Feilding Agricultural and Pastoral Show

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 28, 3 February 1937, Page 3

Feilding Agricultural and Pastoral Show

Opens in Perfect Conditions

Outstanding Exhibition of Live Stock

Perfect summer weather conditions favoured the opening day of the thirty-third annual show of the Feild ing Industrial, Agricultural and Pastoral Association yesterday. The attendance was all that could be desired and interest throughout the day centred upon the judging of the live stock exhibits. This formed an outstanding feature of this year's show for in every section the entries constitute a record while the quality is undoubtedly higher than ever. The show is full of interest and today, People *s I)ay, should find the grounds thronged with patrons for the association this year has gone out of its way to make a wider appeal to the general public. Sideshows are featured on the grounds with several new numbers while the ring competitions which will be held throughout to-day are certain to claim the attention of visitYesterday *8 outstanding feature was the final in judging the £SOO Manawatu Jersey Oaks competition—a competition which brought to the Feilding Showgrounds the finest array of Jersey heifers ever seen in New Zealand. Naturally enough the competition attracted the interest of breeders from over a wide area while district dairy farmers crowded about the show ring to follow with admiration the judges whose task was a difficult oue wheu it came to making a decision on type. The results of this competition will be found elsewhere in this issue. The organisation was complete in every detail and reflected every credit on the committee and president of the association, Mr. H. J. Lancaster. With the secretary Miss D. Miller, Mr. C. B. McClure, organiser, worked untiringly for the interests of exhibitors and the public alike and congratulations are due to them for the success which attended their unselfish efforts. Detailed results of the judging concluded yesterday are given below. JUDGES' COMMENTS. jersey Oaks Competition. “It is a very wonderful class of three-year-olds,'' said Mr. E. Griffiths, of New Plymouth, on behalf of his associate judges, Messrs. K. C. Leach (Woodville; and 11. Moreland (Newfetead) in commenting on the exhibits in the £SOU Manawatu Jersey Uaks competition, “and,” he continued, “easily ihe best array of three-year-olds ever shown in New Zealand. Yes, one would not find a better selection oi Jerseys anywhere and Feilding has been fortunate at being the town to which such an outstanding collection of the breed has been brought together for exhibition purposes. ‘‘The system of the contest,’’ he said, “was based on 50 points for production, 5u points for type and the qualification required that the heifer should produce GoUibs. of fat under C.O.K. test. a number of the entries, as a matter ot fact, produced over 600 lbs. from their first calves, starting as junior two-year-olds. irrespective of the question of proouction the type all through was remarkably good,” said Mr. Griffiths, “and, personally, I was delighted to have had the privilege of witnessing such a remarkable exhibition of outstanding Jersey heifers. “The competition,” he continued, “had created widespread interest unong Jersey breeders and had led to Taranaki interests promoting a similar :umpetition, under the auspices of the Fersey Breeders’ Club, which would be inalised at the New Plymouth Show in 12 months’ time. It should be noted,” concluded Mr. Griffiths, “that this is the first Jersey Oaks competition in which the Jersey Cattle Breeders’ Association has played a prominent part.” By eland Sheep. in the Kyeland sheep section the competition was good throughout, said the judge, Mr. I. Andrew, of Marton, who was of opiniou that exceptionally good sheep had been entered in the ram section from which the champion had been drawn. The exhibits possessed good mutton qualifications. The remainder of the classes contained entries of a good type having also nice, even fleeces of good density. The champion ewe had greatly pleased Mr. Andrew and he described tho animal as lull of type with dense wool features and a good, strong constitution. Natural Condition Southdown*. Discussing the exhibits in the Natural Condition Southdown sheep classes Mr. Wm. Gimblett, of Hastings, tho judge, said the sheep brought forward were right up to the usual high standard of exhibits to be seen at the Feilding fjhow. The aged ram was a very pi eminent type while the ewes were of high class and quality. Generally the entries were excellent and the competition strong among the noted breeders of the countryside. Fat Sheep. Mr. T, A. Hamilton, of Martinborough, expressed himself as very satisfied with entries in all the fat fcueep classes. They were of a uniform type and exnibited particularly good quality. The judge said he had been \fcry impressed by the maiden ewe iongwoolled class and also by the freezing section. The latter were very good I sheep and showed every conformation to the requirements of the trade. They were ot the right weight and not too fat or too old. Hereford Cattle. Although not a strong representation

