Half-bred Cheviot Sheep: Ex-Serviceman Shares in Experiment

Grey River Argus, 30 June 1947, Page 7

Half-bred Cheviot Sheep: Ex-Serviceman Shares in Experiment

WELLINGTON, June 24. On his rehabilitation financed farm near Palmerston North an ex-artil-leryman, Mr Shaw Nash, is combining his ordinary farming activities with an experiment of importance to the sheep industry of New Zealand. Mr Shaw Nash’s war-time service included the campaign ,in Greece, the battle for Crete and'the see-saw struggle of the North African desert.

The experiment, which is being carried out in collaboration with Massey Agricultural College, of which Mr Nash is an ex-student, is the development of a half-bred Cheviot flock, using Cheviot rams and Romney ewes. It is part of a larger experimenl being made by the college to develop three main flocks, these being a Romney cross-bred flock as a control, a half-bred Cheviot flock, and a Cheviot flock. During the next few years comparisons are to be made between the Romney and half-bred ewes, which when five-year-old will be farmed out to a lowland farm in order to gain comparisons under fat lamb farming conditions. The College supplies the rams, assists with docking, shearing and drafting, but in no way interferes with management.

AH that is required of Mr Nash is that he farms the ewes exactly as he farms his own. Special arrangements have been made to ensure that he is in no way a financial loser a result of participation in the experiment Indeed the opposite should be the case.

Not only the College has a high opinion of Mr Nash’s farming ability, but neighbouring farmers are impressed with the showing he has made in the two years he has been on his property. Already his is known as one of the best farms in the district. For several years before going overseas he was engaged in practical farming and this he has since supplemented with one year at Massey. Ex-servicemen and other students from the College pay regular visits to his farm for practical demonstration purposes. The property, which is 180 acres, at present carries 730 ewes, mostly Romneys, and 15 head of cattle. Good Manawatu country, it is flat to undulating with a clay sub-soil and is well watered.