THE DAIRY TYPE.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 467, 27 March 1909, Page 3

THE DAIRY TYPE.

WEDGE-SHAPED OR BLOCKY? It has long been a commonplace (writes "Kent" in the London "Field ) that thore is an essential difference in type between the dairy animal and tho beef-making. Over and over again havo lecturers and writers on dairy topics insisted on the fact that the milking cow should not have tho "blocky" appearance associated with the ideal animal kept for beef production, but should be of a wedge shape, the hindquarters being distinctly moro fully developed than the fore, the chest and neck, indeed, being thin and narrow. This has been so often repeated that it has heen generally accepted, 'and it seems to bo not only reasonable, but, to the casual observer who builds up bis ideal of dairy cattlo on the deer-like Jersey, capable of demonstration by an examination of tho leading dairy stock in the showyard. But now Mr. Robert Bruoo comes forward in his interesting book on Shorthorns, not, indeed, dogmatically to combat this view, but to point out that, after all, no exact tests have ever been made, nor do any authentic records exist to prove that this idea is correct. Views received from generation to generation as gospel are not to be npset by the mere expression of a doubt: but tho.jdoubt will in all probability fructify now that it has been given expression to in high quarters, and stookkeepers may bo induced to look into the matter carefully. The condition in which dairy stock are generally exhibited and are generally to bo seen in the sheds should, of course, be borne in mind when a comparison between animals is made, but tho experienced man may be trusted to judge of type beneath the load of flesh carried, though tho superficial observer, contrasting for example, the stock, shown at Smithfleld and that at the dairy show, may be ready to exclaim that the distinction between the two is too obvious to need demonstration. One point which Mr. Bruce points out will be recognised by very many breeders as absolutely true—that in many farms, in many different districts, splendid deep-milking cows may be found wiiich. are by no means of the wedge-shaped type, but which, given different management, show every jpcssibility of responding to' the feeding which produces the first-class butcher's animal. A more glance through a collection of pictorial/representations of dairy stock will show this to bo the case, but doubtless most breeders will be abls to draw on their own recollections, if not to verify the cssertion by reference to stock now m their sheds.

illr. Bruce questions whetner dairymen in or about any of our cities make a point of searching for and buying thin-chested, wedge-shaped animals, or think it necessary to do so. This is, of course, ataere expression of opinion, and it would not go for much after all, for the object of the town dairyman is twofold. He wants a generalpurpose animal, one which will be fit for the butcher, or which can soon be made lit, when he has done wita her/ and no doubt more or less consciously he balances against a slightly inferior yield,the better price made or a blocky animal. But there are types of cattle known to be good milkers, such as the Swiss, which are almost without exception blocky, and unless it bo contended that the development of the udder and parts adjacent which is required for a good milk yield must necessarily be accompanied by a falling-off in front there seems no reason why a good milker Bhould not be a blocky cow. Tho importance of the matter is obvious. Spite of all that has been said of the merits of the one-purpose .cow, and of the excellent results obtained from such animals as the Jersey, _ farmers prefer the" 'derided' ' animal— they regard it, indeed, as the only animal which will suit their stylo of farming, as one from which calves may be obtained that will make profitable milkers, or that, when the sex happens to be wrong, can be converted into profitable beef. Must the development of the dairy qualities be accompanied by the falling-off of the beef-making proclivities? If_ not, the Shorthorn, which ovon now occupies a high'place'among the dairy cattle of this country, may take a much higher position in the future, without ldsing its pre-eminent beef-making merits. The matter is worth testing, but I join with one caution uttered in advance by Mr. Bruce—l. do not think the shortperiod tests are of much value in judging of milk yields. It is not the yield of any particular day that is of importance, but the yield during the whole of 'the milking period, and unfortunately one is by no means a good criterion of ■ the other. ■ Knowing how much the value of a breeder's stock would be enhanced by the certificate of a body commanding confidence. I think it would be worth while, and would not be impossible, to arrange competitions extending over the entire period of lactation with the assist-' ance of local committees, and I hope it will be done. Whatever the result, it would give us some definite data on the point raised by Mr. Bruce, and .it would bo all the more satisfactory if there were authentic portraits taken of every certificated animal, as is already done by tho Dutch breeders, whose records in the milk-producing line are admirably kept.

DAIRY PRODUCE SHIPMENT. THE ATHENICS LOAD. The Athenic left Wellington for London on Thursday with butter and cheese worth over £100,000. The value'of the butter was £51,280, at the rate of IOJd. per lb., and of the cheese £57,007 at 6|d; per lb. It came from the following ports:— Butter. Cheese. Boxes. Cases. New Plymouth ... 8,216 2,202 Auckland .... ... 4,379 ,',87 Patea ... ... 3,175 3,323 Wellington ...'' ... 5,120 2,840 Lyttelton — . 426 Dunedin 41 — Other ports ... — 4,135 Totals - ... ... 20,931 13,513