplies available.; .A. purebred, boar, that' is' worth' his' fee is not:bred', in a day" or 'in'.a generation.': ■ The men? who'havo T ploddingly sculptured out'-the .finished article.' and imported.improved .blood at : princely prices- have oarned : a .recpgnitipn\tha.t ( -is too, often -forgotten:' _Cphipared'with the breeders of prize -poultry,/who;occasionally spring to the front with the swift-burst of a meteor,'through haying ..bred a/, feather:■ prettier ;•. than their rivals, -the _ men ;-wKd.. breed ; good. cattle, and shep-.'and Ipigs and horses live in dim insignificances.';;..',- \-''-C ; ■■: .-;-■ ''■ '

■ . We? wish-to drag; our friends'-'the farmBtock.fanciers .right-out: into thq. full: blaze of'the footlights,' so" ."that'the' farming, public maV.be able tp 'know of "thejr doings;''aridincidentally partake iof'the' benefits :that. derivable -from .business overtures, \vith.- them. :A Stud.Column,', set, apart..'forithis' purpose, willappeaf in the'THE DoiuNioN every Saturday/-; Our numerous" regular-contributors .will Won >th'e ; , a'le'rt;-'fbtvflews';'of,interest •crincern-ing;.the-operations of-the-^various,,breeders,' and/.w.e trust:.that: a; better,, association. he'twee'n, farmers.' arid .'''breeders' will gradually result:'.,'We'anticipateMhat', Tib : Dominion's Stud' Column ■ .will, rapidly prove: itself :to' be', tpVthe NeV Zealand /breeders,-;'a ■ medium ; :'of some; value in' ; exchanging",ideas./for/.the im- ' prdyemerit of their cult, and'-that-the 'farmers. of/New'_ Zealand-'will soon 'look, Back-'upon the-, initiation "• of ■' this' feature'' with •"a'p'precia&myl< /./, : V:' : i;';'::!> : :-. -■' ■.':•'";.;,-=