SHOW CATTLE

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 8, 2 October 1937, Page 17

SHOW CATTLE

Use of Milk in Feeding Is Overdone AUSTRALIAN V1EW l'robably wo use Tather too mucb milk for preparing stock for sbow. True, it is one of ihe most -economical types of feed for young cattle j it produces excellent bandling qualities, gives tbe best coats nnd less trouble for young stock than any coiicentrate, and wheu given witb an amount of concentrate, it is not difidcult to get an exbibit into tip-top sbow form, writes Mr. A. J. Tanner in Tbe Australasian. " if the young cattle are left on tbeir mothers for six months no harm is done to the mothers, but it ccrtaiijly is not to the advantage of a mother to taho the ealf off her wheu lcss than a monlh old and allow her to dry off, as somo stud breeders do. Tbis will soon regult in a herd of , breeders which are not able to rear their own calves, and a cow which is unable to fulfil tbe duty of rearing her calves in a proper wuy is not a good propositien in any stud herd. Often heifers whi.eh bave been fed beavily for sbow whon young prove to be poor inilkers on tbeir first calf, as tbe beavy feeding appears to diruinish tbe natural milk fiow; it is wise tben to allow tbe offspring part of tbe milk of anotber cow a§ well as that of its mother, but never take tbe calf off a heifer— in fact, keep it on its mother as long as possible, for if a heifer is allowed to dry' off early on ber first calf, sbe very seldom will milk for any Jengtb of timo on her future calves, wlii.ch is not an economical proposition.

Condition EsBontial On going thxougb tbe classes at tbe royal shows, one finds about 80 per cent; of the young stock, up to 18 months old at least, are foster-mofbered or given milk from a bucket. There is no better way, in a country liko Australia, in wbi.cb to prepare young cattle for sbow, and there is no doubt tbat young stock shown to-day must be brougbt out in tbe very best form — otherwise all tbe advertisemenfc for wbicb tbe breeder is _ looking is lost. Tbe ebow ring is tbe shop win-dow of eacb breed; also, every breeder looks upon tbe show ring as tbe one place where be can advertise his stud, and, consequenlly, bis young cattle_ bave to be brought out looking tbeir best. Some breeders advertise tbat no fos-ter-motbers are used, and tbose wbo are fortunate enough to bave "early" country and green feed tbrougbout the summer may not bave to resort to milk feeding — in fact, tbey are able to get plenty of condi.tion and bloom on tbeir cattle without it, but in many districts it is almost impossible .to inake young stock look tbeir best without milk. Where millc' feeding is doing harm is wken it is used to fatten bulls over 18 months old. Bulls win championsbips at over 24 years old, wbicb are still being fattened on mili*; in fact, at least one bull tbis year — tbe supremo champion — was obviously milk-fattened, ' and it is to be boped tbat tbis will not injure bim as a calf-getter, as it has a number of bulls. As a matter of fact, tbey very often bave been turued out and brougbt back into Ipervice order.. Sometimes tbis takes well over 12 months, and there bave been c.ases whero bylls bave been absolutcly ruined and bave never been of any uso from a breeding point of view ai'ter baving been shown for a few seasons and brougbt out on milk.

Wbile an animal is growing, forming bone, and developing, there is no better food than milk, but after a certain age it is unnatural and karmful. We in Australia are fortunate m tbat we need to do very littla bousing, and can run our stock under far more natural condition than almost any country in tbe world; consequently, our stud herds are remarkably free from disease, especially tuberculosis, wbicb is a great menace in many countries, and one. cannot be too careful when using foster motliers. AlwayB bave thein tested for T.B. every year when they come in after calving to be on the safe side, as there is no uoub7; there is far greater risk of transmitting T.B. to young stock tbroqgb the milk of foster mothers than any other way, It is never wise to use one's stock bull to get tlie fostermother in calf. Many bave regretted this practieu. Always keep a lierd bull for tbis putpose as it is unwise to run tbe risk of getting vaginitis or confcugious abortion into tbe herd, and it is quite easy for vbis to bappen if tbe stud bull is ailowcd to come in contact witli cows wlinh olTen. are brougbt from lic-ril& of wbicb nothing is know.u. !b ip good pohoy to hava tbo fostor motbers tested for contagious abortion— otherwise tliere is a risk of tbis disease contaminatiug the pastures, wbieb is to be avoicjed at all costs. These qre some of tbe risks one has to run when preparing stock for sbow, especially when tbey bave to be brougbt up to sueli. a higki standarcj as tbey bave to-day. Every year one bears pome remai'k tbat they would much prefer to see the stock in natural condition at tbe shows, but tbey are always among tbo firsf to qraw tbe comparison when a bull wbicb bas not had any preparation is stalled besidG one which has been brougbt out full of milk fcit and bfooni.