BRITISH LIVE STOCK.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXII, Issue 2035, 24 December 1907, Page 5

BRITISH LIVE STOCK.

MR GILLANDERS’ IMPRESSIONS.

When Mr F. Gillanders, manager of Momobaki Experiment Farm, was in England he spent a considerable portion of his time at* agricultural shows, and in studying the best types of the live stock o'f Great Britain.

“It is a great education,’* said Mr Gillanders to a New Zealand Times’ reporter, “to visit the leading shows of Great Britain and see the stock of some of the stud farms, for the Homeland is undoubtedly the world centre of purebred farm stock. It is remarkable to see the great collections of high-type animals at the Royal and Highland Shows; not a few good animals in a class with a number of weaker ones, hut great strings of animals, finely bred and magnificently exhibited, and with very little difference in quality throughout. The competition in the leading breeds at the principal shows is very keen,'bnd the judges have certainly tasks'of great difficulty to perform. With the great Argentine demand, as well as a steady trade with Canada and the United States, the live-stock breeders of Great Britain have a splendid outlet for the stock they breed. In recent years fortunes have been made out of Shorthorn cattle for the Argentine, as well as good money out of sheep, especially Lincolns, sold to the same country. But all parts of the world look to England for the best that can be produced in live stock. And the breeders of Britain are taking full advantage of their opportunity.” Speaking of sheep he had seen at the Royal, Mr Gillanders remarked that in some cases Home breeders were develoxiing certain characteristics in their sheep for definite purposes. For instance, several breeds are being made more leggy, due probably to the necessity for keeping the wool as much off the ground as possible on account of the common practice of long winter feeding on roots. Then, in the Border Leicesters, the elimination of any ' dark spots, for the-alleged reason that the maggot fly prefers a black spot for its attack. The fact above all which struck Mr Gillanders was the neglect of the fleece in favor of the carcase. This, Mr Gillanders points out, is not at all to be wondered at, considering that the carcase in Britain is worth probably four times that of the fleece, and, consequently, it pays the“breeder every time to consider the most profitable thing. Certainly the Argentine demand is forcing breeders to think more of the fleece, btft they will probably never give it the same attention or thought as the breeders of this country. Home breeders will probably never consider the demands of New Zealand breeders to the extent they will consider those of Argentine breeders. Therefore, if British breeders get really on to the right track in regard to wool, they will develop the fleece in the direction of Argentine requirements. It is rather extraordinary, said Mr Gillanders, that while several of the lougwool breeds are being developed on a larger scale than formerly, notably the Lincolns and English Leicester, the Southdown is a smaller type than we have in this country. I'he Home Border Leicester is becoming more bane on the points, a trifle more leggy, and longer in the neck. Then the face is absolutely white. This is probably not a point to be commended to New Zealand breeders, for, says Mr Gillanders, this does not go hand in hand with a strong constitution. The Cheviot and the Border Leicester .jire held in high esteem in the Scotland for the mutton trade, and it is rather surprising to Mr Gillanders to find that the hardy, good-framed Cheviot is not used more in New Zealand. True, its fleece is not what New Zealanders like, could surely be improved, and with a decent fleece the Cheviot would be hard to beat on the majority of our back country. Even for crossing with our longwools it would be decidedly valuable. The Cheviots are also wonderfully good in the feet. It was surprising to Mr Gillanders to find that in a country where a neat, symmetrical carcase is held in high esteem, the English Leicester is being developed on very coarse lines, clearly indicating that the Lincoln blood has been introduced into this famous sheep, thereby tending to destroy a breed that has had more to do with the improvement of British sheep than all the other breeds put together. Mr Gillanders considers that Britain stands supreme for her beef cattle, but not much attention is given to dairy breeds, and the outlook for the improvement of dairy stock is not hopeful.