BRITAIN’S SHEEP.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 61, Issue 74, 8 January 1941, Page 8

BRITAIN’S SHEEP.

REMOVAL FROM INVASION ZONE The United Kingdom, exclusive oi Eire, pastures about 26,300,000 sheep. Considerable numbers of these were located in the coastal districts menaced by enemy air forces and where the risk of invasion exists.

Some time ago, under official orders, 100,000 sheep were evacuated from southern counties’ to inland districts, the Government-paying for their agistment. Subsequently because of the increased danger, numbers of farmers in risky areas made private arrangements for the transfer of their flocks to safer localities. The stock were transported by rail to the Midlands. The landholders providing grazing will secure their payment for agistment by being given 50 per cent of the next season’s lambs.

The British Ministry of Agriculture has heartily endorsed this effort, of self-help, which could be much more quickly effected than under official arrangements. The stock are a great national asset from the viewpoint of wool and meat production. It is of interest to note that, of all the Australian States, only New (South Wales, with 52,000,000, carries more sheep than the United Kingdom. The number of sheep grazed in New Zealand is 31.900,000.