BYGONE DAYS: Ulster PM is amongst the prizes at Balmoral Show 1947

The News Letter’s agricultural correspondent, Charles Reid, reported that there had been “a grand display of Ayrshires” at the opening day of the show.

Mr Reid wrote: “The cattle are well up to the standard of merit of pre-war years, although there have been radical changes in some directions.

“The Shorthorn does not occupy the premier position of former years. This applies less to the beef than the dairy section. The beef Shorthorns, with only 32 entries, are much less prominent than usual.

Changes

“There are some interesting changes from the Dublin awards, notably the reversion of position between Mr J W Jenning’s white Brookville Control and Mr Stewart’s dark red Drinn Surprise in the junior bull class.

“The former, which was placed second to Drinn Surprise at Dublin, not only leads in his class, but wins the championship over Sir Basil Brooke’s aged first prize bull, Carrig Beau Ideal, which was reserve for the male championship at Dublin over the two younger ones mentioned.

“Except a little at the tail head, the white bull is almost perfect in outline, but he has not the thick substance, masculine front and character of Mr Stewart’s Drinn Surprise.

“I should say Drinn Surprise is the better bull from a breed point of view. If, however, symmetry of mould is to be preferred over substance and character, then he is right in being placed over the Colebrooke bull for the championship.”

Dairy Shorthorns

Mr Reid noted that there had been a decline in dairy shorthorns.

He reported: “Dairy Shorthorns have declined from a leading position to a tail-end, with only 16 entries. They have evidently been ousted from their position as milk producers by the Ayrshires and Friesians.

“Sir Basil Brooke had a fairly good cup winner in his bred first prize yearling heifer Verna Maybelle, while he had a clear lead as first prize winner for aged bulls with his red roan Woodpark Showplate 3rd.”

Mr Reid noted that the sudden decline of dairy Shorthorns raised “a very important question”.

He noted: “When the Dairy Register for Shorthorns was first introduced it was expected to develop a definite dairy type distinct from the beef Shorthorn. But instead of this taking place the improvement among dairy Shorthorns has ever tended more and more to the beef type, while those dairy champion Shorthorns rarely exceed 600 gallon strain.

“When the two societies united it was felt as an approach Shorthorns were not so prominent to a complete fusion of the two strains. Ireland the only place where beef and dairy Shorthorns compete on equal conditions.

“Would the council of the RUAS have the courage to take the lead in ending this farcical division now that Dairy Shorthorns are approaching extinction, confining Shorthorns to one section with a special class for dairy cows based on their milk yield?”

Aberdeen Angus

It was noted by Mr Reid that Aberdeen Angus had maintained their position “fairly well”.

“Mr A J Crothers’s yearling heifer Modena of Balnastraid, which won the championship is a very symmetrical, mossy-coated youngster that should have a brilliant future,” wrote Mr Reid.

He continued: “Sir Basil Brooke deservedly won first place among aged bulls with his Dublin winner, Prince of More.

“He also led in the class for cows with his first prize Dublin winner, Esmeralda of Colebrooke. His aged bull is a three-year-old of rare depth and width of substance, with grand full quarters and fine roasts, but he does not show himself to advantage and is apt to hang slack.”

Ayrshires

Turning his focus to Ayrshires at the show Mr Reid remarked: “Ayrshires are a grand lot and make the finest display of the breed ever seen in Ireland. They are the beau ideal of a dairy cow, with their great quarters and large, shapely udders, hung well forward with an extended base that stands the strain of a long lactation.

“Northern breeders swept the boards at Ballsbridge, but they have put up a much stronger display at Balmoral.

“I don’t know that there is anything quite up to the chief milkers that Mr Creswell used to furnish as champions in the dairy class, but there is a uniform high degree of merit throughout the large classes, while they make up the biggest number of entries of any breed in the show.”

Mr Reid concluded: “There are so many animals of merit here that I will not go into much individual description.

“Mr Robert Wilson and son won the champion cup with his Dublin winner Knockdon Derby Lass, while Messrs Lusby and Son’s two year old heifer Kilfehane Roseline, which was reserved for the supreme championship and winner of two heifer specials is a level attractive entry, while Mr Lusk’s aged bull, Lismenary Pearlstone, which won the male championship, is a fine, deep, level bull of typical merits.”