;-NRLF THE PRESENT SYSTEM OF | JUDGING STOCK: ITS FAULTS AND THEIR REMEDY. Kl'LL DESCRIPTION <»F THE DIFFERENT POINTS OF SHORTHORN CATTLF. 29 BY ALEX A X D E R B R U 'OK, Chief ! DNEY : I'KINTF.I) BY r.IUI'.S. SHAI.LARD, & « MKET. 1877. _____ • ±s. METROPOLITAN EXHIBITION, 1877. VISITORS' attention t<> our Autumn and Winter importations, which are now complete, ia urgently requested. We have for some years past supplied numbers of residents in the country, both in this and neighbouring colonies, with their season's goods ; our experience in importing the requisite articles is, therefore, great ; and we offer to those who have not yet dealt with us goods at moderate prices in great variety, embracing all descriptions and qualities : discount being allowed for cash purchases. We recapitulate a few of the Winter Goods just opened from recent arrivals. TAILORING. University of California. •rder. GS-IJFT OF1 1 8 sintosh GENUINE MACINTOSH RAINPROOF CLOTHING. Macintosh's peculiar Rainproof Overcoats, warranted. The new Military Macintosh Overcoat. The new Sergette Macintosh Overcoat. The new Check Tweed Macintosh, cannot be discerned from an ordinary Coat. Boys' Macintosh Overcoats, Boys' Ulster Overcoats. Gentlemen's White Shirts, every size, description, and quality. Men's Cri means, tine or heavy. Portmanteaus, Travelling Trunks, Overland Trunks, Ladies' Trunks, Solid Leather Hand Bags. Brushes, Combs, Perfumery, Sponges, IY.C. THOMPSON & GILES, • TAILORS, OUTFITTERS, SHIUTMAKERS, MEN'S MERCERS DENISON HOUSE, GEORGE STREET, OJ'l'OSITK HANK OK N. S. WALKS. THE PRESENT SYSTEM OF JUDGING STOCK: ITS FAULTS AND THEIR REMEDY. FULL DESCRIPTION OF THE DIFFERENT POINTS OF SHORTHORN CATTLE. BY ALEXANDER BRUCE, Chief Inspector of Stock for New South Waks. > K A K Y SYDNEY : PRINTED BY GIBBS, SHALLARD, & CO., STEAM PRINTERS, 108 PITT STREET. 1877. Is. 6i>. IIDTIDIE I. — FAULTS OF THE PRESENT SYSTEM. 1. It leads to Judges giving erroneous awards — PACK. (I.) Through want of ability ) (2. ) Through too great hurry . . . . . . . . . . . . > 5 (3. ) Through predilection . . . . . . . . . . . . ) 2. It gives no reasons for decisions .. .. .. .. .. .. 6 3. It gives no information in regard to Exhibits . . . . . . . . . . 7 4. It does little or nothing to educate .. .. .. .. .. .. 7 II.— THE REMEDY— THE POINT SYSTEM. 1. Mode of initiating the system .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 8 2. Its advantages — (i.) Correct awards .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 8 (2. ) Ample information to Exhibitors and the public . . . . . . 8 (3. ) It is highly educational . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 3. The objections urged against this System — (I.) Paucity of Judges capable of judging by Points \ (2.) Its tediousness | 12 (3. ) The disinclination of Judges to use it . . . . . . . . . . J III.— SCALE OF POINTS FOR SHORTHORN CATTLE. i. Plate of Bull showing Points 15 _2. Scale of Points and their values — (i.) In detail i (2. ) In groups (3. ) In divisions (2. ) In groups . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . > 1 6 IV.— DESCRIPTION OF THE POINTS. 1. Size .. .. .. .. . . .. .. .. .. .. 19 2. Quality .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 19 3. Form . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 V.— IMPEDIMENTS TO ADOPTION OF POINT SYSTEM. 1. Its novelty 24 2. Its apparent intricacy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 3. Judges' dislike to details . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 4. Disinclination of Breeders to study details of System . . . . . . . . 25 5. Ignorance of its advantages .. .. .. .. ,.. .. .. 25 YL— STANDARD OF POINTS. 1. Authoritative scales for guidance of Judges .. .. .. .. .. 26 2. Authoritative scales for use of Agricultural Colleges . . . . . . . . 26 VII.— MEASUREMENT OF STOCK EXHIBITED. 1. For the information of Judges .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 26 2. As a record of Stock Exhibited . . 27 VIII.— OVER-FEEDING OF BREEDING STOCK. 1. Defects in existing Regulations .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 28 2. The remedy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 APPENDICES. Award Paper A. Analysis B. Award Paper C. Award Paper D. Award Paper used at Philadelphia. PREFACE. IN presenting the following remarks upon the important subject of Judging Stock at Exhibitions, I feel the utmost deference for the practical knowledge of our stockowners, and would not venture to disagree, as I am aware I will do with many of them, were' it not that the subject has been a matter of long and special study to me, to a degree far exceeding that which they can have bestowed upon it. Having before us the fact that, under the present system of judging, errors are of ve/y frequent occurrence, that there is little or no prospect of a settlement of the wide divergence of opinion which now prevails among acknowledged Judges as to the value of the different points and qualities of stock, and that little or no real teaching is being given on these points at our Exhibitions ; and believing, as I do, that until all descripiions of stock are judged by points, these evils will never be remedied, — I make no apology for this attempt to ventilate the question, affecting as it does in no indirect way the progress of the great Pastoral interest of the Australian Colonies. I 1 P I > V I > V I A I I > II . \ I » I I \ I \ \. KS IT V <> CALIFORNIA. THE JUDGING OF LIVE STOCK I.