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 The Present System of Judging Stock: Its Faults And Their Remedy
Excerpted from page 28;
VIII. THE OVERFEEDING OF BREEDING STOCK.
1. The defect in the existing regulations. There is another defect, and a most serious one, on the present mode of judging, or rather, perhaps, more properly speaking, in the conduct of shows, which calls loudly for a remedy.
It is notorious that, for years back, breeding stock have been exhibited at all the principle shows in high enough competition for stock competing in the fat cattle classes, and that they are brought out in this unnatural state at the risk of rendering them unfit to breed, and to the ruin of their constitutions and that of their progeny; and this, too, when the breeder in many cases is but poorly able to stand the cost and expense of bringing the animals out in that unnatural condition.
The over-feeding of breeding stock has become a serious national evil, and ought to be put down at all costs; for the injury is not confined to the stock of those who are inclined and well able to follow this ruinous practice, but it is, so to speak, highly infectious, and one that, if followed by only a few breeders, must be adopted by all who wish to exhibit at our great national shows.
Indeed, hundreds of owners, although they are well aware that they are running a very great risk of destroying the health and vigour of their breeding stock, deliberately overfeed them till they are in high condition, even for the shambles, knowing, as they do, that their herd would never obtain a name unless their stock are prize-takers, and that they must be overfed before they stand a chance in the showyard.
In other words, that if they are to make and maintain a name as breeders, they must, although they can but ill afford the expense, overfeed and destroy the vigour and stamina of their breeding stock, or give up keeping pure bred stock altogether.
There is no doubt whatever but that the majority of the ills to which the Shorthorn is now so notoriously subject is either directly or indirectly caused by the overfeeding of breeding stock for exhibition at our national shows.
We'll share Alexander Bruce's remedy next month! |
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Australia
1877 |
| A defect in the present mode of judging (131 years ago)... |
| Breeding cattle are exhibited as highly conditioned as fat (market) cattle... |
| Over-feeding is a ruinous and "highly infectious" practice...they must be overfed to stand a chance in shows |
| At risk of destroying health and vigor |
| Shambles: to move with a slow, shuffling, awkward gait... |
| We overfeed in order to win...even if we cannot afford it...and destroy the animal in the process... |
What are YOUR thoughts on the direct and indirect results of overfeeding show cattle?
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