GOOD OUTLOOK FOR SHEEP.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 98, 6 February 1936, Page 8

GOOD OUTLOOK FOR SHEEP.

A REVERSION TO FOLDING. some changing methods. Tho outlook for British sheep farmin,, appears to be more encouraging than that for any other branch ot live stock. Sheep Of all classes have lW>» sold at leimmorntivo prices at the autumn sales, whilst the tanlto hest-ouality mutton and lamb is steadily increasing (states a writer m a Homo paper). During the past four or five > crass sheep keeping lias been more profttablo than arable. Now that wheat growing is established on a more profitable basis more arable land wll kept under cultivation, and sheep are useful on land that requires consolidating. . Turnip-feel mutton is more tender and juicy than mutton fattened on grass with hay and concentrates in winter. So long as the demand foi mutton and lamb continues, farmers will do well to revert to the good old system of folding through the winter. ‘Wool meets a fluctuating market, but there is every reason to think that it will improve in value. During the past decade there has been a big switch-over from arable to grass. The changed conditions of farming have naturally brought about a considerable amount of change m sheepbreeding. This is reflected m the demand for such breeds as the Scotch halfbred, Cbm and Kerry Hill, and also for the smaller Down breeds. Except for crossing purposes for either fat lamb or young mutton production, the demand for big sheep is not so great. Increased sales of fat lamb naturally affected the number of young sheep available for fattening off as tegs, and has created a good trade for store lambs for this purpose. The fat lamb trade appeals to many farmers because of its quick return on the capital invested, hut the system does not increase our sheep population. With so many thousands of acres of . understocked grass it seems good business to increase the numbers of breeding sheep in order to meet the increased demand for store sheep that seems most likely to arise. It requires less capital to s tock grassland with sheep than with cattle.

Grass sheep farming has more risks attached to it than arable. The plough is the greatest asset in maintaining the health of the flock—stale pastures soon bring trouble. The future will probably bring about other changes in management. Swedes and turnips have given place to sugar beet, the growth of which has enabled many farmers to make ends meet. Beet-tops, however, do not provide the amount of feed that a big crop of swedes and turnips does, and unless beet continues to be a profitable crop, farmers will no doubt grow more turnips and kale for winter mutton production. The sheep still has a golden hoof and is one of the most economic manure distributors on the market.