WEICHING BEEF CATTLE

Te Puke Times, Volume II, Issue II, 23 September 1913, Page 3

WEICHING BEEF CATTLE

At the National Show> at Brisbane, Queensland, last month, the" system of weighing fat cattle as is done at Smith field, Birmingham, Chicago, and other great fat stock shows, was successfully tried. During his recent visit to Grdftt Britain Mr Ernest Baynes, couhcil-steward, paid special attention to the mfcthod of weighing fat cattle at the Smithficld sl\ow, .and recognised the high value' set on 'the', weighbridge there by exhibitors. On his returnee urged the National Association to adopt the same system, and the cattle steward, Mr H. Brookes, agreeing with the proposal, the council adopted it. Many objections were raised by cattle men, agents and others that it could not be done. However, Mr Baynes proved to the contrary. The fat cattle were mostly shown in pens of three, and generally tho heaviest pens won, though there were exceptions, where quality came first. The opinion has been expressed that there is little doubt the selling cattle by weight, will come into vogue sooner or later. Weight, of course, is not everything, for quality comes first, and smallness of bone has to be considered '; but it is reducing one factor in buying and selling fat stock to a scientific basis. That is the commercial side of the question, and the weighing at the show is intended to illustrate how the work can be done, and let exhibitors and the public know tho results. At the sale on the showgrounds, butchers showed their appreciation of the show cattle by bidding, freely for picked pens. The heaviest bullock was one from Angellala, and it weighed 22.391b, just lib short of a 1 ton, and it brought £23. Some of the other big bullocks were: Taabinga 21901b, Gunyan 201301b, Tarmookuni t 20571b. One cow stood out for size, a stcerylooking roan from Angellala, which turned the scale at 21071b. At auction this animol realised £18103.