ROMNEY MARSH SHEEP

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 189, 9 May 1935, Page 5

ROMNEY MARSH SHEEP

Ram Lambs From Great

Britain

ARRIVAL AT WELLINGTON

Two Romney Marsh ram lambs from England—the first to be imported to New Zealand for many years—arrived by the Wanganeila from Sydney yesterday. The rams, which have been purchased through the stud stock department of the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Co., Ltd., for Mr. W. Rayner, of Masterton, arrived in splendid condition, and have now gone to Somes Island for the compulsory 28 days’ quarantine. Most of the leading English Romney studs were inspected before a final selection was decided on, one ram each being taken from the studs of J. Eger,ton Quested, Folkestone, Kent, and William Millar, Canterbury, Kent. Sheep from both these studs took practically all the prizes in the Romney section of tiie last English Royal Show. In the opinion of a noted English judge,, the ram lamb from Mr. Millar is one of the finest Romney youngsters seen for a long time. The Romney Marsh sheep, which is more popularly known in England as the Kent, owes, from tiie breeders’ viewpoint, less to artificial improvement than do most British breeds. The Romney has also probably the longest traceable history of any breed in Great Britain. In the corner of England, Kent, where the Romney has its home, sheep breeding was an important industry, even as far back as the time of the Crusaders. During the latter years of last century many Romneys were imported into New Zealand from England and Australia, and it is on the progeny of this hardy coustitutioned sheep that the majority of the New Zealand flocks are founded. Other breeds have been bred in, however, in an attempt to improve the breed, and the New Zealand Romney is now a type distinct from the English sheep. Some breeders have now decided that new English blood is required, and Mr. W. Rayner has, as ti result, purchased these two ram lambs.

Mr. W. D. Lysnar, of Gisborne, who has just returned from England, also purchased four Romney rams through the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Co., Ltd., with the same plan in view as Mr. Rayner. All his purchases are from the stud of J. Egertou Quested. Mr. Lysnar was fortunate enough to secure the English Royal Show champion, together with a son of the ram which was sold last year to the Argentine for £lOOO. He also purchased ewes so that he will be able (o breed purebred English stock at first hand. It will be most interesting to observe the results of these two breeders’ activities in endeavouring to promote'the welfare of the Romney Marsh . breed in New Zealand.