THE BREEDING OF SHEEP.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 773, 23 March 1910, Page 10

THE BREEDING OF SHEEP.

:■■': ;HASTINGS DEMONSTRATION. . .Though not many people .went;: to hear it, much valuable information.' on wooMassiiig and sheep-breeding was given at the demonstration held- on '■.the Hastings show ground on_Friday last.- After -the -instructor / Technical.School, .Mr. !S. • Woqds',..'had given a practical ■ demonstration of . wool-classing, the different breeds-of sheep were examined and contrasted, ■and their 3trong and weak points'explained, by a number of-recognised, authorities. . . ; Mr; G. Elliott demonstrated' with . .Lincolns (rams), stating that, the type at.' his disposal' wcro not good'. The wool should be fairly' even '.with' lustre and a'high-class sheep, had a waive-in the wool, with square, tips. ' '.They should.possess a good dark ear, with "a fair bone, whilst-the back should be Bound, "showing good wool. The principal thing in the\brced was-the, weight of the'fleece. The topknot showed--the wool-carrying' capacity and indicated, if the; wool would' stick on. in rough country. The sheep required a.favour-able-situation, climate and good feed. :'Dealing with Border Leicesters (rams)' Mr. Elliott said that the sheep ■ befpro: liihi were .not as good as -ho \vou\d have ■ liked. The. breed. should '.have a dark nose with white sharp ears/hare flat bones and bare head. Constitution was judged .. by ".'the decided .masculine build, well spun rib and bold head, .with weir set neck and lustre and brightness in the wool. The. •.-breed stood the-flats well and were not subject to foot rot. He advocated crossing with 'Lincolns to produce a .good mutton sheep and a quick developer •■ on■: good land: Ho would not advise a fine fleece for rough .country;:. Mr. - George Wheeler (Halcombe), speaking on Knmnoys (rams) and-ad- 1 ■ dressing himself especially to the young . lirccHcrsj- stated that, about oO years ago 1 Jr. 'Webster, in the South Island, and .Mrs. Ludlam, in the North .Island, introduced the Koimiey to New . Zca-

land. .'i'hc supply .of pure-bred rains 'was now limited, -'and tindoubtcdly. a great, many' grade ranis were - used. 'I'heso .caused disappointment owing to thoir light.deuces,, ami, as, about this time, there was a,mote abundant supply 'of good Lincoln rams, the Komney, came under a cloud, for somo' years. Those. -.vlio stack to. , the Ramney found their, faith justified, ' '.but he did not think Romneys wore the only sheep for .New'.Zealand. Roiuneys could not be grown ..on Southdown country; but thu I Komney was an adaptablo breed, and this was what made it so valuable. He thought _ that the lesson for breeders was to improve -their sheep as evenly «s possible without undue prominence to :a\\oo] or-flesh.,-A well-bred ,Roniney grew both wool ainl mutton, and they should be. careful to preserve both attributes. - The Roiimey was .to bo found lrom end to end of New Zealand, over 10. degrees of latitude, and great varieties of climate, so it would not: be possible to grow the same ilfieco ' from cni to' eri'l of New r Zealand. ■'..■■ <'Speakiug;.oii Shropshire. Downs, .Mr. R. 11. ■ Pitt said that the head should be fine, small, and broad, nostrils wide and • extended and eyes prominent, .short '.arid', tape-ring |ncck, broad and full' shoulders .'joinihgnho back .without a droop, brisket broad and forward, keeping theVfore legs well apart, lino of belly straight, upright legs with stout,.; ; .bjin<>s "covered .with ; soft black wool-or vhair-i' uroad' , and straight .back "with 'well sprung . arched riba; long, broad, ' and ' straight haunches, carrying mutton to the nocks; hind 'legsffwell apart without being bowed $ skin bright pink, dark skin a fault; the fleece should be" dense, fine, and even,'..free from breechiness and coarseness and without serration. The breed was very prolific, ..ISO. per cent, not being uncommon;. .'. .'.' . : .