SHEEP FOR EXPORT

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 55, Issue 242, 26 July 1935, Page 7

SHEEP FOR EXPORT

OPPORTUNITY FOR NEW ZEALAND MARKET IN ARGENTINE. (Special to the “ Guardian.”) CHRISTCHURCH, This Day. A big and expanding market not only for New Zealand Corriedales, hut also fo.r Romneys, exists in South America, and only needs developing,

according to Mr N. O’D. Alexander, a, son of Professor R. B. Alexander, of Canterbury Agricultural College, Lincoln, who has returned to New Zealand after some years of fanning in the Argentine portion of Tierra del Fuego. Mr Alexander is impressed, with the chances for sales of New Zealand stock but says that the market must be carefully watcliedL “In Wellington I heard a man bragging that he had sold inferior sheep at a high price to a South American buyer,” (said Mr Alexan der. “This is a most short-sighted policy, because South American landowners usually control vast areas, and an action of this sui t may easily alien-, ate a purchaser who owns a flock of 5,000,000 sheep, and who could bo induced to buy almost as many rams as are bought in the whole internal market of New Zealand. It is penny wise and pound foolish.” Mr Alexander said he saw some' New Zealand sheep in South America that should) never have been sent, and there was great resentment that an inferior class should have been delivered in return for prices that were generous. “It would pay breeders here to go and see for themselves exactly what the market needs,” lie said. “Beside gaining the confidence of the South

Americans, much could he learned of the right times and the right conditions in which to ship sheep. I saw Romneys which had been shipped from England in their full wool, and after the long sea journey in crates their backs were gone and they would not last a season.’’ Mr Alexander said that very high prices were being paid for Eiiglish Romneys, shipments often averaging 200 guineas a head. Few of the sheep were up to the standard of New Zealand Romneys, because they were entirely unsuited to the country. “They could buy for shillings here better sheep than they pay guineas for in England,” said Mr Alexander. “ I was told that a celebrated! English champion ram was sold to ,an Argentine buyer, and when lie arrived he was found to have a large black patch on his ribs.” A difficulty for the New' Zealand exporter was that often his sheep were submitted to unfair comparisons. A ram would ho imported at a high figure, and put to a big crossbred ewe. The lamb might be a fine big animal with a good fleece, and the breeder would say, “Well, it is useless paying high prices for an imported sheep when I can breed better myself for a few pesos.” “There is an excellent market in South America,” saidi Mr Alexander, “but it will have to be looked after.”