IMPORTANT STUD SHEEP SALE.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLVI, Issue XLVI, 4 July 1911, Page 2

IMPORTANT STUD SHEEP SALE.

INTERVIEW WITH MR CAMPBELL ELLIS. Mr Campbell Ellis, an enthusiastic stud sheep breeder, lias recently returned from Peilding, where he ■ attended the' sale of Mt G. C. Wheeler's pure-bred Roniney Marsh sheep, some of which he has purchased. Speaking to an " Evening Mail'' reporter he said it his was the largest collection of plire-bred and pedigree sheep ever offered to 'tie public at one time,; and the prices were phenomenal. Buyers seemed to be there fTom all over the world, and numbered probably nearly 300. Australia was. well represented, and the prices for some pens of ewes'brought up to 21 guineas, one single ewe as high as 29 guineas. The average price all round "was 6siimated at about 12 guineas a head. Australian- buyers carried off the biggest share. Then came Hawke's Bay and Aucldand. Local buyers did not bid much, and very little went South'; one lot only went to- Marlborough. Mr "W." Bell bought the highest -priced pen, -21 guineas. They were Godfrey ewe s in lamb .to Landlord. This was the most fashionable strain, Landlord being the 'heaviest clipping rani ever imported. The Godfrey' ewes were most in demand by Australian buyers. 'Mr JEllis said lie secured a half-pen of this strain. Amongst the rams lie purchased two nice. ram : lambs, one a"Record Breaker No. 109, an. the Stud lßook No. '2942; also Loyalist 34th, No. 157. This was considered], by many of'.the best judges there; .a tip top sheep," and possibly one of the best sheep sold Taking the ' ewes all through, tho flock, said (Mr Ellis, was a little, disappointing. They were low in condition. the old sheep particularly showed some poor condition, at times light in tone, while patches showing on the noses, and white feet and general indications of not too strong a constitution^—too much inbreeding. The young sheep showed marked improvement on the older ones. Of course the best blood was there right enough. Towards the close of the sale, when the old sheep came in, the buyers went mad for them and bid frantically. The older the sheep the higher the prices. Had there been twice it he number of .sheep they would 'have all found buyers, ag. many of the t Southern breeders went ljack without a lot at all. Breeding- in. and in may be all very well to perpetuate some valuable strain, but only at the' expense of constitution. Whatsis of more value in any animal than a good constitution? particularly a sheep. However, this great flock i s disposed to the 4 quarters of .the earth.