NEW ZEALAND’S STUD STOCK

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LVI, 14 August 1924, Page 6

NEW ZEALAND’S STUD STOCK

j A GREAT INDUSTRY DEVELOPING i Tho advent here and subsequent popularity overseas of the Corriedale breed of sheep, the improved breed of Romney sheep developed in the Dominion, and the advancement of New Zealand to the proud position of being the largest exporting country of butter-fat in the world, are a trio of circumstances which have undoubtedly been largely responsible foi interesting overseas countries in New Zealand bred pedigree stock. Now Zealand has '.been designated “the dairy farm of the Empire” and the '‘stud farm of the Southern Hemi- . sphere” and this is a reputation which will not unlikely bo extended as recent enquiries have reached these shores from tho Northern Hemisphere, from such countries as the United States and Canada, and our clientele in the South is also growing as our cattle and sheep have recently been exported to South

Africa and British East Africa. The reputation of the Dominion’s stud stock is also being continually extended in the Southern Hemisphere and at recent sales of stud sheep and cattle (both of the beef and dairy breeds) many overseas orders have been filled, including Friesian cattle for’, Argentine, West and South Australia, Victoria and NewSouth Wales; Corriedale sheep for Tasmania, British East Africa and Argentine; Hereford cattle for South Australia; Romney sheep for Argentine, and Lincoln sheep for both New South Wales and Argentine. Jersey cattle and Suffolk sheep have also been bought at private treaty for export respective to ■ South Africa', New. South Wales and Tasmania. The overseas trade in stud

stock must eventually develop into a very big asset, provided the right class of stock is exported. Why should not the Dominion eventually rival (treat Britain in the value of its exports of pedigree live stock? We have the climatic condition's necessary and the skilled breeders in growing numbers, while wo are in close proximity to Britain's best markets which exist in this and not the Northern Hemisphere. The whole development and improvement ot the stock within the Dominion, and the wide interest in pedigree stock breeding here, fire rapidly placing the Dominion in a position to capture these markets. 1 +r.;„ Uo tl,r. m'm nf New Zen-

ana LIUS siiuuiu ,uy mu «um V L land’s breeders. Such a trade as is enjoyed by Great Britain would be of inestimable value to this country and its ■further development should be aided in every way by the breed societies. In Ibis'connection it is interesting to note that a representative consignment of New Zealand bred stock—Romney, Corriedale, Lincoln and Merino sheep, and Friesian and Jersey cattle —have been shipped to Argentine for exhibition at the' coming International Show at Palermo. Such a collective display of the. Dominion’s best should prove a great advertisement, and. should do much towards improving the reputation abroad of our stud stock. In the countries of the South arid North America’s immense sums have been paid for individual anirnals —1000 guineas for a Lincoln ram ; 11,000 guineas for a Shorthorn bull; •21,000 guineas fop.a Friesian bull, in fact, for outstanding animals among the cattle breeds particularly, a. four figure price is by no means unusual. In these countries, of course, where stock raising is carried on in a very big way, it has been' a simple matter to see that

nothing pays like the best and consequently no'limits, exist when the best is for sale. The position in Australia is ■ somewhat similar particularly with " Merino sheep, which have realised as high as 4000 guineas in several instances. The highest price ever paid at auction, in the Dominion fox*' a purebred animal was 2220 guineas for the Hereford bull, • President Wilson, and after using this bull in his Bushy Park stud for a period of four years, Mr Frank Moore, his purchaser, stated recently that no investment had ever paid him better. Mr Charles Goulter, the veteran Merino breeder of Marlborough, also paid 1000 guineas for his stud ram Commotion, while up to 1000 guineas has been paid for Clydesdales in the south. Among the‘dairy breeds the highest prices paid at auction have been 650 guineas by Mr JaS:- Parkinson,

for a milking Shorthorn hull; 625 guineas for a Friesian bull by the late Mr Wm. Bevan, and 800 guineas for the champion producer, Pretty s Flirt, by the Temuka breeders, Messrs Murray and Martin. As high as 650 guineas ! has been paid for a Friesian bull at private treaty, by the Taranaki breeders, Messrs G. A. Marchant and Sons, although the price paid to Mr John Donald for, his stud Friesian bull, by Messrs H. Collins and Co., South Australia. has not been disclosed. The.same buyers paid 525 guineas for a Friesian cow at Mr John Donald’s sale, and 600 ( guineas has been paid for females of the breed on several occasion*.