A CRITICAL MARKET

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 234, 1 July 1939, Page 4 (Supplement)

A CRITICAL MARKET

Quality Rams For The Argentine LINCOLNS IN DEMAND In an endeavour to improve the type of sheep bred in the Argentine breeders who have been in the habit of purchasing in the New Zealand market are now becoming extremely critical and more exacting in their specification for top-quality sires, all of which must pass rigid examinations before South American breeders will make purchases. Recent cabled advice received from Buenos Aires indicates that there is at present a strong demand for rams of the best quality in Lincoln, Corriedale, Southdown and Romney breeds, and the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Limited, has in consequence made arrangements witli a number of the leading breeders of these sheep in New Zealand to forward a consignment for sale in the Argentin by the Port Sydney, which.left Wellington last week for Montevideo, Included in this consignment are a number of high-class Lincoln rams bred by Mr. Rayner, Masterton; Mr. L. R. Wilton, Rangitumau, Masterton; and Mr. W. M. Bishell, “Caythorpe,” Blenheim. For many years the Lincoln breed has been in request in the Argentine, where these sheep now number 14,000,000. In the early days of settlement in the Hawke’s Bay, Manawatu and Poverty Bay districts particularly, the Lincoln became very prominent for stocking heavy grass pastures following the felling of bush and the laying down of English grasses. Later, with the advent of refrigeration, it was found that the Romney breed was more suited to these districts. and the Lincoln fell into disfavour —in fact, the studs became dispersed and sold till there were fewer than a dozen remaining in the Dominion. After the demand set in from. Argentine a few intrepid breeders, particularly Mr. Rayner, continued to improve their studs, and by careful breeding were able to develop a low-set, deep-bodied type, well covered on the points with lustrous long-stapled quality wool, that attracted notice from Argentine flockmasters. Mr. Rayner, over a period of nine or 10 years, despite the slump period, has forwarded annually consignments of specially-selected rams and ewes to Argentine and Uruguay, and to him the credit must be given for launching the New Zealand type in South America. He has on several occasions been rewarded with prices in excess of 450 guineas, one ram selling last reason for the record price of £750. This price is considered to be the highest ever paid in the Southern Hemisnhere for a ram of the longwool breeds. Other breeders who own notable Lincoln studs are Messrs. L and R. Wilton, Rangitumau. Masterton: Messrs Voss Brs.. Knrere, T.nngbnrn, and in the South Island. Mr. W. M. Bisboll. “Caythorno.” Blenheim. Mr. Bisholl forwarded a ram of outstanding merit Inst season, which realized in the vicinity of 450 guineas.