HOW FARE THE SHEEP?

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1262, 18 October 1911, Page 10

HOW FARE THE SHEEP?

' MINISTER FOK AGRICULTURE'S VIEWS. la the opinion of tlio Minister for Agriculture, as expressed in the annual report of tlie Department, the general health of tho sheep of tlio Dominion is satisfactory. Tho lato autumn of 1910 was remarkable in some districts for a high degree of moisture, which led to rank pastures of a washy nature, providing little nourishment, and consequently not enabling the young sheep to get a good start—to lay the foundation of a robust constitution. Tlio peuentage of losses was in consequence heavier than usual, and tho hoggets raised bad in too mauy cases not the character or vigour they should havo had for the malcing of satisfactory breeding stock. This experience, and tho shortage of feed_ last autumn, point to the necessity of farmers providing some spccial dry feed for their young stock, in order that these may have every opportunity of developing into sound, vigorous sheep. "Half tho breeding goos down the inouth," is a saying which applies with sjiccial force 111 this case. Tho question is one which demands the earnest attention of all sheepmen. Tlioro has been no disease to si:oak of, apart from those troubles which may be satisfactorily overcome by proper management of tho Hock. With tho increased attention being paid to longwool sheep in Australia, the exportation of stud sheep irom this country must increase both in volume and The Hock-book societies havo not as yet instituted anv system of inspection of sheep when exported as representative ot the pure breeds, and in vie;r„oi tho developing trade with Australia the necessity of tho inspection of stud sliceo becomes very great, as the trade mnsi sutler, nnd gnod breeders lje handicapped, if inferior sheep nro. sold to Australian farmers as bcinif trpical of tlie poui e rco stock of this country.