DAIRY CATTLE

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2966, 3 January 1917, Page 8

DAIRY CATTLE

VALUE'OF: CONSTITUTION. A leading Victorian Ayrshire breeder writes to the "Argus" as follows:—"A : cow. to stand tho wear and tear o£ a milking season must liavo frame and substance., A protty head, with horns nicely- turned, aiid a dainty body are all very well in a show ,ring.- These points do not, howovor, count for much from a utility standpoint, mora especially in the extremes of climate found in Australia." These remarks, states tho "Argus," which'emanate from one of our soundest authorities on dairying oattle, may; be applied-in a largo measure to the present-day .Victorian Ayrshire. Too many of our loading breeders are paying more attention to appearance than to efficiency, lhe good old type which possessed inherent nulk"ing qualities fully doveloped is consequently 'becoming scarcer. It has stood the test of time under diverse conditions of climato and pasture, and is "still going strong." That class of cow is a heavy and profitable producer "when reasonably treated, because she is of sound and hardy constitution. "When that important attribute is sacrificed in the Ayrshire, or any other dairying breed, tho milk yield must be adversely affected. Two studmasters, Messrs. W. P. Brisbane; Gowrie Park, Weerite, and M'Nab Bros., Oakbanlu Tullamarine, have Tesolutely refrained from being influenced by the extremes of form demanded by tho show ring, while adhering to a robust type oi cattle all through the piece, they have been'able to combine show and dairying points without detriment to either. Conversely, somo breeders who have been blindly led by the dictates ol fashion have entirely eliminated size and robustness, and aro producing useless "squibs." These, while they may win prizes at shows, are of little Practical value in a dairying sense. They are, as a. matter of fact, the worst possible advertisement for both breeders and breed. The many engaged m • the production of stud Ayrshires will have to alter their methods. They will need to commence by undoing the harm that has been done through loss of constitution. The Ayrshire is essenti- . ally a milking breed. The powel- of milk production can be improved_ only bv making good tbe physical deficiency. Prizes won at shows clo not increase the banking account. Performances at the milking bucket do. ' When 'TAN-OL' conies in, dullness goes out. A splendd polisher for floors and furniture, leather and tan shoes. In tins—liquid, Is.; paste, Gd.—Advt.