SHEARING RECORDS

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXXII, Issue 12442, 2 January 1935, Page 4

SHEARING RECORDS

THE POVERTY BAY CLAIM:

abb such FF.ATS of great , VAI.VE? |. • ■ • it ■ A message from New Zealand has been published, says *h° “Melbourne Argus,? - stating that a new world’s shearing record was claimed I>y' "Sonnv” White, who shore 433 Romney breeding ewes in nine hours at Sherbrook station, in the Gisborne district. N'o mention was made whether the sheep were prepared before shearing or trimmed in any .way, or whether the owner was satisfied with the . appearance and condition of the sheep after, the work had been completed. In the absence of these details graziers will be unwilling to accept this amazing performance. as a < record. In anj event, ike feat appears to be some, what in the nature of the pole-sit-ting contests which became popular with crowds in the United States in the last, few years. Of far-more value would have been an .-announcement that Air. Wjhittf’ had r-ffiom perfectly 2000 sheep in 10 days. Shearing is probably conducted more- efficiently “in Australia than in anv other country, and, the average good shearer will shear. from 100 to (J2O sheep a day. He will maintain this rate until his work is' completed. Rapid and efficient shearing maintained for long periods which will leave the sheep in the best condition is desired.; short runs at extraordinary speeds in which the shearer is assisted in all kinds of ways are valueless. There are some shearing records which are recognised in Australia. On October 10, 1922, J. Howe, using blades, shore 621 ..sheep in 7 hours 20 minutes at Alice Downs, Queensland. On .September 20, 1910, B. Cooper shore 316 sheep in 8 hours 40 minutes at Bnndoran, Queensland. In. Victoria, where the sheep are better dovered than those in Queensland, instances |iave .been recorded in which shearers have shorn 248 sheep each in a day of eight hours ; -h ut ‘ lt is doubtful whether these could be accepted as animals shorn satisfactorily.

Commenting on : the message, the secretary of the Graziers’ Association of Victoria (Air. S. L. Officer) 'said that in the absence of further details he hesitated to accent the claim-that the shearer’s feat in New. Zealand was a record. The handling of about 48 sheep an hour for nine hours without a break was an extra-, ordinary task, said Air. Officer. Romneys would be more difficult to shear than the sheep which had been used in -'establishing khe records in Queensland, for they would carry much more wool on the faces, bellies, and legs. Furthermore, Romneys' would cut a more bulky fleece and thev would bo more, difficult to han-: die.