THE "FAKING" OF SHEEP.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1075, 14 March 1911, Page 8

THE "FAKING" OF SHEEP.

MR.-ROBERT COBB'S OPINION. [To the Editor.] Sir,—Now that the above subject has been pretty well threshed out through your columns by many of tho exhibitors of sheep at our A. and P. shows, may I be allowed to give my opinion? You will notice that'the pros and. cons aro about equal. This has been ever so, aud I think ever will. The subject is by no means a new'one. It has been a bono of contention sinco the days when'l was a boy in the Old Country, and used to watch the stud shepherd trimming up the Royal Show sheep for Mr. 11. Rigden, a neighbour of- "ours, at Ivyehurch, Ronincy Marsh, who exported the first of that breed to New Zealand, or at any rate to the North Island, for the lato Mr. Ludlam, of the Lower Hutt. My father was one of thoso who objected to, and refrained fromj exhibiting sheap for that very same reason, although Eigden himself and most of '■ the noted Romney breeders at that timo went to his flock for a- change ;of blood. Mr. Kigden's contention- was :.that you cannot make a silken purse from a sow's ear. Neither can you stick on one:'staple of wool that is not grown by tho individual animal. Consequently ■it.is not possible to deceive a. judge—if -he is a judge—by ringing in a sheep not worthy of a prize, and unless a sheep is 6horn it is impossible,-to hide coarse wool by clipping, or-the presenco-of hemp. -. True, the length of staple may appear i longer by early shearing or clipping lato iin the season when, owing to spring .6hows, it is impossible to shear at the right time. But" I contend that no judge, should be influenced by this, as we all ■know that the.length of. staplo in any sheep is much affected by the manner, in which the animal'is fed and-its environment during the winter- months. Again, by the practise of clipping it is possible to shapo a sheep for the autumn shows, w> that many defects in its conformation can be hidden from .the inexperienced eye, but tho careful handling of an expert reveals any malformation or weak points in symmetry. Tho example quoted in Mr. W. H. Buick's remarks; published in the farming columns of The Dominion - of Friday last, does not at all prove the existence of unfair shearing, when he states thai some particular exhibit had "variation in length of staple quite apparent to the naked eye, without the assistance of a rule," because most sheep-breeders know that tho fleece of a sheep varies considerably in length on different parts of the pelt;; but he is taking a'step in the right direction wheii he suggests "the advisability of employing stipendiary judges." This I have advocated for many years, but so long as tho system of A. and P. committees appointing judges for each other's shows from their own staffs exists, so long shall we see thp errors of judgment frequently cropping' up, and hear the scathing remarks of outsiders. , It does not at all follow that becaiiso" a man is a' stiid breeder of any particular stock he must necessarily be capable of judging between the merits of- variations in the breed, any more than a good pianist must be a qualified teacher of music. I am convinced that we shall never <:et universal satisfaction over ■ tho awards at our A. and P. shows until a judge is appointed by each Breeders' Association, calling for applications by advertisement through the' principal • newspapers. Tho successful applicant would bo required to go the round of tho shows in whichever island he is located, and to receive, an adequate salary, contributed by each A. and P. committee. Such a man should be capable of judging, "on points," which, if ticketed on each pen; would be an object lesson to tho public, and prove whether he -understood his business and is a capablo judge. I fancy he would agree with me when I say that it Ms farcical to disqualify the best sheep in a show because its owner happens to have "tampered with its fleece." Surely- that can bo neither just to the animal nor instructive to the public. Again, I ask, why should one be debarred from using oil to exhibit his sheep in the most attractive form, any more than thfi owner of show cattle or horses? Without the public wo cannot carry on our shows, and therefore it behoves each exhibitor to do his best in bringing out the superior qualities of his exhibit. This question was threshed out by us (the then existing committee of the Mariawatu and West Coast A. and P. Association) some, ten or twelve years ago, and the majority wore inclined to give a trial to restricting exhibitors from entering sheep which had been "prepared" for exhibition, with. the result that tho entries rapidly decreased, and although thO judge did his work conscientiously, many were of the opinion that some of the prize sheep, were not naturally exhibited. Subsequently we decided-to adopt the rule, so long established in England, of go as you please." In conclusion, may I be allowed to insinuate'that, in the majority of cases you will find, as wo did, that the objectors .were unsuccessful exhibitors who wero seeking a plausiblo excuse, or who were deficient in enterprise or knowledco ot how to go and do likewise."—l am, etc.,' ROBEET COBB. " Manawatu, March 10, 1911. ; -WAIEABAPA VIEWS. "Sheepfarmer" writes to tho Wairarana Age on the subject, and in his letter says: "I have read Mr. William Perry's remarks upon this subject, and I cannot sufficiently condemn every -one of them Mr. John Bidwill is absolutely correct and we.all have to thank Jlr. H. G Williams for-.calling attention to- this important matter. A good name for the takers is stucco sheep breeders.' Many buildings in England are erected in stucco (imitation stone), and tho fakers imitate, with their bad arts, what a good flFieep should be. ..." Another correspondent of the "A"o" asks: \Vho are these irresponsible lunatics, who have the audacity to try and rob honest men of their livin" 5 " Ho proceeds: "I have been at tho business now for. many years, aud am an expert at trimming' and oiling. I defy any honourable one. .Why, I have been trim- !*' D ?. aml °£ n ?- fo *' ""Sions men and members of Parliament,- and all the most upright and .conscientious men who grow wool. . . 'Live and let live' is my motto. S.?f ilml t gOI J If J to . hve if this innocent practice of trimming nn d oiling s stopped? And how will the breeders be getting along?" "What would happen if sheep wero shown at our agricultural shows in their natural condition?" This was a question put to a prominent pastoralist on Saturday by a.representative of. tho ."Am" The answer was: "The shows would bo dead m a-coup!e of years, because peop e would not go to see them "