SHEEP SECTION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21118, 27 February 1932, Page 15

SHEEP SECTION.

A PROGRESSIVE INDUSTRY.

- BREEDING FOR EXPORT. PRESENT PRODUCTION TRENDS. No other part of the country has made such striking progress in sheep-farming in recent years as has the Auckland Province. Formerly sheep were one of the poorest features at the Auckland Show, the entries being confined to a pen or two of long wools, but it is 'a sign of the times to find that to-day the number of the exhibits reaches well into the hundreds and that 1 lie variety has been extended to include representatives of the majority of the important short-wool types. The province's advance in the production of mutton and lamb is thus definitely portrayed. At this year's show, the Romney Marsh and English Leicester breeds occupy prominent places as far as long-wool sheep are concerned and the display, generally, provides evidence of continued improvement in type and character, tho judge commenting particularly on the excellent standard of tho ewe classes. The oncepopular Lincoln breed was represented by a solitary exhibit. It is in the breeds required for crossing with Romney or Leicester ewes to produce a quickly-maturing type of lamb for the export trade that the most remarkable advance has been made. The Southdown has an outstanding reputation in this respect and evidence of its great popularity in the North, as a result of the development of tho fat lamb trade, is given by the extensive exhibit at Epsom. Together with the entry of Rylands, they indicate the active and successful steps being 'taken in tho Auckland Province to explore an avenue leading to increased wealth and prosperity. Following is the prize list: —

SOUTHDOWN. Rams.—Three years or over: G. R. and II Hutchinson, 1 nnd reserve champion; J. R. Self. 2. Two years and under three years: G. R. and H. Hutchinson, 1; N. A. Barr, 2. Under two years: G. R. and H. Hutchinson. 1; A. D. Bell, 2; J. R. Self, 3. Lamb: N. A. Barr, 1; G. R. and 11. Hutchinson, 2; .T. R. Self, 3. Ewes.—Three yeari or over: G. R. and H. Hutchinson, 1, '.! and 3. and champion and reserve. Two years and under three years: N. A. Barr, 1; G. R. and H. Hutchinson, 2; J. K. Self, 3. Under two years: G. R. and 11. Hutchinson, 1 and 2: J. R. Self, 3. Lamb: N. A. Barr, 1 and 2; G. R. and H. Hutchinson, 3. Special Class.—Best group, owned by exhibitor: G. R. and H. Hutchinson, 1; J. R. Self, 2; A. D. Bell, 3. ROMNEY MARSH. Rams.—Three years or over: Dr. E. H. B. Milsom, 1; A. D. Bell. 2. Two years and under three years: F. Mullin, 1 and champion; A. D. Bell, :2. Under two years: F. Mullin. 1 and champion; I. D. Greenwood, 2: F. Mullin. 3. Lamb: Dr. E. H. B. Milsom. 1; H. D. Bell, 2 and 3. Ewes.—Three years or over: A. D. Bell, 1; I. D. Greenwood, 2. Two years and under three years: F. Mullin, 1 and champion; A. D. Bell, 2. Under two years: A. D. Bell. 1 and champion, and '2; F. Mullin. 3. Lamb: 1. D. Greenwood, 1; F. Mullin, 2; Mrs. D. Moncur, 3. ENGLISH LEICESTER. Rams.—Over two years: H. E. Potter, 1 and champion: R. G. Findlay, 2 and 3. Under two years: R. G. Findlay, 1 and reserve champion; E. M. "Wilson, 2. Lamb: E. M. Wilson, 1; D. Ryburn, 2. Ewes.—Over two years: H. E. Potter, I and champion; E. M. Wilson. 2 and reserve. Under two years: E. M. Wilson, 1 and 2. Lamb: E. M. Wilson. 1 and 2. Shield for best Ram or Ewe.—H. 'E. Potter (rani). SUFFOLK. The only competitor in this section was J. R. Self, whose entries won every class. The classes comprised over two years, under two years, and lamb, both ram and ewe. CORRIED.ALE. The only competitor 'in thin section was Captain G. A. iTumphrey Davies. whose entries were placed in every class. The classes comprised over two years, under two years and lambs, both ram and ewe. RYELAND. The only competitor in tin's section was R. D. Orr,' whose entries were placed in every class. The classes comprised under two years, over two years, and lambs, both ram and ewe. FAT SHEEP. Pens of Three Lambs. Suitable for Freezing.—Fat, in the wool: N. Reid. 1: S. Rhodes, 2; Tainui Estate. .'I. All entries will be sen* frozen to Smitlifield Market, London, for further judging. Longwool, shorn: E. M. Wilson, 1; J. R. Self, 2. Down lamb, in the wool: J. R. Self, 1; S. Rhodes, 2; N. Reid. 3. Down lambs, shorn: N. Reid. 1; G. R. and H. Hutchinson. 2; J. R. Self. 3. Any breed, in the wool, suitable butchers' purposes: S. Rhodes. J; N. Reid, 2 and 3. Shorn: N. Reid, 1; J. Tf. Self. 2. Pens of Three Wethers, suitable for Butchers' Purposes J. R. Self won all classes, comprising longwool nnd down, suitable for freezing, and lonß'wool, suitable for butchers' purposes. Pens of Two Ewes.—Lonewool, suitable for butchers' purposes: J. R. Self. 1. Down or Down-cross: G. R. and H. Hutchinson. 1 ; ,T. R. Self. 2. Longwool. suitable for freezing: .T. A. Self. 1; A. D. Bell. 2 and 3. Down or Down-cross: J. R. Self. 1; D. Rvburn. 2: G. R. and H. Hutchinson. 3. Best, District Group of Fat Lnmbs. ~ Tauwhare (V. Chit-ly, L. Chilly and B. Robinson), 1: Mntansri (-T. Dalgleish. F. Vercoe and A. Miller), 2: Pnterangi (S., H. and M. A. Rhodes), 3. PET TjAMB. Joyce Gore. 1: Jack Swafficld, 2 and 3. LAMBS FOR EXPORT. district Competition. FINE TYPE DISPLAYED. The production of fat lnmbs for export is the latest, phase of primary endeavour to which farmers in the Auckland Province have turned their attention, The movement has progressed to such nn extent and the results achieved have been so encouraging that the Auckland Metropolitan Agricultural and Pastoral Association included a special class, designed to promote an even greater interest in fat lamb-raising, in the schedule for this year's show. The response from farmers has more than justified the innovation. Five district groups, comprising 15 lambs, have been entered, the exhibits coming chiefly from the Waikato district, which has already achieved signal successes in exporting the desired type of lamb to the London, market. Down cross lambs predominate, as these satisfy most fully the export demand. A noteworthy feature of tho exhibit is the evenness throughout and the degreo to which uniformity has been achieved in the selection of the lambs in the individual pens. The competition has a distinct educational value to Northern farmers, in that it illustrates the perfection in which export lambs of the correct typo and conformity can be raised in the Auckland Province. The lambs will kill out in close proximity to the ideal export weight of 361b., and when they are finally displayed at Smitlifield for judging by experts they should prove worthy of tho reputation already established by consignments from Auckland raisers.