SHEEP-BREEDING.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1492, 15 July 1912, Page 8

SHEEP-BREEDING.

THE TEAK 01TIC1ALLY JtEVIEWED. Referring to sheep-breeding ii) the annual report of the JJpptirtiuent of Agriculture, the Hon. T. .Mackenzie says that from the sheep farmer's point of viciv (he past j-car was not altogether a favourable out. While the values of his produce were on a fuirly satisfactory plane, there was a shortage of pruritic! ion,, due in the main to adverse climatic conditions. The annual sheep returns show the.total.number of sheep in the country to be 23,0!)(i,12(i, a decrease of 27»,4!M oh the figures for tho previous year. 'I'lif decrease in breeding owes wiis no less than 191,0(10. This must obviously mean a corresponding decline in lainb 'production, the decline being further accentuated by unfavourable weather in the spring, causing a. falling off in the percentage of lniribs produced. Tile wet spring, following n winter notable for the shortness of feed available, had a marked effect on the quality and quantity of the wool produced. Owing to the unfavourable nature of the weather in the final months of last year, stock was late in reaching a saleable condition, which makes an estimate of the shortage a matter of more than usual difficulty. In order that better knowledge may be disseminated of the importance of maintaining our Hocks at a high tlandard,'of providing against adverse seasons, and generally of feeding and managing them to advantage, the field officers of the Live Stock and Meat Division are being encouraged to take up the study of such matters in_ order to be in a position tc render assistance of an advisory nature to settlers, especially small holders and othere who have not hod.the benefit of a practical training in sheep breeding. While the weather conditions of the past year made a heavy toll on the, flocks, it is satisfactory to know that the general health of the fheep has been gmid, and that New Zealand continues (o onjhy immunitv from any ."prions disease, owing principally to the' vigilance exercised by tlio Agricultural Department in preventing the intnduction of any animals likely to bring infection with them.