1921 Annual Report - the RNA

- t . ~u~ i -A- .. ,^ ' . . _ . . * - ^ . '. t- - _ ' ., - .-/r__f_~_l* ,, -.-33VALUE OF HERD BOOKS.By R. S. Maynard.The Secretary has invited me to tell, in a few words, of the achievementsof the Herd Book Societies during the past few years. Thatthe Herd Book Societies have done much to improve the standard ofcattle throughout Queensland is a fact, but I believe the work they havedone is small compared to what they will do in the future, now that theyare so thoroughly well established.Herd Book work is co-operative work. Its success depends on theenthusiasm of the men who make up the Societies.The better cattle movement had its greatest fillip in Queenslandwhen the Royal National Association decided to admit to its Show onlysuch dairy cattle as were registered in the Herd Books of their breeds.The Royal National Association was the first to adopt this condition ofentry. It was some time afterwards that a similar condition wasadopted by the Metropolitan Shows in the South, and by the leadingprovincial Shows in Queensland. Naturally, there was some little outcryagainst the adoption of this condition. It was said that it wouldlimit the number of entries, and spoil the interest in the Show. It hadthe very opposite effect. It gave men confidence. Many dairymencome to the Shows to buy stud animals, and they can now come to theRoyal National and buy with the knowledge that they are buying studcattle, properly registered in their Herd Books.Within the last couple of years, the Beef Cattle Section has adoptedthe Herd Book qualification for entry at the Royal National, andti alreadyits good effect has been noticeable. The Beef Cattle Societies are notconfining their activities to the mere registration of their cattle, butare inaugurating competitions which will, it is believed, lead to amarked improvement in the quality of Queensland beef. At the 1922Royal National it is hoped to exhibit shorthorn, Hereford, andAberdeen Angus steers under 2 years of age, ready for killing. One ofthe difficulties in the way of Australia getting a good share of the meattrade of Europe is that we do not produce the class of beef which findsgreatest favour in European countries. England, especially, demandsbeef that has been quickly grown. Argentine meets this demand withtwo year old beasts that have been topped off on artificial pasture andgrain. It is the aim of the Beef Cattle Societies, here in Queensland,to educate cattle growers up to the need for improvement.It is my opinion that when the work of the Royal National Associationand of the Herd Book Societies is fully appreciated, it will be acomparatively easy matter to double the production of dairy productsin Queensland, and to produce better beef in half the time that it nowtakes us to produce our present quality.^1~