— FAULTS OF THE PRESENT SYSTEM. i. // leads to erroneous Awards, — This it does from three causes. (i.) Through a want of ability on the part of the judges. (2.) Through the hurried manner in which they judge. (3.) Through prejudice on their part for, or against, particular breeds, or strains of blood, and through over or under valuing particular points in the stock. The first cause is, up to a certain extent, at the larger shows at least, of comparatively rare occurrence, but oftener than is generally allowed ; for, when the entries are numerous, and the exhibits nearly on a par — some excelling in one point but defective in another — it not unfrequently happens that judges are led, by the present "rule of thumb" system, to commit palpable mistakes. For example, cattle are being shown in a class, some of which are high in " quality" but infe- rior in " form ;" others, again, are good iri some points of '• form" but defective in others, while some are good in both "quality" and "form," but defective in "vigour" and "size." The judge is, of course, anxious to act fairly to the exhibitors, and sets about summing up and balancing in his mind the good and bad qualities or points of the several exhibits, in order to arrive at a correct decision ; and any one •can see that this process of mental calculation stands a very poor chance of leading to a correct decision under the perplexing circum- stances in which the judges are placed. In fact, the decisions of all but the very best judges are, in such cases, little better than good guesses. If,, again, this be true as regards the judges individually, it can easily be seen how very much worse the case is as regards the judges collectively ; and how much more difficult it is for them — if they do not set down the marks for the value of the different points in black and white — to arrive at correct and unanimous decisions, where the ex- hibits are of nearly equal but of diversive merit. There are gene- rally three judges acting in a class, and it is no uncommon thing, at first, at least, to find them all holding different opinions as to the merits of the several exhibits, and each dwelling on the excellences of the animal he prefers, and the defects of those favoured by his fellow judges. The consequence is, that they either allow the judge with the largest amount of argument to have his way, or they perhaps settle the matter by casting lots as to whose opinion is to be followed. The second cause — too hurried decisions — is of too frequent occur- rence. Even where the number of exhibits is comparatively small, it is too much the custom with some judges to hurry through the work. Where, again, the exhibits are numerous, it is a matter of necessity for one set of judges to go quickly through them. When it is considered that the whole aim of the show may be defeated, and months of prepa- ration and heavy outlay thrown away through this carelessness or haste, to the bitter disappointment of the exhibitors, and of those who have had the management of the exhibition, it is the height of folly to run the risk of giving incorrect awards through hurrying over the judging. The third cause of erroneous awards alluded to is prejudice on the part of the judge for a particular breed of stock or strain of blood, or for a particular point of the animal, and a dislike, or at least a disre- gard, for the others. The fact of some judges being prejudiced in favour of particular breeds and families and of particular strains of blood is so natural and notorious as to require no proof. If it did, the remark which is con- stantly heard of such and such a judge being a '-'Booth," and the next a " Bates" man, would be sufficient confirmation of the assertion. It is equally natural, and quite as notorious, that some judges consider certain points of " quality" or "form" the most essential in a beast, and set too low a value on others. This has a most material effect on the decision, especially when the question as to whether " quality" or " form" should have the call turns up. Even where points of " form" are pitted against each other, the divergence of opinion among judges is often very great, and those, who are otherwise good judges, give very erroneous decisions both through under and over-valuing particular points. These erroneous awards of course account for the want of uniformity or rather divergence of opinion which we every day see in respect to the same animals coming before different judges, and which tends so- much to confusion and doubt as to the value of the different points in stock, and the excellences and defects which the animals exhibited. 