THE "FAKING" OF SHEEP.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1082, 22 March 1911, Page 8

THE "FAKING" OF SHEEP.

.V'A-MAXAWATII MAN'S OPINION. ; ,; lii' a. letter, to the . Manawatu _ "Stand'afd,"- on the'subject of sheep inking;' ill , . K:.Mackay says that "faking" does take place, to a certain extent, for the purpose 'of hiding defects in tho formation of the animal, and also with a'view to improv;ihg tho fleece as well, but primarily to deceive .the , unwary. Proceeding,' he say*: ' "The" Romhey, specially, and other broods of long wools arc apt to be low .shouldered, and sometimes faulty in the spring of the rib. These defects can ba hidden or. improved by the shears in the hand of an expert by leaving a certain amount 'of wool to hide these defects. But let the iiovico or amateur-breeder understand that: weak parts or 'faked , parts will not grow any longer wool in a given time than ■the rest of the fleece,'and there you have the detection of the 'fake" in'a nutshell. To tha expert this matter is quite clear and understandable. Another very im- . portant point is evenness of fleece, and no : "fako' in the world can hide this defect ; from the expert, but tha novice'cannot , . ■ observe this, for as soon as ho can detect tmeveriness of fleece he passes out of the ! "novice class." ... , As,to feeding, the writer says: The ' best breeder is the best feeder. To com- .. .pete successfully in the show ri.n" it is absolutely necessary to feed well, ■ not sheep alone, but cattle, and horses. How- : ever, overfeeding is often indulged in to ' the detriment of the exhibit in both .sheep ■ and cattle, and especially sheep. I have .noticed the ctTect of over-teeding, artificially, .in at least two .cases at the Palinerston Show, which most certainly did not,'improve the exhibits referred to. •Rich, .pastures. make rich-looking wool, .■w.hereas high and cole! country, has a 'tendency to make light, white, and fluffy . .wool;'-and to compete with animals from more, favoured localities artificial feedine ' has to. ba resorted to. In fact, almost all "Mow;animals'are artificially fed, therefore I would place,no restriction on. feedi irig.. To illustrate my meaning.- Who Would take a horse out of the paddock to : compete in the Melbourne Cup without the necessary, preparation. • Even a Carbine v woukl tail, the ruck." Writing of colouring, he fays: "This is : a i.harmless bit of "diversion, which -may : impose on the novice, but certainly, not ' on tho expert, and this colouring is often, so much overdone as to detract from tne appearance of the sheep so coloured. Now, ,ns to the Tfimedy agniiut 'faking.' First: :• Procure tho very best judge available. •Second: Dp not burden said.judge with : a pluraiity'of rules. One emphatic rule is i.e.,. to instruct the jutlne or : judges to pass over all exhibits which are 'faked' (no faking will deceive _ a good : judge). Leave this matter entirely to him, without any restrictions. When exhibitors fully realise this the practice will be materially checked, or stamped out ■ Altogether." • ■■' .