Warning about producing too many rams

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33815, 11 April 1975, Page 7

Warning about producing too many rams

A warning against over-production of rams was given by the president. Mr A. M. Saunders, in his report to the annual meeting of the Corriedale Sheep Society this week.

With the very sharp downturn in the economy it had been a difficult year for those engaged in livestock breeding, Mr Saunders said. “With ewe numbers declining it is very evident that too many rams are being bred, particularly in fat lamb breeds. This should be a warning, and to avoid this happening to our own breed a more vigorous culling programme would also lead to a much higher standard within the breed,” he said. Mr Saunders, who was re-elected president for a further term at a meeting of the council which foliowed the annual meeting, appealed for more support for the society’s merit ewe scheme in the interests of this year's Christchurch show, which will precede the sixth world conference of the breed at Lincoln College.

Although the merit ewe class had created a lot of interest, with very good entries at the 1973 show, he said it had been alarming to see the entry fall by more than 50 per cent at last year’s show. Some overseas countries were very interested in this scheme, and so he appealed to breeders to make an extra effort for this year’s show.

Mr Saunders said that quite a large sum of money had been collected in the form of levies on export sheep in the last year and this had come at an appropriate time with the world conference of the breed to be held in November.

Mr J. F. G. Blakely, who is the convenor of committees making arrangements for the conference and who will preside over it, reported on progress for this meeting. He noted that the first world conference had been

held 25 years ago this November "in the memorial hall at Lincoln College where they met this week, but for this year’s conference they had been offered the use of the Gillespie memorial hall at the college and all of the facilities that went with it. The conference, he said, would be held on Monday and Tuesday, November 17 and 18, following the Christchurch show.

Three papers would be presented on the, first day. One of these would be by Mr P. N. Martin, a former president of the society, on the society’s merit scheme. Professor A. E. Henderson, professor of wool science at the college, would also speak on wool measurement and its relationship with marketing, and the third paper — “we have got the subject we think and the man we think but we have not asked him yet,” said Mr Blakely.

That evening the Mayor of Christchurch, Mr Hay. would give a civic reception. The second day of the! conference would start ! with an open forum on the! influence of the Corriedale breed in the pastoral in-l dustries of the countries represented at the confer-’ ence.

It would be led off by! Mr D. L. Ensor, a former! president of the New Zea-| land society, and Mr Blake-! ly said it was hoped that! each delegation would contribute to it. This would be 1 followed by a general dis-1 cussion.

A further paper would be given by Mr M. E. A. Cartridge, a veterinary sur-J geon of Waikari, who has' done a great deal of work! on the incidence of bru-! cella ovis and testing for! it.

There would finally be a general discussion, and while as yet no formal remits had been received

Mr Blakely said he understood that several problems had been discussed at a preliminary conference of Latin American breeders in Punta Arenas in Chile recently and he was certain that matters would also be raised bv the

Australians. Each country was entitled to send five delegates to the conference, he said, and as many observers as they might wish could also attend, and he asked that as many New Zealand members as possible should attend — the fee would be $5 for a single person or $7.50 for two, which included morning and afternoon teas and lunches. The official conference dinner would be held on the final night of the conference — on November 18. On the Saturday preceding the conference visitors would be taken to see studs in the Ashburton area and on the Sunday similar visits would be made to studs in North Canterbury. Mr Saunders said that the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association were being most co-

operative and there would be a caravan and marquee and also president's tent on the grounds. The results of the election for seven vacancies on the council, for which there were nine nominations, were reported during the meeting. The successful candidates were Messrs F. E. Booker, D. L. Ensor. R. -Reid, R. Robinson, Saunders and J. D. Sidey and Professor A. E. Henderson. Later the council elected Mr J. D. Sidey to be senior vice-president and Mr R. Robinson junior vice president for the coming year. Mr Saunders in his report referred to the death of Mr J. H. Grigg, of Longbeach, a former president, councillor and life member of the society. In the course of time, by careful husbandry and selection Longbeach sheep had gained an international reputation, he said. Their most outstanding features had been the quality of their heads, their pigmentation and their ears. Reference was also made to service given to the society by Mr Martin, who is no longer breeding Corriedales.