SHEEP FOR HIGH COUNTRY

Press, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 26491, 4 August 1951, Page 5

SHEEP FOR HIGH COUNTRY

Mr Peter Newton, now of Nokomui Station, Purawa, writes:— Mr P. C. Ensor is to be congratulated on his excellent paper on sheep for high country. It will, I think, be agreed that for all our hundred years experience on this country we have as ytt been unable to satisfy ourselves as to which of our hill breeds is the most suitable for certain areas of our high country. As Mr Ensor says, the Merino is the obvious choice for the more arid country, but as far as the higher rainfall. areas are concerned, there is still a divergence of opinion that suggests that we have not yet evolved an ideal type for these conditions.

One hears many arguments advanced in favour of the various breeds— Merino, halfbred and Corr-iedale—yet I venture to suggest that too many of these opinions are merely reiteration of common beliefs and nave insufficient factual foundation to bear analysis. In support of this contention I would endorse Mr Ensor’s remarks concerning the cdmparative damage to country by these breeds. The theory that the Merino is easier on country has always been one of the main arguments in favour of this breed, yet like Mr Ensor, I cannot altogether reconcile mysdf to this belief. During half a lifetime’s experience with these two breeds I have not yet seen one example where it could be said beyond dispute, that country had been adversely affected simply through having been stocked with halfbreds. Indeed, in direct contradiction to this belief I have seen ample indisputable evidence, mainly on the tops, of country having been damaged through having carried Merinos.

A further argument I would contest is that of the relative numbers of Merinos and halfbreds .which can be carried on a given block. This, to my mind, is known to be excessively in favour of the Merino. I have heard the comparison placed as high as three to two yet with authentic evidence to support my case I am prepared to state that the comparison is only in the vicinity of six to five. No one will differ with Mr Ensor in his contention that we must relate the sheep to the country and it is hare. I suggest that we find the weakness of our policy in regard to high country. It has always been my opinion that in view of the importance of this section of the industry we have made insufficient attempt to evolve a type, or types suited for the varying conditions experienced in this class of country. So far our only departure from the Merino has been the halfbred and Corriedale. I suggest that few breeders of these sheep have been primarily interested in the evolution of a type suitable for high country. Actually with a straight halfbred such an objective is practically beyond achievement. Few stations are able to cull their ewe flocks for type and with their rams normally a first cross selective breeding is strictly limited. This fact, to my mind, is the greatest argument in favour of the Corriedale. For all the general aversion to this breed as a high country sheep it must be admitted that it contains exactly the same blood as the halfbred. Its defect presumably lies in the fact that it has not been bred for hard country. Yet with the breed stabilised surely the evolution of set types for varying conditions must be simplified. Both Clayton and Pendle Hill have shown us that Corriedales can be run successfully on high country and I suggest that we forget our aversion to this breed and concentrate on the evolution of a type—be it Corriedale or otherwise— which incorporates the qualities necessary for those areas of •our high country under debate.

AUSTRALIAN JUDGE For the first time for 30 years, an Australian studmaster will judge the Merino classes at the Canterbury A. and P. Association's show in November. He is Mr T. McNeill, who is in charge of the famous Mungadel stud -owned by Mr Anthony Hordern at Hay. New South Wales. Mr McNeill win have a big job, as he will judge the whole of the three Merino sections The Mungadal stud is No. 15 in the flock book, and has performed consistently well at Australian shows for many years. The stud last year produced the championship strong combing rams, and the year before the reserve grand champion ram at the Sydney show. Australians have judged at Christchurch a number of times in the past, and one of their number was so taken with the country that he eventually settled in New Zealand.

SUB CLOVER IN FLOWER The recent mild weather has apparently convinced a subterranean clover giant at Ashley Dene that the winter i surely over, because it has started to flower. Sub does not usually start to flower until well on into the spring, and there is probably little hope that much will come of the effort the Ashley Dene individual is making.

MR ARTHUR WEBB

A great many people throughout Canterbury will have learned with, deep regret of the sudden death last week of Mr Arthur Webb, who for 55 years was connected with the New Zealand Refrigerating Company, most of that time as a buyer of stock, Mr Webb was credited with being the best judge of weights of sheep and lambs in the province, and held that reputation for many years. He began work with the Refrigerating Company in 1896 as a shepherd at Islington, after having done various jobs. He was born in Christchurch and had no experience of livestock, but very soon showed a particular aptitude with sheep and lambs. He began buying about 1897, and after a few years in other districts, began work in the Rakaia and Ashburton districts, where he continued his activities until four years ago. He bought at Addington for half a century, and was still actively engaged there up until the time of his death. He was an exceptionally competent judge of markets as well as of stock, but never used this ability to the detriment of farmers selling stock. Many auctioneers can recall occasions on which Arthur Webb, though virtually the only buyer at country sales, gave prices which were fair both to the producer and to his company. He was entirely wrapped up in his work, and during winter visits to Australia, which he made every year for many years, spent some of his time at the main Australian stock markets. He was a veteran of the Boer War, and took a prominent part in the affairs of the Veterans’ Association, one of his few interests outside his garden. In his earlier years he played football for the Albion Club. Very few men have bought more sheep and lambs. No exact tally of his purchases appears to have been kept after about 1931, when the figure stood at well above 6.000.000 head. An estimate places his purchases since then at another 4,000,000 at least, so that during his time he handled the immense total of upwards of 10000,000 head of sheep and lambs. His biggest year was 1910 when he took from Addington alone, 110 000 head, and a further 140,000 from the country. His’biggest day was in that year, when he bought 6500 lambs and 2000 sheep. When he retired after 50 years, from buying in the Rakaia district, it was suggested to him that he now probably knew practically all there was to know about buying. His reply was characteristic. “I might know a little,” he said, “but give me another 50 years and I would probably know a lot.” He had a keen memory, and when the bitter weather of this winter was being discussed, frequently recalled incidents from the winter of 1893, which he declared to have been much worse. Mr Webb is survived by his widow, a daughter, and two sons, Mr Roger Webb, who is farming on the Peninsula and Mr Derek Webb, who is a buyer for the Refrigerating Company.

The first place in the class for cows at the Grand National Fat Stock Show on Tuesday was won with an entry from Mr E. Mclntosh (Southbrook). On Wednesday the beast made £37, top price for the class.