More Hampshire Studs Formed

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32143, 12 November 1969, Page 33

More Hampshire Studs Formed

The Hampshire Down breed of sheep in New Zealand continues to progress, the demand for both ewes and rams, particularly flock sires for crossing with long-wool ewes, far exceeding the supply.

Since the last Flock Book was published in 1968 the number of new studs registered has increased by 12— from 50 to 62—and the number of breeding ewes now exceeds 3000. About twothirds of the registered flocks are in the South Island, chiefly Canterbury, but there is increasing interest in the breed in the North Island. The British strain of Hampshires, used as a mutton type, is the most popular breed in the United States of America. The registration of 30,000 stud ewes is three times higher than all other mutton breeds combined. At the Californian ram sale this year—the largest ram fair staged in America —the average price for 601 Hampshire Down sires sold was 3124.33. The economic aspect of the purebred Hampshire Down sire is now being readily appreciated by prime lamb producers. This raises the question as to why this particular breed has been absent from the New Zealand farming scene until recent years. One of the largest breeders of Hampshires in the South Island who has adopted a policy of supplying only regular clients, says he has few opportunities to en-

k large his range of purchase ers, or take more orders s- from long-standing buyers. It is claimed that the 1- value of the Hampshire v Down sire lies in its ability >- to impart quick-maturing d propensities to it’s “get,” b and at heavier weights, r, Prime lamb producers are I 1- finding that the Hampshire e cross lamb is a particularly | good doer. f An indication of the I- value of the breed as a sur- >• plus sales proposition was 3 given at the Christchurch I !■ stud ram fair in January of s this year when R. J. 3 Knowles and Son (Palmer-; s ston) offered for the first! time at auction a line of a 25 shearling ewes from ] t their Glendaran stud. I a The strength of the bid-| 1 ding left no doubt about the d demand for the breed and all were sold for an aver-1 ' age of more than $2OO. The I e top price was $350, paid byl 8 G. N. Walsh, of Otorohanga, j F for a ewe. At the end of the j s sale he had five Glendarran] “ ewes for his stud. 1 Other buyers were R. J. I e Gillespie and Son and W. 1 Poppe (six each), G. T. I- Maxwell and D. R. Gollan e (two each) and C. Mung nings, K. Robertson, W. T. e Thayer and K. J. Jardyne b (singles).