NEW ZEALAND SHEEP

Evening Star, Issue 15968, 23 November 1915, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND SHEEP

AROUSE AMERICANS TO REFORM

[Fboji Orit Sa.\ Fkaxcisco Cokrf.S' PONDKNT.]

October 2(">. The advent of some 31' of New Zealand's prize, stud sheep of the Romnoy, Lincoln, t and Corriedale types to America for competitive exhibition purposes at the Panama Exposition at •San Francisco has aroused tho keenest interest among the stock-breeders of tho American Continent, and has once more foeusscd attention on the present efforts of American flock-masters to revolutionise their ancient methods of sheep shearing and wool handling. AA'ith his ripe experience as one who possesses a practical and scientific insight into the most modern methods employed in Australasia, Mr Edmund Clifton, Commissioner-General of the New Zealand Government at the Panama Exposition, a genial gentleman, acknowledged to be one of the leading authorities in the British Empire on agricultural matters, stated that the arrival of the New Zealand sheep in San Francisco had surprised American experts on the remarkable tvpe of sheep produced by New Zealand.' "The breeders of those sheep sent for exhibition at the Panama Exposition from New Zealand," said Commissioner Clifton, "may be assured that the sheep will meet with very great approval, and certainly create unusual interest! It will he a splendid advertisement to the leading breeders of New Zealand, for the country itself, and for its exceptionally fine breed breeds of sheep. These are the only sheep directlv from any oversea country. New Zealand also occupies that unique position among all stock-breeding countries of the world, that its sheep are free from disease and are permitted entrv into the United States under nominal restrictions—namely, a quarantine of 15 days. Of all the. stock-breeding countries of the world, it might be reiterated. New Zealand is the one that is freest from stock disease, and those popularly-called epidemic diseases are absolutely unknown there." Mr Clifton, when asked how it occurred that Australia was not exhibiting sheep at the Panama Exposition, replied: "It may be said_ that the restrictions affecting Australia have, unfortunately, made prohibitive the import of sheep from the Commonwealth into the United States, and for participation at the Exposition as a consequence. This is most unfortunate, for 'the merino, for which Australia is par excellence tiie home of that breed of sheep, is a tvpe of sheep and of wool that has no compeer. The presence of such sheep would have been especially interesting, and above all at the present juncture, for it is now that the United States is making strenuous efforts to imnrove the sheep-breeding industry. ft is realised now in America how*important a part the sheep takes on the farm Australia is the producer of the verv finest typo of wool, a distinct class which is unapproachable elsewhere. J. ho skill of the Australian flock-master in developing this breed—the merino and producing that particular varietv of wool is one of the greatest achievements in the evolution'of the domestic animals for a domestic purpose. Now that the American sheep-breeder is improving his methods, it is interesting to recall that New Zealand was lately favored with the presence of a gentleman from the United States, whose object was to investigate the methods of sheep-farming in Now Zealand and Australia. So impressed was that -imerieau Commissioner with the Australasian situation that American farmers have studiously considered his observations, with the result that at tho present, time there is almost an assurance that shearers, woolelassers and a complete shearing plant will be in operation in the present, season in the United .States. So immensely impressed were these American farmers with the greater results obtaining in -\ew Zealand from sheep-farming "that they were determined to introduce New Zealand and Australian methods without delay into the- great nock-pvotltleiug centres of America. Jt Mould be appalling tea sheep-farmer in New Zealand to observe the primitive manner m which operations relating to sheep are conducted, or allowed to drift in the United States. In the first'instance, sheep are herded on their pastures as in the older davs of the boundary keeper, or tho 'still older time of the shepherd who lived awav with his flocks in the back country Here from 2,000 to 3,000 sheep are confined to the care of a Mexican or a Basque, who lives with his stock year m and year out. On the more improved properties, and quite lately under statutory restrictions, this solitary life :s no longer permitted. It now comes , ] i ' nl ' t that to two such men'herds of .5,000 each are allocated. Their stock teed in different directions, but it is so operated that at- night a campkeeper remains up and prepares the crude meals permitted to them. In many districts sheep are shorn twice a year, necessitated by the presence of burrs and grass seeds. Sheep are shorn on an earthen floor, and ronghly sliorn at that. It is seldom that- a whole fleece reaches the table or platform on which it- is rolled. So broken and bedraggled is it that the longdiscarded tying with twine j s the custom. These are thrown into one heap, and from these they are bundled into sacks—a reversion to the old system of spade-pressing without the' bale around a more or less round bag. The old-fashioned woolpack would bo a vast improvement upon it, and, curiously enough, the middleman objects to any improvement. It is incredible that so progressive a people should continue to submit to so obsolete a practice. To the New Zealander the whole process is archaic."