THE SHEEP INDUSTRY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20112, 24 November 1928, Page 16

THE SHEEP INDUSTRY.

EVIDENCE OF IMPROVEMENT. MORE NUMEROUS ENTRIES. FAT LAMBS A FEATURE. The sheep classes ;it. tlio show indicate in ;i htriking manner that Auckland fanners arc making great advances in this important pastoral branch. At one time t!ie sheep pens at Kpsorn contained only a \ ei-y lew specimens ot one or two breeds. To-day practically all the leading Ineeds are to lie seen, many ot tliem being ot ingii character. lint tin, must suusiactory feature in the Mieep section is tne laigo increase in uittmu'i's and quality oi lai lambs. After all, the ultimate purpose ot ull breeds ul sueen is to pioituce sometliing tnat can bo !>uld at a profit. Althoiign wool in the ag;.;icgale is ti very important product, especially at present prices, the lat. la in I) lor export conies a good second, and, tlieretoie, Hie display of lambs at the show is of great, importance.

iliero can bo no question nowadays about tlie statement that Auckland produces as good a type of fat lamb as bnntlilield buyers can obtain anywhere, and I hat there is immense scope for the increase of this class of stock in every part of the Auckland province. Tho presence, therefore, of good examples of foundation breeds, such as English and Border Leicester's, and the meat type of Bomney Marsh, combined with tho special export lamb producing breeds such as SouthdiAvns, Shropshire and Hydatids, is highly satisfactory. In view of the great possibilities of sheep breeding and fat lamb raising in the Auckland province, it may be said that owners of stud flocks should make greater effort s to increase the number of their exhibits at the, show. They should also stimulato greater competition, not only for their own sakes, but for tho advancement of the slice]) breeding industry. Following is the prize list:—

ROMNEY MARSII. Kain. over ;>() months: A. D. Bell, I and reserve championship. Hani, over is and under 30 months: J. W. Benseinan. 1 ami championship; F. H. Seddon, 2. A. >'• Hell, 3. Mum, under IS months: J W Bensenian, I and 3; C. Straka, 2. Mam. under 18 months, shorn: F. It. Seddon, 1 and 'J; 1. I'. Green wood, 3. Ewe, any age. suckling own lamb: L'. It. Seddon, 1 and championship. I''. W. Strange. 2; A. 1> Hell, .'i. Ewe. under 18 months: I'. lv. Seddon, 1 and 2 and reserve championship: \\r Strange 3. Two ewes, under IS months: A. D Hell. 1. Ewe. under IS months, shorn: F. M. Seddon. I and A. D. Bell. 11. Ewe, any aye. suckling own jamb, shorn: F. W. Strange, I: 1. D. Greenwood. '2: A D. Bell. 3.

SOUTfIDOWNS. Main, over :-"0 months: G., it. and II Hutchinson, 1 and provincial championship. l>nin, over 18 and under 30 months: G., K and It. Hutchinson. 1 Mam. under IS months: G„ R and 11. Hutchinson, 1: H. McCarroll 2. Two rams, under 18 months il McCarrol), 1, G.. li. and IJ. Hutchinson. •' Ewe, over 30 months, suckling own lamb: G„ It and 11. Hutchinson, 1 and 2: 11. McCnrroU. 3 Ewe. over IS and under 30 months, suckling own lamb: 11. McCurroll, 1 and North Island championship: Cr.. M. and II Hutchinson, 2 and 3 and North Island reserve' championship. Ewe, under 18 months: II McCarroll, 1, 2 and 3. Two ewes, under 18 months: 11. McCarrol!, 1; G., K. and II Hutchinson, 2. Three two-tooth rams: II McC'arroll. 1; Ci., li. and 11. Hutchinson, 2.

