Eighteen breeds of sheep on show

Press, 8 November 1978, Page 26

Eighteen breeds of sheep on show

Eighteen breeds of sheep will be represented at this year’s Canterbury show. For variety, the sheep section is unsurpassed by any show m New Zealand, and in numbers it remains the largest sheep exhibition in the world. Although numbers have dropped by 400 on those of last year, when the Royal was held, they are higher than those of the last comparable show in 1976. An interesting aspect is that the three fine-wool breeds — Merino, Halfbred and Corriedale — have

shown a rise on last year’s Royal Show total. Friesians will again dominate the dairy section with 324 of the 490 entries, and Herefords have again drawn the largest entry' in the beef section. They will account for 59 of the 144 entries. A break-down of the list is:— SHEEP 1978 1977 1976 Merino 160 143 170 Halfbred 27 27 24 Corriedale 296 286 284 Border Leicester 142 161 120

English Leicester 32 31 38 Lincoln 10 . Romney103 289 105 Cheviot 20 68 33 Perendale 41 /£) 36 Poll Dorset 150 173 164 Dorset Horn 11 18 14 Southdown 99 163 103 South Suffolk 116 113 106 Suffolk 126 112 60 South Dorset Down 65 71 63 Dorset Down 121 142 116 Hampshire 70 131 91 Ryeland 19 24 27 Totals: 1605 2037 1554