THE SHEEP "FAKER."

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1067, 4 March 1911, Page 4

THE SHEEP "FAKER."

The letter from Mr. H. G. Williams which wo publish on our Farm Page to-day raises a very important question. Everyone who attends our agricultural and pastoral shown and who is at all interested in stock knows something of what goes on in the way of preparing sheep for show purposes, and p.-ohahly suspects a great deal more. The point of most interest in Mr. Williams's letter is the effect which the granting of awards to "faked" stud sheep may have in inducing farmers to . purchase from the Euccessful breeders for stud and flock purposes. The awards of the agricultural and pastoral societies undoubtedly influence, even if they may not sot a standard, for sheep-breeders; and if awards go to the most artistic faker rather than to the breeder of the best sheep, cither the value of the awards or the value of our flocks must deteriorate. It docs not necessarily follow that "faked" sheep are not good shcep_; the point is that they are not submitted for test under conditions which will best enable the actual merits'of the sheep entered for competition to be determined. The subject is not a new one, but it is one that has been shirked by most of the agricultural and pastoral societies. Me. Williams's outspoken • letter should do good in assisting to force the_ matter on the attention of the Bocicfcies in such a way as to compel them to give it their serious attention.