2. The present system of judging does not require the judges to give the reasons jor their awards ; and it, therejore, fails to satisfy the bulk of the exhibitors, as it ought to do, that they have been Jairly dealt with. — It is impossible, under any system of judging, to satisfy all the exhibitors that the awards are all correctly made, and that all the animals are properly placed ; but the majority of those who call the judges' decisions in question do so through ignorance ; and, if the excellences and defects of the exhibits were pointed out by the judges. and the reasons for their decisions thus given, this class of exhibitors, who are now discontented, would be satisfied that the judges had acted fairly, and would make no complaint. The present system of judging is therefore unsatisfactory, as it does nothing towards allaying this need- less discontent. 3. It fails to direct breeders, who are looking J or stock to itJiprove their herds in particular points, where animals high in these poi fits can be Jonnd. — Were the judges to state in what particular points the prize and commended animals excel the others, an authoritative record of these points would be created, to which breeders would turn when in quest of stock possessed of certain points of particular excellence, and thus save themselves a great deal of trouble and expense in visiting the dif- ferent herds to look for animals high in the qualities they desire to engraft on, or increase in their stock ; while they would at the same time be put on their guard against any defects these prize animals might have, through their shortcomings, as well as their excellences, being noticed by the judges. If this record were once established, breeders would be enabled to see how even the far back progenitors of stock, which they were inclined to purchase, stood in regard to every point of any importance. The present system of judging gives no such inform- ation, and therefore fails in this most important respect. 4. // fails to afford those who are anxious to acquire it, a knowledge cj the excellences and dejects of Stock, and therejore does little or nothing to advance this most important branch of Agriculture. — If the judges of stock at the principal shows were to give the reasons for the decisions at which they arrive — as they ought to do — these reasons would be published with the lists of prizes in the daily papers the day after the stock were judged, and visitors, going round the stalls with the papers in their hands, would be able to see why one animal was placed before the other, and thus learn more in the course of one day's attendance at a show than they now do in ten years under the present system of judging. In this respect also, the existing system is a failure, and ought to be altered ; for one of the principal objects of shows is the dissemination of information ; and every endeavour should be made to render them thoroughly educational. The fact is that our shows now scarcely confer one tithe of the benefit they ought to do, and public opinion is frequently misdirected, while not an exhibition passed but a great deal of dissatisfaction is caused to exhibitors and the public, both through the want of informa- tion from the judges and erroneous awards. As regards the educa- tional element, again — the great object for which shows were esta- blished— these exhibitions are every whit as wanting as they were twenty years ago ; and it surely cannot be the case, that every institu- tion in the kingdom is to improve and progress, and agricultural exhi- bitions stand still. It is, no doubt, questionable whether the remedy 8 here proposed be the right one ; but its proposal, if entertained and discussed at all, must do good in calling attention to the matter ; and, if it does so, the object of the writer will be served. II.— THE REMEDY— THE POINT SYSTEM. i. — Mode of its initiation. — The remedy for all this would be to judge the stock by points ; and that mode of judging might be initiated by adopting some such course as the following : — The opinion of breeders throughout the colonies should be taken, as to the points which should be adopted for the different sorts of stock and the relative values of these points. With this view the Councils and Committees of the leading Agricultural Societies in these colonies should prepare and print tentative award papers for the several breeds of stock in something like the form that will be afterwards given in this paper, and should send them round to the different Local Agricul- tural Associations for consideration and report by their members. In this way the opinion of every judge worth having would be obtained ; and when they were, the Reports of the different Local Associations could be