SYDNEY SHOW.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1410, 10 April 1912, Page 8

SYDNEY SHOW.

SHEEP AND CATTLE EXHIBITS. BOMXEV BREEDERS' DISCONTENT. According to the latest Sydney files to hand, llio sheep display at tlio big Easier show was no I greatly'superior to that of the previous show, and, despite tho fact that the Easier show is not recognised us being the .sheep-breeders best opportunity for exhibiting, something better might," according to tho critics, have been expected. About 111) sheep were penned last year, and the number this year was not quite n>. large. In numbers the liincolns lead, the English Leicester, being ns numerous as Inst year's penning, and there were fair exhibits of Border Leicester* and Southdowns. Only the Jiomney Marshes were poorly represented, Mr. G. V. Doyle, near Mulong, being the only exhibitor. Therefore, the judge made no awards. Since the establishing of competitions for British breeds, the exhibits of those sheep have been improving year by year, and breeders agree that tho showing of Lincolns was "the best yet." There were very few inferior- animals among them, and the majority were far above those showing in the past. The English Leicesters were a good, even lot, no better than last year, but up to that standard. Among the Border Leicester.; there wore many'excellent sheep, and tho average was good. The Southdowns wen; ng< ml average lot. The great disapponitn.'Oit among the sheep was the ltomney Marsh section, and the lack of cnmpcli'.hn was I'lobably due to uncertainty js to tho points on which the animals are judged. The matter is one that has exenUcd the minds of breeders for pome years, and things have reached such a pass thai it is felt that something definite should b<: attempted to reach finality. Uncertainty a= to the correct method of giving points for merit in judging has caused f.hc decline of this section of sheep at the Sydney Show. New South "Wales breeders nf"the liomney have been advised—the first occasion was about seven years ago— to arrange a conference among themselves, assisted by experts, with a view to deciding upon some fixed method of judging. But the step has not been taken, and different types have come from New Zealand, with the result that Itomneys are, as one breeder put it, "all mixed up." Great discontent has been expressed by owners owing to the fact that different judges favoured different, types of sheep, and there was never any certainty as to how a sheep would fare at the judge's hands. Moreover, it is felt that in some instances men have been allowed tu judge I?omney classes when the breeders considered that their knowledge did not go beyond the merino. For those reasons, there has been lasting discontent, and for these reasons also the ltomney Marsh exhibit at the show was disappointing. Is it not time, many breeders are asking, that some step was taken to reach finality in this important matter? Dairy Cattle Exhibit. Tho exhibit of dairy cattle was a capital one. In numbers and general interest Jerseys led, closely followed by Shorthorns. There were some good stock in the milking Shorthorns. It was argued that many of tho cattle carrying prize ribbons were more of the Illawarra type than the Short-> horn, but this is a point upon which there is plenty of room for legitimate difference of opinion. As it was there was no question that the champion bull Emblem of Darbalara stood out as compared with any other animal in the class. This bull was champion last year, and is about the finest sire that has been seen on the ground. Ho is a splendid type of Shorthorn, with quality and character written all over him. The reserve championship went to Newington Prince, winner in the two years old and under three class, exhibited by the Newiugton Asylum, and this decision was not altogether popular. Waverley Hero, the reserve champion last year, did not manage to get a place in the aged bull class, second going to H. Stcrnbeck's Baruet Nelson. J. AY. Cole secured first in the three-year-old class, where there were somo good coirs shown. The Scottish Investment Company also won the championship for cows with Melba I'ourth of Darbalara, the Jewell of Goleville, Colless Bris., coming second with Bruce. The reserve championship went to J. W. Cole's Gold of Cleville. The latter was evidently beaten in '.he judge's eyes, because she is showing her age. 