CULLING BREEDING EWES

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 80, 28 December 1940, Page 14

CULLING BREEDING EWES

Go For immediate Profit

RESULT OF SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH

A few monthe ago J published an article on the research iuto sheep breeding principles and practices being carried out at Massey College, under the direction of Dr. I’. R. McMahon, of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research.

I was and am deeply impressed with the findings to date ami the future possibilities of this reasearch. Ou that account contact is being maintained with its developments and in a recent discussion with Dr. McMahon these were reviewed. Arising from that it is seen to be now reasonable to draw attention to one finding of the utmost praciteal importance, the are or science of flock ewe culling. The advice here given is of rather an unexpected nature, appearing most unorthodox For it is suggested to go for immediate profit and not work on long view ideals for flock improvement. This of course is putting the case very bluntly. Do Not Attempt Impossible. When a flock owner (flock sheep and not studs are referred to) attempts to cull his 2-tooth ewes with a view to raising the standard of his flock (as judged by lambs to be produced), he is iu effect attempting the impossible. To justify that statement we reiterate the case as given iu the original article referred to. Therein it was shown that even though 50 per cent, of ewes were culled, it would take no less than 4S years to raise the wool average yield by even a modest one lb.' a sheep. As with wool, so would other qualities similarly respond slowly. In actual effect, therefore, improvement is so minute as to be of no practical account. Cull For Production. But even though telling us this, the investigators do not advise that culling is worthless, Far from that; but they do strongly urge a change in policy, in outlook and in the aims of culling. It is proposed that when culling the twotooth ewes, the consideration be to retain those that will return the most profit of themselves; disregarding what future one has of their progeny. As a ease in point, today the perhaps ‘rough’ ewe, but one carrying a heavy fleece, of even only fair quality wool, is a most payable sheep. Then retain such ewes. Wool provides a tangible profit, from the ewe herself in her own life-time. Conformation does not; anil it is no use valuing a ewe on good conformation, in the hope that this will improve future flock, for that simply does not work out in practice, because of that ewe’s, goodness, some 90 per cent on average is lost in transmission to her progeny. Rely On the Kams. To improve the flock, reliance must, be placed upon the use of quality-breeding rams. There is no other practical policy. By the use of really good rams, great improvement can be effected and this quite rapidly. In this regard, a point to be noted is that, average rams from a good Hock are of far greater worth, than very good individual rams taken from a poorer flock. It is the flock standard that counts, not that of the individual.