BLACK SHEEP.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19274, 12 March 1926, Page 16

BLACK SHEEP.

In his "Sheep Farm and Station Management," E. H. Pearse gives two instances of wholly black flocks. One belonged to William Allan of the Darling Downs. He noticed that the purer the flock the more often black sheep appeared among them, notwithstanding the culling of every sheep showing a coloured spot. He concluded therefrom that probablv the original Merino strain had been principally black. He, therefore, mated l?tack sires and black ewes, and in every case black lambs resulted. The wool was remarkably good, and, in the opinion of the owner, the black sheep were hardier and more active than the white. This wool sold in London in 1885 up to per lb., considerably more than the average at that time for«white Merino. Another end mora recent instance quoted, .is that of Ka P; Abbott, near Blandford, N.S.W. Both these'men, for their black flocks, selected only sheep which had a black tongue and mouth. Figures given in regard to Mr. Abbott's flock are interesting. In 1911 his whole clip of white wool averaged 10.46 d per lb., whereas the black averaged 10.58 d. In weight, too, the black clip was a little superior. It is said that black sheep fatten as well as white arid are equally good eating, but that a black flock will not mix for long with a white one. They soon go their separate ways.