THE ROMNEY CROSS

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 194, 12 May 1924, Page 8

THE ROMNEY CROSS

IS IT DETRIMENTALLY AF FECTING NEW ZEALAND WOOL? ENGLISH CRITICISM In commenting editorially upon Air. F. A. Akroyd’s recent declaration concerning the alleged faulty character of wool produced from crossbred sheep sired by a Romney ram, the Bradford “AA r ool Record” says that to some it may seem strange that hitherto little or nothing has been said in p-üblio upon tho subject. ‘■‘lf the general opinion of u~?rs in this country,” proceeds the journal, “agrees with that expressed by Air. Akroyd—and lie states there is not a single wool merchant in Bradford who will not support his contention—it is obviously time that something should be dona to bring the matter to _ the notice of New Zealand pastoralists, inasmuch as the Romney breed ana its crosses exercise a tremendous influence on the flocks throughout the Dominion. According to an official return, there were 23,081,000 sheep iu New Zealand when the census of slock was taken last April. Stud sheep entered in flock books totalled 312.467, and of these no fewer than 134,787 were purebred Romney sheep. In fact, Romneys far overshadowed in point of numbers any other pure breed, tho next largest being Corriedales, with a total of 37,315, while among the English breeds Southdowns came next with a total of 28,000. Turning to what are described as distinctive breeds not entered in flock books, we find that of a total of 6,353,150 sheep so enumerated, the Romney' breed heads the list with no fewer than 2,965,240 sheep, half-brods following with a total of 1,314,300. To what ' extent Romney blood is present in these halfbreds it is impossible to say, but it seems ceitain from the great popularity of the breed in the Dominion that a very number must have the Romney blood in a greater or lesser degree. The official return also shows that there were 16,415,800 crossbreds and other sheep pot otherwise enumerated, and here again it may be assumed that a considerable proportion will have been bred from Romneys or from Romney crosses. “Th« figures prove conclusively that the Kent or Romney Alarsh breed of sheep has become very firmly established in New Zealand, and if the extensive use of rams is having the bad effect upon the clip that Air. Akroyd claims, it is manifestly’ a matter of the greatest importance, not only to users,_ but to pastoralists as well. . . . This criticism is so devastating that the matter can hardly be allowed to drop now that attention lias been directed to it. Air. Akroyd suggests that the AVensleydale cross would give a much better result so far as the fleece is concerned, and he also advocates the greater use of the Corriedale. The latter, of course, is a magnificent dual-purpose sheep, producing a most excellent fleece, which is largely taking the place of tho half-breed wool which formerly constituted an important part of the New Zealand clip. The Wensleydale, on the other hand, is comparatively little known beyond the North of England. In its own district it does exceedingly well, and the pure-bred rams are 'largely used for crossing on the blackface ewe. It is hardly to be expected that New Zealand sheep breeders will be prepared to abandon the Romney, but it may be posible, by exercising greater care in the selection of stud stock, to eliminate the defects in the wool which Air. Akroyd asserts are doing so much harm to the clip of the Donl inion.”