FACTS FOR FARMERS. JUDGING CATTLE BY POINTS. (FROM THE FARMER.)

Waikato Times, Volume VII, Issue 410, 31 December 1874, Page 2

FACTS FOR FARMERS. JUDGING CATTLE BY POINTS. (FROM THE FARMER.)

Lord Kinnaird, who has long taken a'dec/p'interest in this matter, published the following important letter :— Rossie Priory, Inohture, November 13th, 1873. 1 read with much interest Mr A. Bruca's paper on the present system of judging etock, which appeared in your journal of the 20th and 27th of last month. Mr Bruce has very ably pointed out the faults as well as the remedies. The dissatisfaction which too frequently follows the decision of judges is also correctly stated. These, 'in my •'opin^ ion are the want of abi.ity on the part of 'm«ny< judges, the superior abi.ity or strong will of otae of] their number over-ruling the opinion in some i cases the better judgment of his coadjutors, the limited-, time allowed, and consequently hurried manner in. which judges are compelled to arrive at adeciaion^ and the bias or prejudices on their part for or agwins* particular strains of blood and their not attaching sufficient importance to special features of the animals, There i» no doubt, great difficulty" experieijced in obtaining ttie* ser.vices of competonfcjudges: mkny pf the best jmlges, are exhibitors^ themselves, oT indisposed to travel* gwat distances to undertake an inviduous' task { m<my we'l qualified mci* > • ould rather decline the duty than subject themselv.es- to tfhe odium of having fheir decisions Willed jn . question. Judging by points* whilf bfemg..tiif* soundest Jystem, wou,ldjloonoelTe,'^ixn»Blao the beat wa/ of, getting pver the difficulties mentioned. Even fin exhibit* might alsp he a judge, as no one could ,well know which animal .would . carry -a .prize* #11 fche numbers con<esponding* to the ■■different |.|*oiuty were summed up. Judges would never 'be,so .ikely to differ as to Whether «ny given point in an animal Was good,«bad, or indifferent, and thus, the, Vfirj natural prejudices of a judge for some special strain of blood would be met or obviated. »Uiuler,tbe pre■ent system, I haye often at shows foretold after in. ferior animals had been dropped (off, and those in the ring reduced to two or three) which wou d get the prize by seeing who was the leading man amongst the judges, and knowing bis favourite strain of blood. Ido not believe that judges would at nil object to decide by poincs, as the/ would be able by undeniabl i data to come more easily to a satisfactory decision. I have often known judges reget their decisions, especially those who had yielded up an opinion to the strong will of one of their number who had pertinaciously urged his views of color, style, and bloo I in favour of an animal, it may be, with a glaring perfect Judges, I think, would prefer the points as a plan which would' cWly ■how to all iutereated the reasons which carried their decisions. These could be set forth in the awards. Printed skeleton form cards could be provided with the numbers tilled in against .the .various points, and summed up by a clerk— say 60 points, good ; 30 points, indifferent; and 0 points, bad ; and numbers for features specially good cuuld be added. Such card attached to each animal would prove interesting, valuable, and instructive to breeder** students, and agriculturalists generally. The merits and defects of the animals wjuld be manifest to the visitors. The Counoil of the JRoyal English Society, with their intelligent, secretary, would, if necessary, by the s«id of short-hsrn breedera and first c'aas butchers easily fix the comparative value of points. lam sure this system would give great satisfaction to exhibitors. It would be worth while for breeders of short-horn ,to join in offering a handsome prize, to be deckled by points. The two systems could then be compared.. I have no doubt as to which would carry the day. Mr Bruce says truly that judging by points is no longer a novelty or a mere experinv-nt, as it has been tried with success in America mid Australia, as well as in this country, if I mistake not, it ia the oommon practice at dog shows. ' I do hope you will con tinue to advocate the judging by points, and that other agricultural journals will take up the subject with a view of securing ita general adoption."