gone through by the Councils and Committees of the prin- cipal Societies, and the points and their values fixed in accordance with these opinions. After that, again, a joint Committee might be appointed by the principal Societies, to consider the scales of points and their relative values thus fixed upon, and agree on a general scale for the colonies. Both correctness and uniformity would thus be secured, and there could be no cavilling at the points fixed upon, or the values given them, as they would be the result of the collective wisdom of all the best judges in all the colonies. The course here recommended would take a little time and trouble, and would no doubt create considerable discussion as to what the points ought to be, and what values should be placed upon them ; but this would all do good, for there is no subject on which breeders and owners require more to obtain correct information than on this, nor one the discussion of which would tend more to the general improve- ment of stock and the development of their most valuable points. If the principal Societies would agree to this mode of judging, and some such course as that here suggested for initiating it were followed, the system might be carried into effect in the course of twelve months, and the labour could not possibly be better bestowed. 2. The advantages of the point system are, among others, the fol- lowing:— (i.) With ordinarily competent judges, // insures correct and, of course, uniform awards. (2.) It affords the most ample information with respect to the exhibits and their points — the award papers forming exhaustive '0 O 10 I ^ e? OI '° *'3S o »0 10 O O U gs- •j'ajSS a 10 O 10 O Tf 10 IO •* w OJ ^ Ss • r^ OS ' sdui'n^j o 10 10 O O VO 10 txvo W •••• d!H ^H £ st- •• ^UBJ^ • • • uioq a O "0 10 O ^0000« ^ hM ^ Si • » 0* •' squ-^ 0 O O 10 10 VO t^ lOVO M CO £z 13B3. f-H C/2 < J (j> ,-x Sf 1 ~ ss '•' squ-aaoj §» IO O O IO 00 0>0 ON HH H 1 w t»' o •• Si • UIJB-3JOJ japjnoqs irt 10 10 o 10 o M ro ro M !4 H— ( 1-5 H H 8 •SJUIOJ vn l/» O O coco r-^vo && •1MW3 N C H ^ 2.ti ^ ^ SI S o? o^ -squ-^OBg ,,u,od O "") O "^ tCvo\o 10 |l ^ Sz •» •'• jJoBg •]iqiqxa o'c "^ cS t> j-T 5- ot' squ-aaoj o •SJUIOJ BIT! 10 O C> o\ 10 H — ss — aujqo •i;qiqxa ll •££ ^T o£ -uaptnoqs 0 •sjuioj £S^8 t^_, 4-* O ~~^ Si " "sdoa^ •jiq;qxa ro N H •<*- ra a, •° 2 H (sug ^ OZ ••• }SB3Jg IO *W O 10 O 10 t^vo vo to -5 ?S ot' -o^ '3pa^[ •?iqiqxa J5-S ^ " SsuJOH??-iK3 yj" OS 3^3 »0 ,,u!OJ £2,i?S- IS - o£ -D, '«Ba •jjqnpa rOMC,^ 22 *—. S • • ju^so^j **' oi • • s'rzzn w 10 •w,d 10 10 O O .2^ !-5 S -,iq;qxa o S ^ C& SS3UU9Aa M' 09 ' • SJpUBJJ o •SJUIOJ &5« .!- IN o i ^ c5^ i 1 S u I I O 1 *§. | .5? I 1 H 1 lYrs. Ms. IL to Ft I::. Ft. In 30 220 00 270 170 190 3° IOOO 4 APPENDIX D.— AWARD PAPER. . SECTION II, CATTLE. CLASS — . FAT CATTLE (SHORTHORNS). 1 & - Age | = Measurement. Weight. Quality. Form. Size, die. - 3 .— ~ ;; < s JU Ft. In. ! j* t: o Live Weight. i General. 1 4 Middle. il = 1 c* (i e« & s 14 ^ Yrs. Ms Ft In. Ft. In. Cwtqr. Ibs 220 80 200 140 150 30 ! 180 | APPENDIX E. SCALE of points used at International Exhibition, Philadelphia, in judging Cattle. POINTS. SHORTHORN. HEREFORD. DEVON. Head 3° 3° 4° Nose o o 4° Face . • 20 20 o Eve Ear 0 20 10 20 20 20 Neck Chest Brisket 20 140 5° 20 I40* 20 I4<> Shoulder Crops £ 3° Back, Loins, and Hips 80 80 90 5° Pelvis .. 2O 20 Twist 60 60 Carcass Flanks 40 30 20 Legs Plates Tail Colour 8uality oat or Hair ...... 150 150 150 Udder IOOO IOOO IOOO Dress and Mantle Making in all its Branches. E. WAY, 261 PITT STEEET. MILLINERY & FANCY GOODS, E. WAY, 263 PITT STREET. OF UNDERCLOTHING AND BABY LINEN. E. WAY, 265 PITT STEEET. EVERY ARTICLE IN DRAPERY E. WAY, 267 PITT STREET. POTTIE'S arc unquestionably THE GREAT REMEDIAL AGENTS OF THIS AGE. No remedy yet known possesses the power of curing so many ;,U;i it : h;: 1 tin.' pitfoiiiige of the highest families in Australia. It has ivmov- : inding, after the unhappy sufferers i martyrdom of suffering, and often,! may add. of strong remedial treatment also. Xow the success of *tm~s ivm-dy has been Demonstrate 1 everywhere — from the palace to the shepherd's hut. from the lady of noble and philanthropic life to the poor and decrepit , ;-jpj ing in nearly every home in Australia, and it is I- ring friends in A Asia, th«- it of Kurope, and Britain. Diseases of 5, s. !•», 16, 20, 23, and 26 y< standing, yield to its power, so that men given up as incurable have . ned to their duties in daily life, and ar n of their fami those who ask suffering to give it a fair trial, and those who have u- 1 are not cured, to yc its use.' the only way r pernv-iiieiit cure in long standing .'•ntleman has informed me that pure bred animals which have to raec and do i\(^t work ;itted V>y the daily u- Pottle's Scottish Highland Oil on the joints. 31, I S T ! HEK REMEDIES FOR THE LOWER ANIMALS. ihind Oil, (ilencairn Oils, Black Oils, Australian Eml>: . Healing L^fion, I'] um'-'s^ 1 i •• ding Al! i/w, >in