THE WENSLEYDALE SHEEP.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 11, 14 January 1925, Page 11

THE WENSLEYDALE SHEEP.

j WOOL EAGERLY SOUGHT. following up tlie discussion respecting hair in wool, and the relative merits of the Romney and tho Wensleydnle sheep for crossing, Mr. R. W. Graham, of Otaki, who has heen a breeder of Wens-li-ydale sheep in England, gives the following information: "The Wpiisleydale is very deceptive both in wool and carcase, especially to those who have not studied it closely. Tho fleece is loose, very line texture, and medium staple, and is very curly, but does not hang together well. I have personally shorn 151b of wool from one sheep, and can honestly say that any well-bred Wenslcydale sheep will clip from 101b to 121b. There are two types of sheep bred—one with wool clown the legs to the ground, the other with clean legs. I prefer the latter, as they travel better in the snow, a consideration iv some parts of England. a nd ( i 0 n0 (, collect burr?, etc., like the woolly legged type. The wool is eagerly sought after by wool buyers, and commands as good a price as any other breed. It retains its natural sap better than other wools, and does not pet that dried look and touch often found in Leicesters and others. With reward to *.c Wensleydale's mutton capabilities, the deception is still more, pronounced. When fat it never | handles so well on the back as the; Leicester or Romney, but turn one up, it feels like lifting a sack of maize. Tile flesh is lean, without those layers of fat which people so dislike nowadays, on the chops, and is always a favourite with butchers —it weighs out so well, being: very solid. If its neck is narrowish. who wants the neck-end anyway? They are big upstanding sheep, very hardy, being used principally for crossing with mountain-bred sheep in England. From personal experience they are ideal sheep to cross with the Leicester, giving a big fine fleece, and the Wenslcydale frame, combined with the Leicester's compactness and quick-feed-ing capabilities, produce an excellent carcase sheep. 1 think they arc well worth trying here.'*