SCRUB RAMS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 207, 15 June 1936, Page 3

SCRUB RAMS.

ELIMINATION BE-IN‘G SOUGHT-

MANY DIFFICULTIES FORESEEN‘

The opinion that there were many. difficulties in the elimination of scrub rams from fairs and regular sales was expressed by several speakers at the social held in Ashburton on Friday evening in connection with the flock ewe competition.

The subject was mentioned by Mr R. C. Todhuntcr, who said that entries at the ram fairs at Christchurch were becoming larger and larger and might get beyond reasonable ..audling of the sales before darkness set in. Many of the rams put in were not fit for breeding purposes, and to get over the difficulty, the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association two years ago established a system of inspection, under which undesirable rams were marked and removed from the pens. As soon as the inspectors’ backs were turned, however, many of the rejects were put back into the pens and were sold. At the following sale, not so many were put back. It was probable that the responsibility for the rejection of scrubs would in future he placed on the shoulders of the several breed societies. He hoped all breeders would support the move, which aimed at a greater improvement in flocks. Later in the evening, speakers re—ferred to the question, and it was stated that the only way of cleaning up the trouble was to destroy the scrubs, but there was no power under which any association or society could order that destruction. Mr Todhunter said that the scrub rams could be operated on or they could be sent to the freezing works. It was agreed that some legislation should be brought down to enable the proper handling of the unfit rams, or sires in any breed. At the present time, it was pointed out, there was nothing to stop owners whose rams were rejected at the sales or fairs, taking them back to their farms and selling them privately.