DORSET HORN SHEEP.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 257, 23 July 1908, Page 3

DORSET HORN SHEEP.

[To the Editor, The Dominion.] ~ •Sirjr-In your issue of July 16 is. republished a letter .from " A New Zealand Subscriber," taken from the "Farmer and Stock Breeder," /making certain inquiries regarding Dorset Horn sheep,and stating that there are none of the breed in New Zealand.' This ;is incorrect. Mr. J;- Hibbs, of Jlethven, Canterbury,, and Mr. T. O. Hay, of Pigeon Bay,' Banks Peninsula, have had flocks of Dorset Horns for some'years past, and Mr. W. Lowrie, director of Lincoln College, imported several rams from South • Australia, which were used for crossing to produce fat lambs. • Thoy. are not considered a. success for the latter' purpose, as tho lambs aro too coarse, -or,- as an export buyer described them, they are ,too goaty." I believe tho breed has also beon introduced into Waikato. As to their having two crops of lambs'"in. the year, Mr. James Stuckey once informed me that it is willy old " cast" lines that aro usually bred from twice' in a year, the ewes being fattened .together with' the second lamb; and sold to the butcher. Even if Dorset Horns wero proof against dog worrying, which. I very much doubt, there are more 'suitable breeds .than .this to '.use in Nem Zealand. There would be more profit in using a Southdown ram on Romney Marsh owes even if there were a few losses through dogs.—l. am; etc., • .. . PRIME CANTERBURY. . July 21. , .