RYELANDS. Itam, over .10 months: K. P. Orr. 1 and North Island championship. Ham. over IS and under MO months: K. D. Orr. 1 and North Island reserve championship: A. 1,. Souter, 2. Ram. under 18 months: A. L. Souter. I: K. D Orr, 2 nnd 3. Two rums, under IS months: A. L. Souter. 1: K. D Orr, 2. Ram. under 18 months, shorn: K. P. Orr. 1 and 2. Ewe, any age, suckling | own lamb: Wesley College. I. Ewe. under IS months: K. 1). Orr, 1 and 2 and North Island championship; A. L. Souter. 3 ENGLISH LEICESTERS. Ram, over 30 months: E. M. Wilson, 1 and North Island championship: B. Ryburn. 2. Ram, under 18 months: E. M. Wilson. 1. i Ram, under 18 months, shorn: E. XI. WilI son. 1 nnd Kwc, nny n#o, suckliiiK own i lamb: D. Ryburn. 1 and 2; F,. M. Wilson. 3 Ewe, under 18 months: E. M. Wilson. 1 and North Island championship. SII ROT'S HIRES. Ram. over 30 months: W. C. Knight. 1 and provincial championship. Ram. over 1? and under 30 months: W. C. Knight. 1. Ewe. over 18 months, suckling own lamb\V. C. Knight. 1 and 2 and provincial championship. Ewe. under 18 months: W. C. Knicrht, 1 and 0. Two ewes, under IS months: W. C Knight. 1. BORDER LEICESTERS. C Bodgkinson was the only exhibitor nnd secured ull the nwnrds. including the North Islam! championship CORRIEDALES. S. Phillips was the only exhibitor, and secured all the awards, including the North Island championships for rams and ewes. SUFFOLK S. Ewe. over 18 months, suckling own lamb: I .T R Self. 2. Ewe. under under 18 months: •I R. Self. 1. FAT SIIEEP. Three fat lambs, most suitable for English market: Tainili Estate, .1; Neil Reid. '2 and 3. Three fat lambs, for freezing purposes: Veil Reid, I nnd 2: Tninni Estate, 3. Three long-wool lambs, most suitable for freezing: Neil Reid. 1 and 2: D. Ryburn, 3. Three down Inmbs, most suitable for freezing: Yere ('bitty. 1; Neil Reid, 2 and 3. Three long-wool Inmbs, most suitable for butcher's purposes: Neil Reid, 1 nnd 2; J. R. Self. 3. Three down wethers, suitable fur butcher's purposes: .T. R. Self. 1 and 3; If. McCnrroll, 2. Two long-wool ewes, suitable for butcher's purposes: F. W. Strange. 1 : J. R. SeJf, 2. Two long-wool ewes, under 30 months, suitable for freezing: F. W. Strange. 1. THE COMPETITIONS. KEEN JUMPING CONTESTS. INTEREST IN NOVELTY EVENTS. There were excellent entries in most of the omipctition classes, and some splendid riding and jumping were witnessed during the afternoon. As usual, the novelty events fur children created considerable interest, and in both the musical chairs oil horseback and the potato race there was much excitement. There wns a great race for the final chair —or rather kerosene tin—in I lie musical chairs competition. a young lady defeating a male competitor by inches to the great joy of the crowd The snmo young lady rode a rather spirited liorso which gave her no chance in the potato race by mistaking a chalk line on the ground for a hurdle and making gallant attempts to clear it. The jumping events passed off without hitch, and there was not one serious spill to mar (lie pleasure of the afternoon. The heats in two wood-chopping contests were decided yesterday afternoon. Always a popular attraction these were watched by a large crowd. The finals will be decided to-day, together with the steer-riding contest. Following are yesterday's results:— RIDING AND JUMPING. Dominion Hunter.—Xlrs. H. E. Worsp's Biddy, 1; Major A. M. Samuel's El Arish, 2- Mr. Ben XL Mvers' Heather Belle. 3. Light-weight Hunter.—Xfnjor A. M. Samuel's El Arish, 1; Miss Thelnia Mor rin's Absent. 2. Cleverest Hunter Over Fences.—Miss P. Weston's Bluelight. 1; Mr. A. Wnlkor's linn turn. 2 ; XI r. O. R. Self's Thelma, 3. Best, Wire Jumper.—Mr. B. M. Myers' Heathei Belle, 1: Misa P. Weston's Bluelight, 0; Xlr. H C. Grierson's Bachelor, 3. Musical Chairs on Horseback, for children under 15 years.—Miss Ony Brown, 1; Wricrg and Bishop's Wrinkle. 2: Xliss A. Pope. 3. ... Maiden Hunters' Competition.—Mr. J. Short's Miss Glndfield, 1: Mr If. C. Grierson's Bachelor, 2: Mr. B. IL Bishop's Mariana, 3. Lady's Mniden Hunter.—Xlrs II E. Worsp's Biddy, 1: Mr. II C. Grierson's Bachelor. 2 Girl Rider, under 14 years.—Miss N. Cruicksbnnk, 1: Miss XL Woods, 2. (".ill Rider, over 14 and under 1(> years.— Xliss Gay Brown. 1: Miss P Gorrie. '2: Xliss Una Bennett, 3. WOOD-CHOPPING 12in Standing Chop.—First heat: A. Honey, lis, 1; M. Griffin, 3s. 2: O. E. Neaiue. Us. 3. Time. f»2s. Second heat: W. J. ('ostello, 3s. 1; W. Baker, 12s, 2; O A. Johnson, lis. 3. Time, 375. 14in. Standing Chop.—First heat: D. Silva, 1 ; A. Honey, 225, 2; C. E. Neiune, ■J3, 3. Time, 70s.