CORRIEDALES IN PERU

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27374, 12 June 1954, Page 5

CORRIEDALES IN PERU

NEW ZEALAND SHEEP WANTED A good opportunity for expanding sales of stud Corriedale sheep to Peru appears to exist, according to Mr H. C. A. Sidey, of Hawarden, who has just returned from a visit to Peru on behalf of the Corriedale Sheep Society. Almost all breeders in Peru were anxious to buy New Zealand sheep, he said.

“Sheep in Peru are practically all running on high country, up to 12,000 and 15,000 feet,” he said. “The pasture reminded me of the Mackenzie Country, or Central Otago. The breeds used are mainly Merinos and Corriedales. In central Peru, where pastures and farming conditions are better, a Corriedale-Romney cross is being introduced at the higher altitudes. Sheepowners are having difficulty in keeping sufficient length in their wool staple under their normal grazing conditions. Show sheep are in some cases exceptionally well fed and naturally they carry good fleeces.” The country as a whole was making rapid strides, with improved education, and hospital facilities as the main objectives of the Government, Mr Sidey said. With the marked improvement in living standards, the people were calling for more and better meat. The Government was encouraging a campaign to produce more meat, and the obvious answer was a tendency among producers to breed better-framed sheep. “There is a distinct desire among practically all Corriedale breeders to procure New Zealand Corriedales, provided transport costs are reasonable,’’ said Mr Sidey. “There appears to be a good opportunity for New Zealand breeders to expand their market for stud sheep if sufficient organising can be done. However, such countries as Argentina have a competitive advantage in transport costs. A ram can be flown from Buenos Aires for 120 dollars, and there is the added advantage that the sheep will spend only twe days travelling.”

Mr Sidey visited three haciendas (sheep stations) in southern Peru and was most impressed. One called Picotane is situated at an altitude of 15,000 to 16,000 feet and carries 69,000 sheep. This estate was very well equipped, had an up-to-date power plant of its own, and a modern woolshed with 20 electric shearing stands, he said. The manager, a Peruvian, was an outstanding man, and had succeeded in doubling the production of wool from the estate. Many landowners lived in the cities and took no part whatever in the management of their properties. The manager of Picotane made it a condition of taking the job that 80 per cent, of the profits were to be used on improvements to the estate, with splendid results.

Mr Sidey was very interested in the alpacas, which graze the country above 16,000 feet. The animals are clipped every two years to allow them to grow a good staple length, and are very profitable to their owners. The fibre they produce is worth four or five times the price of the same weight of wool. “Round Lima a huge flat desert area, all irrigated, appears ideal for the production of what is claimed to be some of the finest cotton in the world,” said Mr Sidey. “However, I was most impressed with the large numbers of good Friesian cattle I saw in that part of the country. I visited two dairy herds, each of approximately 2000 head, where the cattle were all hand fed throughout the year and given no grazing whatever. They were all in excellent condition and were high producers. I also saw the famous Chilion racing stud, which is situated in very picturesque surroundings. They appealed to be relying on importations of English and American blood to produce the best racehorses in Peru. . Racing in Lima appears to be becoming a big business and draws large crowds over the week-end. “In Lima it e never rains, and they rely solely on a huge irrigation system to water their gardens, lawns, and parks,” he said. “They were just going into the winter when I left,' but the effect in the better residential areas was. just like spring in Christchurch.”

GOOD PERFORMANCE The,ewes which topped the fouryear prices at this season’s North Canterbury fairs for G. A. McLean, Cotswold, at £5 6s are apparently good performers l on the farm as well as in the saleyard. The first draft of lambs from the flock this season went off the mothers at 3f1.51b. The draft was 127 and all went prime. The next lot, of 672, went into the works off feed, and averaged 41.61 b, and Included only 25 seconds. The performance is all the more meritorious 'in that the rams used on these Corriedale ewes were first cross Lincoln-Merino.