The Waikato Times TUESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 1879.

Waikato Times, Volume XIII, Issue 1142, 21 October 1879, Page 2

The Waikato Times

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 1879.

Equal and exact justice to all men, Of whatever state or persuasion, religious

ox -political. Here shall the Press the People's right

maintain, Unawed by inflnenoo and unbribed by gain.

One of the most important matters for the successful carrying out of any agricultural show, is a judicious appointment of Judges. On more than one occasion, recently, in this part of New Zealand, considerable dissatisfaction has been expressed at the action taken by the Judges, and the same thing appears t® have been felt in other parts of New Zealand. At the usual monthly meeting of the Kaipapoi Farmers' Club, this matter was fully discussed, and a paper was read by Mr Peter Duncan, on " Judging Cattle by points." It was argued tbat what has been done by noted breeders, in bringing certain strains of blood to perfection, should be done by our judges of cattle, at Agricultural Exhibitions. The former act upon the principle that a perfect animal has a certain number of points fully developed, and judging the value of cattle by the possession of these points, for breeding purposes, has carried those men to the acme of greatness as breoders. So, it is argued, an Association should base its awards on the possession of points. To do this, to institute the " point card " as the basis of all awards, would be to do away with many of the evils of the

present nysyteoi of indiscriminate judging. "To compare ihe preseni method wiih the adoption of the point card," says the writerinquestion : — It will be necessary to glance at the practice of judging at cattle shows and evils attendant thereon ; and although that method is based oh the point system, it is certainly assailable, for it made no distinction whether an animal is for beef or dairy purposes (good milkers are to be found in all breeds, but all breeds arc not good for the dairy), and the dairy cow has to play a very important part in the animal economy. The present method seems also to furnish the following evils : — Indiscriminate judging, disagreements among the judges, grumbling, general, dissatisfaction at decisions rendered, protest courts, and another crying evil in the sending a long distance after judges. No deubt distance lends enchantment to the Jook of many a Duke, a Duchess, Karl, or Countess, whoso only good qualities are a superabundance of pedigree, but it is certainly absurd to think that accredited judges from distant parts (no doubt practical men, who are to award the different animals that will best represent the breed to be encouraged) can say what breed or particular strain of shorthorn blood should be encouraged, for it is certainly true that all the different strains of shorthorn blood do not thrive equally well on the different soil formations. The shambles and the dairy is one great cause of disagreement, followed by indifference on the part of some judges, and the nri«e is given to some animal not entirely worthy; in consequence, a protest is lodged, and general dissatisfaction at the decision rendered. The judges may be clever men, above suspicion — but awards not made according to science or the point system, beget grumbling. ; To effect this reform in the judg. ing of cattle, it was suggested that Agricultural Show Societies should furnish the judges with a card for their guidance, with a diagram as the standard or measure, and that the judges, while acting, should have no conversation as to the merits or demerits of any animal, but check off the points as they find the animal possesses them. Without laying down any specific rule, but merely to show how the point system could be made applicable, Mr Duncan suggested such a point card at the following-, for the beef animals : — Points. 1. Face long, orown well centered 10 - 2. Horns fine and oval. . . . 10 3. Brisket well set forward . . 10 4. Chine full, and back broad and straight . . . . „ 10 5. Flank deep, ribs curved and well bent 10 6. Loin wide 10 7. Rump long 10 8. Bone fine . . . . „ 10 9. Hair silky, skin light brown and oily .. .. ..10 10. General appearance, a pony look 10 Total 100 For a cow, a very different scale would be required, and we find the following principal points are suggested : — Points. 1. Head small, jaw thin .. 10 2. Neck small where it joins head .. .. .. ..10 3. Fore quarters tight . . „ 10 4. Hip large .10 — 6. Kind logs to-wed a little . . JO 6. Large milk-veins .. ..10 7. Thumb marks or milk mirror 10 8. Skin oily 10 9. Temper a little nervous . . 10 10. General appearance wedge shape.. . . „ ..10 Points 100 Considerable discussion appears to have been elicited, the Club being equally divided for and against the theory. By the opponents of the system, it was urged Ithat, because there are so many different strains of shorthorn blood, and the various points are more prominent in some herds than others, and all yalaable, therefore it is impossible to practice the point card system. To this, it was urged that any Show Society could certainly draw up a diagram of points of animals best suited for the different parts of the country. As wo have said, opinions were pretty evenly divided, but it was resolved, if possible, to have the essay printed in the ' Country Journal,' whence it will, doubtless, find its way into many hands in Waikato, and be read with considerable interest.