of the breed in point of numbers the exhibits in the Hereford cattle section was excellent, said Mr. A. Swift, ot Taora. Several well-known breeders had not sent their exhibits along, nevertheless the beasts presented for judging were fine specimens of tho breed. Mr. J. Brice’s bull which was awarded the championship, was a very likely beast, lacking only in the flank. However, it had the flesh in the right place and without being stylish, snould develop into a good snow ring animal. Mr. L. W. Barnett’s entry was a good bull also and one which would improve with age. This exhibitor’s heifer was much praised by Mr. Swift who said that the animal carried all tho features suggesting that it would develop into a good cow. He opined that she could be better in the flank and thigh, but even in her present condition tne heifer was thickly fleshed. The exhibits generally were most pleasing. Grade Dairy Cattle. Giving his views on the grade dairy cattle classes, Mr. W. H. Miors, of Hamilton, said that he had not been asked to judge many entries in the section, but the quality had been quite satisfactory, q>uite a good beast had been found in tue champion cow which had shown plenty of length and u good open frame, together with many good dairy points. The reserve champion cow was also of a type belittiug her award, while in the heifer class several animals which promised to develop into good class-stock were shown, a good udder being a feature of the first placed animal. The yearling heifers were also of a type qualified to please and tne same could be said of the heifer calves, added Mr. Miers. Milking Shorthorns. “A much better quality than usual,” commented Mr. L. A. Washer, of Okaiawa, who adjudicated upon this section. The bulk of the animals had been brougut out in very good condition and generally were all true to type. All the classes were well balanced and tne championsmp winners had been stock carrying the full characteristics of tne tohorthorn breed. Friesians. Mr. J. H. • Higgins, of Tokomaru, judge of the Friesian section, declared the entries to 1 nave been small and the quality of the stock only fairly good. A nice anunal had come before mm in the champion bull which possessed ail the essential characteristics of the breed. The first prize dull call would later develop into a good show oeast while tho lines of ihe champion cow had also pleased the judge, although its bones were rather too fine. Bed Polls. Disappointment at the number of entries in this class was expressed by tho judge of tne lieu Poll cattle, Mr. G. H. Forster-Pratt, of Palmerston North. The Feilding district was usually strong in this class, but such had not been the case this year. Commenting on the exhibits, Mr. Forster-Pratt said tne champion cow had Deen nicely brought out, while a close run had been given the champion bull by the reserve champion animal, lack of condition in the latter telling against it. Tho yearling bull was full or promise and speaking generally the judge said tnat wnAst he had found the winner in each class easy enough he had not had the same easy task finding the other in order of merit. Fat Cattle. That the fat cattle shown had been of splendid quality was the comment of Mr. K. W. Deightou, of Marton, judge, who however, remarked that some oi the pens could have been better filled. The quality of the beef would have been nard to beat, not because of any outstanding exhibits, but on accounr ol the uniform quality, in the chilling classes Mr. Deightou said he had found some very good exhibits which approximated very accurately the weight requirements of this class of beef. His only complaint was, said Mr. Deightou, that numerically the section had not been supported as it should have been. Pigs. There was a generally excellent exhibition of pigs and the judge of the Large Whites and Blacks, Mr. A Lassen, of Ashhurst, said that he would have been happier had he been presented with a larger selection of the Large White breed. The aged boars and sows had pleased him very much indeed and in type and condition he found little to fault. Discussing the Large Blacks, Mr. Lassen said that tho breed was represented by some really good and outstanding pigs. The champion boar, although only 14 months old, was a fine specimen of the breed and one which gave every promise of developing into an outstanding animal. The chainpion aged sow had impressed as being a first class pig, while in the case of the younger sows he had found great difficulty in separating the prize-winners. They were all qualified to take awards in any show. Tho increase in the entries in the Large Black section was most encouraging and very pleasing to Mr. Lassen. Pigs (Utility Classes). Although lacking in numerical strength, Mr. E. P. Nielsen, judge of j the utility pig classes, said that Laconer class had revealed that breeders were quite conversant with the requirements of tho trade. All of the exhibits had displayed a good length, fine shoulders und a freedom from excessive fat. The porkers had not been so uniform in quality and the judge