Continued Demand For Corriedales Predicted

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30826, 11 August 1965, Page 6

Continued Demand For Corriedales Predicted

The good carcases or conformation of New Zealand Corriedale sheep would maintain the demand for them in those overseas markets, including South America, where meat was wanted, said Mr Jorges Menendez, a member of a well-known family of South American sheepfarmers, in an interview in Christchurch. Their conformation and heads made New Zealand Corriedales outstanding, he said. Mr Menendez, who has come to New Zealand after attending the fourth World Corriedale Conference in Melbourne, farms about 100,000 acres in Argentina, Chile, and Patagonia with three brothers. They run about 80,000 sheep. A cousin, Mr Carlos Menendez, who is also visiting New Zealand, is the president of a company of 10 brothers who farm properties running about 600.000 sheep. Mr Jorge Menendez said that his grandfather, Mr Jose Menendez, in 1907 imported the first Corriedale into South America. Since then, he said, they had continued to be in contact with leading New Zealand studs such as Hui Hui, Bushey Park, Craig-lea, and Longbeach in the interests of improving their stock. His grandfather, who was Patagonia’s greatest pioneer, had fanned 1.3 m acres in Argentina, Chile, and Patagonia. He had received great help from men from Scotland, the Falkland Islands, and New Zealand who had acted as his farm managers. Mr Menendez said that they looked to New Zealand as a

model of good stock management and land and soil improvement, and it was their aim that their country should be like New Zealand. With its wonderful roads and communications and high standard of living New Zealand had a wonderful record of achievement in a relatively short space of time, he said. “We have a great admiration for your country, and we would like to copy you.” In the party is also Mr Salvador Pintos (Uruguay) and Mrs Francisco Braun, who was secretary to the Argentine and Chilean delegations to the Corriedale conference.