WHAT IS HALF-BRED?

Marlborough Express, Volume XLIII, Issue 118, 17 May 1909, Page 8

WHAT IS HALF-BRED?

AN IMPORTANT POINT

DISCUSSED BY THE A. AND P ASSOCIATION.

At Saturday's meeting of the A. and P.-Association, Mr Sharp spoker in connection with the Quibeli Cup. The pastoralists had approached him and had pointed but that the present definition of a half-bred was too close. He-would like to hear what members thought. Anything that would induce competition would be considered. Mr Bishell spoke against altering the present definition. It would tend U allow any sort of mongrel to come ' in. If they were going to have a haltbred class let it be half-bred- Have the proper thing or nothing. Mr Storey said this matter had . given trouble before. The Society had then over-ridden their own regulation, which was wrong. The sheep bred either way was a half-bred. It might meet the case to extend the definition. Mr Chaytor pointed out that the donor of a prize had the liberty -of . saying what his prize was for. On the question of definition of prize being adhered to or extended, he pre^ ■ferred extension. This donor had no reason to confine the prize to \any particular class. The judge went into "the pen to - judge the most suitable sheep, not to say how they were bred. He (Mr Chaytor) took it he could, go ' into the flock and pick either way. He admitted that unscrupulous people might take an advantage. It wouid be' Wise to have the- definition extended to include either type of half-bred. It then lay with the judge which was the most suitable for the prize. Mr Neville said.taht a half-bred was a half-bred. It was from a merino ewe by any longwool ram; the other way was a come-back. There was always friction at shows on this point. '" If the prize was giveii for a half-bred it should be for this and no other way. He would challenge anybody to get_ a half-bred in any other way than me way he had indicated. He had been paying'sheep rates long<er than anyone else and should know something of the matter. He was confident the sheep-breeders would support his view. Mr Weld, as one interested in widening the definition, disagreed with Mr Neville, and defied him to prove that the progeny of a half-bred ram from a half-bred ewe bred as above indicated could be other than halfbred. His own flock was this way. Sir George Clifford's flock was also bred this way, and-for the past ..few years he had taken nine-tenths of the prizes at the ChrisVnurch Show. The sheep bred from the; first generation as described were. undoubtedly; halfbreSs. • Corriedales were as a result

of in-breeding as ;fai; as five generations^ and were quite distinct in looks from half-breds. He would much like to see extension made in definition of prize offered by Mr Sharp on behalf of QuibelPs. It would give

him a chance to compete. Mr Chaytor moved: "That the committee have the definition extended as proposed:" Mr Meehan seconded, being entirely of Mr Weld's opinion. Mr Coleman also agreed with Mr Weld. He could .not tell from appearance whether a sheep was bred from the first or second generation. He favored including Corriedales. The reason of breeding, merino ram-coarse ewes in Canterbury was to bring the wool back, as it was getting too ■coarse; The progeny of a Lincoln or Leicester ewe/ (pure bred) by merino

ram was unquestionably a half-bred. Mr Bisheil said the cup was given ■on certain conditions, which had been published, and the' committee could not now go back on those published conditions. If Mr Sharp wished to go back on what he contracted to do, it •was his affair. The definition of a half-bred hall been laid down by the Association, and they could not go beyond that definition. Mr Sharp said he had no' other

motive than that of enlarging the en"tries at the show. If by making the definition broader they could do this they were justified in doing so. He thought the definition "out of merino ewe by any Jbngwool rant, or the progeny of such sheep, including Corriedales" would meet the case. The President ■£ avored Mr BishelPs view. All Mr Siiarp required was an -expression of opinion, and the matter could be left to the good sense of Messrs Dalgety and Co. It would all .bring grist-to the mill. He had done something the same when the Wolseley people gave the cup. He suggested doing this. The sheep bred other than out of merino ewe would have an advantage. •■» Mr Chaytor's motion was put and ■carried. ' , ■ '