BULLS IMPORTED.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXX, Issue 5508, 2 December 1929, Page 2

BULLS IMPORTED.

AYRSHIRE & POLLED HEREFORD SPLENDID SPECIMENS. Breeders of beef cattle both in New Zealand and in Australia have been very keenly interested for years past in the naturally polled herds of Hereford and Shorthorn cattle maintained in the United States.. These cattle were originated from “sports” occurring in pedigree herds, many of which were found to breed true. Some years ago importations of Polled Shorthorns Were made to New Zealand, and of Polled Herefords to Australia. The first Polled Hereford to be imported to New Zealand, however, has just been delivered from the quarantine station on Somes Island.

This bull was selected by one of the leading authorities on the breed in United He has been imported foi’ use in the pedigree herd of Mr F. E. Humphreys, of Ngatapa, Gisborne. During his stay on the quarantine island a number of the leading breeders of Hereford cattle, and others interested, visited the island to inspect this bull, and all were struck with the remarkably fine type and character of the animal himself—few* better have been seen in the Dominion.

He is a true Hereford in every respect except that he is naturally polled. There is not the slightest sign of even scurs, and it may be anticipated that the bull will be prepotent in leaving stock without horns. He is a very level, strong-backed bull, with splendid quarters well let down. He is deeply fleshed along the back and ribs, and is entirely free from lumpiness. His beautiful coat of soft, thick, curly hair also appealed greatly to the Hereford enthusiasts, who undoubtedly approved of the selection made for the New Zealand importer. Indications are not wanting that several breeders will follow Mr Humphreys’ lead in importing bulls with the hornless characteristic, particularly when it is known that this bull is descended entirely from Hereford cattle originally imported from England into the United States. Mr Humphreys’ bull, which is a rising two-year-old, proved to be a great doer, and stood the voyage extremely well. He developed wonderfully in quarantine, and is bound to create keen interest amongst the Hereford breeders on the East Coast. Investigations made by Mr Humphreys have already led to the discovery in one of the purebred herds at Wairoa of a naturally polled registered cow, and it is understood that a cow in another registered herd with a similar, characteristic has been discovered in North Auckland. Mr Humphreys hopes, if he succeeds in securing these cows, to breed bulls from them which can also be used in imparting the hornless characteristic with greater certainty than may at first be secured through using the progeny of his bull from the horned cows in his present herd. However, it is already known in the Dominion that the Polled Shorthorn bulls imported here, when mated with horned Shorthorn cows, have almost invariably proved capable of leaving progeny in the next generation with the polled characteristic. CANADIAN AYRSHIRE. Through the inability of New Zealand breeders to import from the Homeland on account of the ravages of foot and mouth disease, it was found necessary to turn to other countries to replenish the purebred blood of the Dominion’s herds and flocks. Investigations have shown that Canada owns some of the finest Ayrshire cattle in the world, and New Zealand breeders have turned their attention to this country, which, over a long period of years, imported from Scotland outstanding animals of all the best breeding strains produced in the original home‘of Ayrshire cattle. The Ayrshire Breeders’ Association of New Zealand has itself decided to send two of its prominent judges to Canada to select cattle for its breeders. In the meantime, however, a noted prize-winning bull has already been imported from Canada, and the merit of this animal is such that breeders are likely to view further introductions of Canadian blood into the Dominion with the greatest of interest. The bull imported, Thorncroft Star Boy, was purchased in Canada on account of Mr J. G. Donald, of Alloa, Featherston. Mr Donald recently took over from his father, Mr Q. Donald, the latter’s herd of 60 purebred Ayrshire cattle, and, in conjunction with his father, proposes to eventually run on their farms 400 purebred Ayrshire milking cows. Purebreds will gradually replace the grade Ayrshire cattle' forming the present herds, and which have already given remarkable evidences of high production. Thorncroft Star Boy has just completed his term of two months* quarantine on Somes Island, and he was landed in his new home in great order. Keen Ayrshire judges who have already seen him unhesitatingly state that he is one of the finest types of Ayrshire bulls that has yet been seen in the Dominion, and, as he is supported by an illustrious pedigree, he should be a most valuable acquisition to the Dominion.