’2 m. More Sheep A Year’

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30364, 13 February 1964, Page 11

’2 m. More Sheep A Year’

(N.Z. Press Assn.—Copyright) HAMILTON, Feb. 12.

Preliminary economic investigations have indicated that the agricultural production increase in New . Zealand should be stepped up annually by some 5 per cent per year. Translated into sheep numbers, this involves an increase of some two million sheep a year. This was one of New Zealand’s greatest problems because sheep were the greatest money-earners for the country at present, said Mr F. R. Callaghan, a scientific adviser to the New Zealand Wool Board, at Ruakura today. Wool, he said, was facing increasing competition from synthetics. One of the best ways of meeting this competition was by increased sheep numbers. An annual increase of two million sheep was not impossible. It had been achieved last year. The big problem was to maintain such an annual increase over a long span of years.

The New Zealand Wool Board was seeking some guidance as to the research that should be undertaken to promote the production, of more wool.

An approach had been made to the New Zealand Society of Aniimal Production, and the • society had agreed to arrange a symposium at its present annual conference at Ruakura. During this symposium leaders in sheep and wool research would give addresses reviewing the work already in progress and indicating lines along which this could be extended to increase wool production.' The Wool Board offered to assist -the society in bringing a guest speaker to its conference from. Australia. Accordingly, an invitation had been extended to Dr. G. R. Moule, who was recently appointed director of production research for the Aus-

tralian, Wool Board. He was a recognised authority with a very wide knowledge of sheep and wool production research and extension in Australia.

The aniimal production society had invited Professor B. P. Philpott, professor of agricultural economics, Lincoln College, to outline the economic problems associated with wool production, and Professor A. L. Care, professor of sheep husbandry, Massey University College, to deal with breeding and genetical problems. Mr W. A. Tepunga, scientific officer, Wallace ville animal research staton, had been asked to talk on disease problems of sheep, Professor I. E. Coop, professor of animal science, Lincoln, would deal with nutrition and Dr. J. K. Dixon, director of the soil bureau, with soil problems associated with the carrying of extra Sheep numbers.