THE FUTURE OF SHEEP.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXI, Issue 7915, 1 October 1909, Page 1

THE FUTURE OF SHEEP.

interestingT observations.

Mr George McKerrpw,,a notable farmer and; president "of agricultural societies ;in Wisconsin, America^ read a paper at a conference of sheep breeders at Gloucester during A the .week of the Royal Show,, which, contained ..some statements we'-might take note of with advantage to this country. ; He pointed out that m both the Americas, 'm Australia, and m iNew Zealand, the sheep .ranches are^being converted into other kinds of farms by irrigation, or by: improved methods, of '.'dry" farming, and that therefore there was a corresponding'reduction' m- the of mutton and wool produced, while at the same time the population of all these countries is increasing rapidly, and m America, at least, the consumption of mutton per head -was'increasing—the Yankees' becoming more and more mutton-eaters. \ All this points to | a rise m the values of sheep of all | kinds, and Mr McKerrow urged that every flockmaster should steadily improve his methods of handling sheep, especially m the matter of "culls"; these' should go to the butcher, and not into the.hands of breeders. A vigorous constitution, a mutton conformation, a happy medium m the size of the breed, thick and smooth flesh, were, he said, the desiderata. Constitution he defined as more and stronger lambs; a mutton conformation meant a heavy leg, a wide thick loin, and well sprung rib. He objected to showing standards where preference is given to. over-fleshed and over-fat animals, but whose carcasses do not sell so well as others more sensibly; developed. It is conceded all „ over jthe world live stock on a farm keep up the fertility, and thatsheep do this better than any other kind ;of stock. ; Some 80 per cerit. of their food is returned to the soil,, while their droppings are more evenly spread than 'any others over the ground; but, besides this, Mr McKerrow pointed but-that the. sheep consumes classes of .food that' other, animals* neglect".* "In" n&w districts it helps to/ eradicate various shrubs and herbs that are obnoxious m pastures; on cultivated farms it' becomes a weed exterminator, and turns into mutton and wool 75 per cent v of the weeds on arable land to which it has access. He found it was not a good plan to run sheep more than twoj3r three weeks on the same pasture. He worked hi.s. m two shifts, and alternated the sheep every two weeks; this very much reduced their chanco of getting parasitical diseases.