SHEEP FARMING IN KENYA

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21903, 2 October 1936, Page 4

SHEEP FARMING IN KENYA

f BRIGHT FUTURE SEEN POSSIBLE MARKET FOB N.2, STUD STOCK [THE PRESS Special Serylce.l . BLENHEIM, October-1. The wonderful possibilities of the :ountry in Kenya, from a pastoralist’s point of view, were commented upon by Vlr C. O. T. Rutherford, a prominent tfew Zealand sheep breeder. Who has just returned from a five months’ trip to South Africa. The country there was first-class for the sheep industry, he said, and with interprising owners and healthy flocks the future there' seemed bright indeed. ' Discussing the embargo against the importation of Australian sheep at present in force in South Africa, Mr Rutherford said that he had pointed oui that it was not generally known that the embargo did not apply to New Zealand. If, therefore, South African breeders ever desired to Import ffesb blood for their stocks, the obvious place for them to go was New Zealand, where animals of the same bipod as those found in Australia could be obtained. New Zealand could not, oi course, re-export animals that were imported from Australia, but the restrictK)n. dld not apply to their, progeny. Mr Rutherford added that he hac succeeded to some extent in setting the bah rolling for the som< •tLoI 36 y n l°*V 2! sheep from New Zealand, but from his Observations it seemed that the main part o: the country where they would be re quired was in Kenya. Reserves. Needed for Game One of the great needs there, he lde s ed > was that game should be confined to proper reserves, otherwise the sheep and stock .industry would not prosper #;! it should do. The risS f r°m tick-home diseases and the cost J;kem, was tremendous, when game had free run in stock . areas * ** the game were confined to properly defined areas, settlers would have " a chance to get down to things asd make the necessary improvements in grazing and roatters. It was impossible to run the sheep and stock industry, and a game paradise for tourtsts side by side, said Mr Rutherford, Ts.it. seemed td hltn, too. Mr Rutherford said, that the Government would be well-advised tp givesmme assistance to sheep breeders In Kenya m the same way as the So&hTAiican Government had assisted lSe shem stentlar stantial rebate oiJjQ per cent., he ber heved, was allowed on the importation of mermo and other purged rams during the period, when the industry expanding. He understood that author!tiea were - coa-i sidermg the inauguration Of a simiS ?V®S I6 m , Kenya. Assistance of this kind) would not only help the

sheep farmer, butwould react to the . benefit of the entice colony. ' 1 -j Kenya was handicapped to a greater j extent than any other colony or On- -1 minion that he had visited, and he , was sure that a little help Iran the ->■ Government would ‘ amply’“repay it- I Seif. " * ■' i -Vi '"•.- • _ t ! :