'Whether, providing a purebred is sound and breeding well, this should put an. animal out is a debatable point. Melba, however, is a fine animal. In the male classes the Ayrshires were about on the same footing as regards quality as last year. The old champion bull, A. T. Priestly's Glen Elfgin's Philanthropist, quickly caught the judge's eye, and was given tho same honour this year. The reserve championship went to C. Lamoncl's Drummond of Lynburn. The same breeder won the championship for the best cow with Tlio Dream, a typically fine animal showing plenty of quality and charactor, and the points of the- breed. Last year's champion, Mr. J. Hindniarsh's ■\Vhinflo.ver of Oakbank, was awarded reservo championship, this being another case where ago was shown and proved a detriment. 0. Lamond secured the first ribbon for bull iliree years and under four, and S. Hordera's Remarkable II was first in tho tw.j-year-old class. In the females the chanipion and reserve champion both came out of the aged class, in milk. In the dry cows, C. Lamond again secured first with Fortune of C'oolangatta, and second with Sophia (reserve champion last year), and third with Clara. The samo owner obtained first and second in the three-year-old class in milk, and first and second in the three-year-old class, dry cows. Sir. J. Hindmarsh secured first in the two-year-old class with AVhinQower of Ivymount, while C. Lamond was again successful in the yearling female class. On the whole, the females were of a fine type, and better than last year. "Great strides have been made in Jerseys during the last five years. At that time there were scarcely any Jersey 6 in the show. To-day the quantity and quality uf tho exhibits surprised me." This comment was made by the Jersey judge (Mr. S. Staiiden, a New Zealander) after an exceptionally hard day's work. In some classes, particularly bull under two years, he had over thirty beasts in the ring, and having reduced them to five found it no easy matter to givo his decision. In fact, gait alone was very often tho only way of choosing between two fine beasts. "\Vhat I deplore most of all," said Mr. Staiiden, "is the big tail end coming in hero for nothing. There are so many animals that it is very difficult to separate them." The champixiship in Jersey bulls was secured by Samuel Hordern's Dinah's Lad, who was 'rese-wo champion last year, and the reserve championship was won by the samo owner with Matilda's Noble, the animal which came secmd last year in tho two-year-.)lds. C. 1?. G. Vfacdonald's Navigator, who was champion last year both in Sydney and at Adelaide, and who has had a. very successful career, and attracted a good deal of attention, did not manage to secure honours this year. He only managed to como third in the aged class. Tho decision is quite tho reverse of last year, when Navigator heat Dinah's Samuel Hordorn's Leda'a Snowdrop, the champion cow, has now seenred that honour three times in succession. "She is a magnificent cow," said tho judge, "though, of course, a trifle on tho old side. Sho throws her milk into tho pnil, and does not put it on her back." The resorvo championship went to Samuel Hordern's Aster. In somo cases thd judges' decision did not meet with tho approval of the spectators. There was i.ot a great den) of competition in riolsteins. tho exhibits being much the samo as last year. A. 'C. Lamond swept tho board, taking every first prize and four champions. Edinglassie, tho old champion, again carried oft' that honour, King of Brundee being reserve chanipion. A. C. Lamond also secured second pri/.e for bull, and his progeny. Other winners were Uookwood Asvliim, who had a very nice bull, which got second in tho under Ihreo years old class, and J. A. Munro. _

in OueriHe.vs.llio incren'o in competition showed ilio pipaler interest, which, is. lwiiii! taken in this vtry attractive ami' brnutifiil island caltlp. Anthony llnrdorn won the chnnipioiifhip with Gulden Drram, an imported animal, showing every characteristic nf the, breed, and in every way n vnliiiiblo addition to the «how exhi'bit«. ijoldan Dre«n> ww rwjrve

In- the same owner's Coronation. The reserve championship was won by a new competitor—J. W. Gillespie—with Hayes's Cherub, another imported animal, showing very high quality and character. Anthony iloniern also secured championship for the best cow, with another importation, -Manor View Gohlen Cloud, while Kinross liros., who are among the oldest supporters of this breed, secured the reservo championship with Morton Margaret.