THE AUSTRALIAN CATTLE.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2327, 19 September 1881, Page 4

THE AUSTRALIAN CATTLE.

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It is customary in many high-toned English journals to give particulars of the doings of patrician families. I fancy this rule should apply out here when arrivals of a patrician kind in stock take place—animals of big pedigree, and incomers that will benefit breeders to a very large extent. The cattle 1 am about to notice are nob to be surpassed in either pedigree or appearance in the world, and no money has been spared to get them to such a pitch of perfection. The original herd was imported to Victoria by Mr Morton, and the choicest specimens were subsequently sold to the Messrs Robertson at a price which in thosO'days seemed fabulous. That they made no mistake, however, was fully realised, aa at their first and subsequent sales stupendous prices wore obtained, and in the fact that the cattle most sought after now in Australia are those of the.celebrated E.E. brand. Hundreds, nay, thousands of pounds have been paid for the progeny of the original importation. It is a well-known fact that the infusion of the purest blood into the commonest .faerd is of ingalculablo benefit. This has begp.prccvcd over and over again. It is a matter of.congratulation to New Zealand breeders generally that the Australian stockowners, who by their vast wealth an! expanse of territory have .been enabled to breed and produce su;-:b gerqs of the shorthorn type, should now be sendiqg -here regular drafts of their best cattle. It is to be hoped that New Zealand breeders will jvejcqmo them by giving prices which certainly they ,ifiohly deserve. I most here remark, however, .that in introducing such animate as these, although it is advisable to exercise every caution to prevent the introduction of pleii.ro or other .Infectious diseases, it u very injudicious on the £*rt of the authorities not' to Love better aituigements for quarantining cattle than those «£ present in vogxw, Whort w company with

several eminent breeder*, I visited the cattle under notice at the present quarantine stition, wo found-a difficulty in landing, which would be almost insuperable to cattle. The place would be most eminently unsatisfactory to any Australian bringing valuable cattle in. The path leading to the cattle shed is so precipitous that oarrj ing up the food for the animals in their temporary sojourn is a most arduous and unpleasant undertaking. It was virtually no quarantine ground at all on the occasion of our visit, as there were several other beasts on the island. Assuming the quarantined cattle to be infected, the chances are that these other cattle would spread it over the country. In the present instance there have been two bulls on the island which, as the imported heifers are _ running out, might do incalculable damage in a few minutes, were it not for the assiduous attention of Mr O’Shea, the man in charge. The accommodation too is woefully insufficient even now. In these cold nights the cattle have to be out in an extremely exposed position ; and, in fact, instead of welcoming the coming guest, I consider the quarantine apartments and regulations are the biggest 1 rands I have met with yet, in the courseof a pretty long experience of similar institutions. It is not my desire to throw up dust about the matter, but the inconveniences are so many and so great that there is an absolute necessity for a radical change. And now to oommonco with the cattle, which are thirteen in number —four bulls and nine females. The first to be introduced was Oxford’s Wild Eyes 11., calved on the 27th October, 1879, got by Duke of Oxford 31st (33,713), bred by the Hon. W. McCulloch, of Glen Boy, dam Wild Byes 32nd, by Flagstaff. Without any disparagement to anything we have, imported or otherwise, I should consider that ho is so faultless that he will indeed be difficult to boat in his class at our forthcoming metro politan exhibition. A rich dark red, standing on short legs of the right sort, he covers over a lot of ground, and yet is symmetrically compact, with ample chine, superb quarters, and a beautitul head. He is ao mellow a handler as over a man touched. His flank and roasting pieces are not to be beaten. His tail is well set on, and his back and lines arc equal to one of Alcock’s best billiard tables. His walk and action are those of a gentleman, and it remains to bo seen by the price he will realise whether he is not the beat bull that has ever arrived in this province. The next bull led out was the Duke of OoLo VI , who is a little over two years old, and a mossy blue roan in color He is by Duke of Derrimut 22ad, dam Fanny Bth by the Beau. The dam of Fanny, Eoan Duchess, realised 2200 guineas at Messrs Eobertson’s sale, being purchased by Mr S. Gardiner of Bundoora Park. This animal, from his immense length, depth of carcase, and general contour, is likely to take the eye of experts at once, when it will be found that he has a lovely color, is a sweet handler, and possessed of magnificent constitution —a bull eminently qualified to leave descendants of whom his owner may feel justly proud. The next bull introduced was the 7lh Duke of Alvie, dam 2nd Countess of Alvie by the Count of Geneva. He is twenty-five months old and a very nice roan. He is a good all round bull, and likely to prove a valuable sire. He has many good points and very few bad ones. He, like the animal previously described, is at a disadvantage aa compared with the first one, not being in good condition. Alvie the 9ih is thirteen months old, and by Oxford Flower Duke, dam Letitia by the Beau. In this youngster, with his high class breeding and apparently grand constitution, connoisseurs in shorthorns will have little to find fault with. He has a quality head, a good brisket, an immense depth of quarter, and I think he will prove a poser for the judges at the show. The females included in this consignment are of such especial quality and so manifestly of aristocratic origin that it would be only wearisome to dwell upon their individual charms, but there are two amongst them whose merits are of suoh a high and paramount order that I cannot refrain from having a few words about them. The first of these is Lot 6on the catalogue, being the 33rd Duchess of Derrimut, by Oxford Duke of Cambridge the 2nd (which bull wos bought by the master of Longbeaoh last year, his original cost being 1000 guineas). The heifer in question is now budding on two years old. She is a deep rich creamy roan, and, to sum her up in a few words, is an animal which the merest novice would look twice—aye, three times at, and would be hard to beat at any show in the world, A more perfect shorthorn heifer I never remember to have seen. Such an aristocratic young lady is she that a gentleman present said that every time he came near her he felt inclined to take hie hat off. The other is a yearling heifer, Coax the 24th, dam Coax the 21st by Cherry Grand Duke 3rd. She is a soft silky red roan, a regular gem of the first water, with a beautiful head and in every respect a very charming symmetrical young lady. The others, did space permit, I should like to have described. They all show great quality, and I think that those who will take the trouble to visit them upon the 11 Island of Desolation” or upon their advent to Christchurch, will bo well rewarded for their pains.