THE SOUTHDOWN

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21391, 6 February 1935, Page 8

THE SOUTHDOWN

"In 10 years' time 90 per cent, of the export sheep from Australia will be Southdowns," a New South Wales grazier, Mr B. J. Stocks, was reported to have said on his arrival in Auckland the other day. Probably what he said, or intended to say, was that 90 per cent, of the fat lambs exported in 10 years would be Southdown cross. Ninety per cent, of the export sheep, as Southdown, would be rather a tall order —as unwise as it would be impossible. Dealing with lamb and mutton, as distinct from sheep, it is unlikely that breeders would carry Southdown cross lambs into their flocks to any great extent. The ewes could not be bred from without mixing the breed of a flock, and the eventual destination of the Down cross progeny, which could not be exported as lambs, would be their disposal as twotooths. However, that is scarcely contemplated in Mr Stocks's very wide observation. The visitor's remarks, however, show that New South Wales, like Victoria, intends to seriously enter into the business of specially catering for the lamb export trade. There certainly has been an indiscriminate use of rams in the past which has operated against uniformity. The general adoption of the Southdown ram will overcome that. Victoria, and New South Wales for that matter, has imported great numbers of New Zealand Ryelands in the last few years, and possibly Mr Stocks's remarks were not intended to convey that this breed would come into disuse. The Ryeland fulfils the same purpose, with equal facility, as the Southdown, and it may be regarded as an advantage that the wool value of the Ryeland progeny is slightly better. For a lamb going .straight from the jnpjhes to. th% w^SeJamm&g*.M\

creased exports have also been made to Sweden, Spain, Austria, Czechoslovakia, and Denmark. Yorkshire has been a most sustained buyer. Mills generally in. that quarter have been much better employed than at midyear. In six principal manufacturing districts the number of unemployed at the close of November was 50 per cent, less than four months before. Unless some special cause arises, indications do not lead to the-opinion that a decided advance in wool values will be experienced in the immediate future; but the staple is cheap, goods are available at much reduced prices abroad, and under those conditions a steady consumption of wool is likely to proceed, with the consequent impetus to continue securing good weights of raw materials by consumers.