JUDGING DAIRY COWS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 27 June 1938, Page 3

JUDGING DAIRY COWS

“WRONG INFORMATION.” YOUNG FARMERS’ GUIDE. Principal Robert Boutflour, of the Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester, criticised the methods underlying the instruction of young farmers, at a reception in Darlington which preceded the second annual speaking competition for 'members of clubs in the county. He had criticised the movement, he said, because a great deal of time was being spent in teaching young farmers to judge dairy cows by their appearance. He had to tell them that most of the information which was being given to them was so much humbug. Principal Boutflour went on to criticise the score cards which were used at young farmers’ and other shows, and said that reference to early classical writers proved that many remarks on the cards referring to the conformation of cattle were taken from writings about 2,000 years old. These, he said, were given to youngsters as facts, whereas they were merely statements of authority. Such teaching had gone on long enough, and it had already been allowed to do much harm. The competition was judged by Principal Boutflour, Dr R: W., Wheldon, King’s College, Newcastle, and Mr E.. Rpxburghe-Kelso, Darlington.