SOUTHDOWNS IN FRANCE, U.K., U.S.A.

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31215, 12 November 1966, Page 10

SOUTHDOWNS IN FRANCE, U.K., U.S.A.

“TT appears to me that In all A mutton and lamb-producing countries the Southdown has had a similar experience—many other breeds are tried but invariably a return is made to the Southdown because of (1) lambing percentages, (2) quality, (3) the Southdown flourishes in almost any climate, and (4), most important, the return per acre,” says Mr S. I. McKenzie, secretary of the Southdown Sheep Society of New Zealand, in a report on a visit he made recently to Southdown associations or societies in France, Great Britain and the United States. Of 8 million ewes in France, Mr McKenzie said that 600,000 were of the Southdown type and there were also a few Suffolks and Hampshires. There were about 75 registered Southdown flocks averaging 100 sheep. The history of the Southdowns in France was not unliks that of the breed history in New Zealand. It seemed that sheep bred by Jonas Webb had been imported in 187? and had since been used for crossing with various types of large French breeds, but they also used Southdowns alone for meat and it seemed that quite a fair percentage were used in this way. Their manuals described the Southdown as the ideal for the butcher.

One of the farms that he had visited had a flock of 100 ewes and the fanner had informed him that he had 170 lambs at birth and 150 at weaning. The high lambing

percentage was one of their main selling points. Mr McKenzie said that the French had indicated that they were looking for a heavier and larger sheep. The English rams, they said, were not tall enough and they were interested in importing New Zealand rams if they were sure that they could get the size.

In Britain Mr McKenzie was interested in how three rams imported into Britain from New Zealand were faring. The rams had arrived in Britain early in July and had been shown at the Kent County show on July 12 and 13. This had been most unfortunate as apparently the rams had had a long and bad journey and were in poor condition. They were seen by quite a number of English Breeders, who it seemed did not get a good impression; but it had been made known, however, that a month later they could not be recognised as the same sheep, and those who had since inspected them were very satisfied. They were now very pleased with their condition and appearance and indicated that the New Zealand sheep were longer than the English but not higher in the leg.

Three Farms

The sheep were being housed at three different farms and 126 ewes would be mated with the three rams. “I was informed that there has been some competition from some other breeds because the sheep are larger, but as it has now been proved that they do not give the same monetary return, many who changed are returning to the Southdown,” said Mr McKenzie.

“The problem of rejuvenating the Southdown, which had a set-back during the war years, seems to have been substantially overcome. The membership is growing steadily, prices have been more buoyant and a number of sheep have been sold to France. A few months ago 165

ewes and some rams were also sold to Portugal.” In the United States, Mr McKenzie said, the American Southdown Breeders’ Association had about 1500 members but only about 500 of these had registered flocks.

Mr McKenzie attended the Ohio State Fair and was the speaker at the Southdown breeders’ banquet The fair was claimed to be the largest in the world, he said. The facilities at the Columbus fair grounds were enormous and would make any agricultural and pastoral association official envious. The sheep were housed in pens in one large building, which he would estimate would be 400 ft by 160 ft. The roof was constructed on a tier system to allow’ for light and so the centre was sufficiently high to allow a mezzanine floor, which in turn provided sleeping quarters for those attending the sheep. Judging was done in a large central ring with ample tiered seating for spectators. The fair lasted for 12 days and it was estimated that the attendance would be nearly 1.5 million (at one dollar each admission).

“Tidiness and decorations around the sheep pens are encouraged and three prizes are awarded. .. . The society also appointed a beauty queen whose job on the Saturday was to hand out the ribbons at the conclusion of the judging of each section. The queens are selected from daughters of Southdown breeders.

“Judging took some considerable time as in every class not only is first, second and third selected, but all sheep in the competition are lined up according to the judge’s decision. ... All sheep are led into the ring. . . . “For the lamb carcase evaluation, the best carcase in each breed is given a prize and, in addition, there is a grand champion and reserve grand champion. These two champions are judged from all breeds, and it will be noted that the Southdowns won the

two champion prizes. “Following the competition the prize winning carcases are sold by auction and invariably they are purchased by a restaurant or chain store for advertising value in having a prize carcase. The grand champion lamb was sold for 670 dollars and the reserve grand champion for 1200 dollars.

“Lambs slaughtered are graded by the Department of Agriculture and it would appear that a few years ago the system was changed and it now favours the larger lamb rather than quality. As each lamb costs the same to process, the meat packers are inclined to favour weight rather than quality and this, together with the grading system, has favoured the larger breeds.

Artificial

“The Department of Agriculture and the society running the fairs, together with meat packers, subsidise the fairs, so that the price paid for the carcases in these competitions is artificial, and it is this that is creating a demand for the Southdown. The Southdown invariably wins this competition. With good prizes and the possibility of a good additional bonus for the carcase sold at auction, Southdowns become very popular in this field but find it more difficult to compete in the everyday commercial markets where size and weight, rather than quality, is influencing the grading.”

Mr Mackenzie said that the Punchbowl ram lambs from the ewes purchased by Dr. L. B. Huff had been auctioned in June, when 24 lambs averaged 648.96 dollars and sold for a total of 15,575 dollars. Atahua I sold for 700 dollars. The sale was an American record and the highest priced lamb was sold for 1500 dollars.

Like the English, the American breeders were endeavouring to increase the size of their sheep and all appeared to be interested and keen to see the result of the New Zealand sheep.