DAIRY SCIENCE

Hokitika Guardian, 2 April 1930, Page 5

DAIRY SCIENCE

BREEDING OF SHORTHORNS

A CANADIAN’S ADVICE. Farming is the hobby of Mr Alexander Maclaren, of Buckingham, Quebec, who, with his family, is visiting New. Zealand, partly to escape the unpleasant conditions when the. Canadian spring first turps the snows; to slush. His business!interests are considerable but he devotes. Ids Jbisure hours to the '■control of .: .Nevadam . Farm, near Ottawa, .where4"lie;, has collected one of the finest herds vof pedigree milking Shorthorn cattle in all America. “I have long beepva firm believer in the beef and milk typ& of Shorthorn,” Air Maclaren . said.- oiv .’Saturday. “I long ago coiiciuded that the Shorthorn cow which would functipn as a liberal producer of milk, and ){whose animal produce could be developed into prime heel, where such a method proved desirable, is an economic necessity on farms where mixed farming is the rule. “I gave, much thought and time to a study of the breed in Cangda and in England'where, the dairy Shorthorn lias proved so popular with farmers, and leads all other breeds in tho milk supply of that country.' .Accordingly, in the spring, of 1 91.7, I. began to purchase' dr tht 1 rtiatWiaf for tlifANeraloam herd,. J,';havej of •: much in my, 131 ydarsj .-or close Identity with my herd Edid/thfei jji'eed, £ii'd that I profited by tliAs&i ekperieni&j?, if I may be pardoned)) in referring!to it. is reflected in tlie'~remarkableJ record made by the Neralcaia herd % milk production and, in >r prize[-winnings at the leadingexpositions in ’ j North America. - f-n yy UNIFORM BREED, j “By elimination and the use of a trio of stock bulls of different-: types, which lias given me considerable latitude in mating, I have succeeded in producing a class of bulls and females of more uniform conformation and quality which has won the approval of the best judges of Canada and the United States.

“My observations have" quite dearly convinced me that the beef type of bull is of aD phlegmatic - disposition, whereas the strictly milking type is of a highly nervous disposition. Consequently in breeding for t]fe dnal purpose type where' milk and beef are looked for; temperament, I believOj should: lie taken into ctfnsid >.ra-/ tion, and I have endeavoured to :;o direct my breeding operators to bring about the desired results in this regard.

“Neither do I believe we should strive for milk production to the extent that we neglect 'beef form, quality and conformation. These are the functional qualities which give our breed distinction over all others, and are the' reasons for its fast-growing popularity in every part -of the world where if is had che opportunity to demonstrate its value in th.o production of such a profitbale type 6f cou\’ r CANADA’S VAST RESOURCES. Air Maclaren said lie considered it a good sign for a man to speak well of his own country) and liadj’-inuch to say for the vast' resources of| Canada still waiting to be -tapped. J|n spite of!fits cold winters the country had a wonderful. future as a supplier of many markets from primary-jjproduce to metal. “The United States would like to have us,” he said', “but there will never be a chance of our throwing in our lot with her.” iSeperail barriers blocked the way for Canada ever, to consider joining the United States. First and loremost was the attitude of the Frer.chCanadian population, which never wouid agree to the proposal. Secondly, Canada’s legal and banking systems were 'better than those across the border. She also administered her laws more efficiently, and crimes was not so widespread as in the United States.

Then Canada’s administration of the liquor laws was far in advance of the United States. Under State, control Canada had managed to do away with many of the abuses of liquor consumption. .One curious feature of the effect of prohibition in the United States was the vast sum finding its way into Canada each year-for the purchase of good liquor by Americans. Liquor could be bought anywhere in the United States, but thetlfs was a daily processidlrgcross the border into CariadaAsU buy spirits of good quality. ’'"Quebec alone woQld tinke a.bo i ;jt $,009,000 cellars out of this trade this year, aiid it • was being spent in.building roads and schools. Wood-pulping has now claimed Mr Maciareii’s attention, and lie is concerned in the purchase of 2000 square miles of forest land whose timber supplies are expected to last for 75 years. Canada was not jet worrying very much about reafforestation, he said, for her forests were huge and timber supplies almost unlimited.