INSPECTION OF CORRIEDALES

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21436, 30 March 1935, Page 18

INSPECTION OF CORRIEDALES

TO TH® EDITOH 0» I'HB PR*3S. Sir,—ln "The Press" on Tuesday your correspondent, Mr J. W. Simpson, makes it very clear that inspectors of Corriedales are doing' more Harm than good to the breed. By throwing out certain sheep at the ram fairs they apparently are trying to set a type which is suitable for low countrv only. Such criticism from a buyei of" long experience should bring tne Corriedale Society's executive to a leconsideration of the inspection anomaly. , „ - There have been many cases ot really excellent sheep being put out for low condition or very trivial faults, while big, fat sheep of no use on hill country have been left.in. It was formerly maintained that the coii'iedale should be a general utility sheep, suitable for all classes of country and climate, especially high country To put pampered sheep there is sheer folly; none but the open-faced, clean-leg sheep in reasonable condition is of use on the high ranges. These were rigorously culled at the ram No one but the society's president and executive is to be blamed for fh is - Inspectors were turned loose with blue raddle and used it vigorously, according" to their own ideas of what a Ro>al Show Corriedale should be. At a ram fair the buyers should be, and wish to be, the judges. They know their business, and pay m hard cash. Another thing, it is unfair for breeders to have their sheep excluded from sale lay an inspector who is. pcihaos unknowingly, biased in favour of certain lines of sheep. One of the reasons the Corriedale became popular in other countries is that on the inception of the Corriedale Association breeders were given great latitude to develop on their own initiative, the only form of inspection being that of entry to the Flock Book and of sheen for export. These most certainly should continue. The present form of inspection at the ram fair is annoying to both buyers and breeders. When prices are low incompetent breeders very soon drop out. . Mr J. W. Simpson's letter, being from a buyer, will, I trust, bring about reconsideration of the business from the Corriedale Society's executive Yours ' e,C " C. H. ENSOR. Hanmcr Springs. March 28, 1935.