THE MOST SUITABLE SHEEP FOR NEW ZEALAND.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3185, 13 September 1881, Page 2

THE MOST SUITABLE SHEEP FOR NEW ZEALAND.

The climate and soil of this island (remarks a writer in the Canterbury Weekly Press), or of the whole of the Colony, does not present so many variations as to require a different breed of sheep for every district or county. It still remains for some breeder of judgement and perseverance to produce a distinct breed of sheep, which w;ll meet the requirements of the general run of stockowners. But this will never be done by the haphazard system of crossing pursued by mauy sheep farmers, the majority of whom keep on crossing without having any definite object in view, buying or hiring a few rams every season, and of a different breed perhaps every time. Mr Blakewell, one of the most celebrated English breeders, was of opinion, after long and attentive experience, and confirmed by the perfection to which he brought bis own breed, that it is unwise to t?ke a cross of ary animal that is not better than the breed to be crossed ; when tbis co-ild be gained he was a warm advocate for crossing but contended that 1 all other crossing and all ideas of crossing for the mere sake of crossing are not only useless but mischievous. The only way to improve a breed of sheep is to set up some standard, to steadily keep in view certain points, and gradually work up to the desired end. Experience has shown that, by carefully selecting animals which have the desired features most strongly developed, a class of sheep can be produced, in course of time, which form a breed quite distinct from the original stock, without i recourse to crossing with other breeds &tjs all. Great differences of opinion exist with regard to the question ot in-and-in breeding. Some maintain that it is a most suicidal pU", teuiling to deteriorate tlte wool and weaken the constitution of the sheep, readeiiag it highly iu«o«ptibif

to disease, besides the danger of perpetuating the defects of individual animals. Whatever truth there may be in these assertions, the fact remains that some of the most important improvements that have been effected not only in sheep, but Stock of all kinds, have been tbe result of In-breeding. It lg well known that the Leicester breed was produced by a long and judicious course of ia-breeding. But it is a system which should only be carried out by the most experienced breeders, who can devote their whole attentiou to their flocks. In the bands of careless or inexperienced men, in-and-in breeding is more likely to be productive of evil than good.