PRIZE CATTLE.

Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 924, 25 May 1878, Page 2

PRIZE CATTLE.

Sir, — In tho columns of the Waikato Times of the 18th inst. you gave prominence to an article copied from the ' Wellington Post,' . as follows : — " A gentlemen recently returned to Wellington, -from Aiistraliaj had reported that the boasted •Australian stock had deteriorated !of late' years, and he traces the, cause to .there having been' no importations into. Australia for five yeai-s 5 and to in-and-in breeding." These are the • . reasons given why oni- New Zealand-bred • bulls — "Dukes of Cambridge" and " Newcastle ". — obtained first prizes m ■their class, .aud the championship at the recent exhibition hi Sydney.. .The g-entle- - man next informs, the 'Wellington Post ' that in.'.Eero'foi-i'ls New Zealand cannot hope to compete, with Australia' for ten or twelve; .years, "'"'", Sir, as this article is evidently written 'for the purpose of detracting, from . from the value of our 'st'Jckj 'from' the' writer having mentioned llei-efords, at, ail, as we are the only brecdei-s of piirb Hei-efo:-ds m the colony (e:vce]it a iet^ owned by Col. V/hitmore and Mr Keynolds, of Troarne), Aye must request to be alloAved to say a fcAv words m reidy. The Australian colonies possess -' some of the finest and best bred cattle m the world, aud there has beenno necessity to resort to in-and-in- breeding (if yrat is 1 an evil). Where avoto tho buns imported ' hve ye;-a-s siuce 'f They coidd all have ' competed with the Diie of Cambridge. -. Where were the ctllyes imported m the coavs' bellies five years since, and tho ' progeny -since : '^/ 'No time has elapsed to cause the, deterioration from in-and-in 1 breedihg-i "We 'have heard many reasons ' given to. aocouut for our success. It has L been attributed to climate. Wo haA r e • ne\-er yet heard it applied to our knoAVr ledge of our oavh bushiess as breeders, or ' ; ■ to % the. excellence of ourstoclc. If it is.so ! easy 'for New Zealand breeders to take a ' first prize m a class, and also first prize and championship . m another class, m ' Melbourne" and Sydney, with Shorthorn [ bulls, animals of their oavii -breeding, let ! somo breeder do it next year, and we give • him a prize of lfoO guineas. The reference • to" not. being able, to compel c for Here- ! fords m Austraha for ten or twelve years > is equally childish Avith tho other assertions. For years ago avo AA r rotc to the 1 Secretary of the National Society m Melbourne to obtain permission lor us to shoAv Herefords.- The year folloAving Aye Avrote to the Secretary of New_ South Wales. In both instances permission Avas not granted— the animals Avoidd not have been allowed to be landed. Within the last foAv months aa'C have introduced into our Hereford herd bulls, coavs, and heifers from the three best herds m Victoria arid New South Wales, yet Aye hud our own bred cattle of at least equal merit. The prize champion coav '' Graceful/ from .'Coke, -was ; shown a great many times as heifer and coav, and was never beaten. We have mixed her, placed her m tho herd Avith fifty oows of our own breeding, vet the best judge hi Aucldand Avould not pick her out* if he had not previously se ( n her. Wo believe, if we Avere to select a cow to exhibit for the championship m Australia, it would not be her, but a coav of our own breeding, although Ave. lia\'e done a little at in-and-in. We do not require to wait ten or twelve years ; we are ready at any time.— We are, &c, Maclean & Co., Fen Court, May 18, 1 ST 8.