SHEEP BREEDING IN SOUTH AFRICA

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1618, 4 March 1903, Page 63

SHEEP BREEDING IN SOUTH AFRICA

Referring to the sheep-breeding industry of Cape Colony, the local “Agricultural Journal” says: —“A phase of specialised farming which lias long been threatened in this country i s gradually taking hold of the stock district's. r ihe low prices ruling for wool a while back and the high prices of mutton caused many sheep-men to turn their eyes longingly towards the rearing of sheep for tho butcher. The result is that after many essays the Persian sheep is being largely adopted, as he is found suitable to the country, and answers ail purposes for the production of meat. We hear of isolated cases where entire flocks of merinos have been crossed with tho Persian until all trace of the original merino stock is practically lost. And the bold experimenter declares that it pays better to grow carcases for the butcher than wool —even at the present favourable rates for the latter commodity. That is~as it may be, but it might be 'worth while noting that tho market for butcher stock is now abnormal, and cannot he expected to maintain its present position for ever. Meanwhile signs are not wanting that it will take years to fully satisfy the remands for hue wool ; for, what with the drought in Australia, and tho fact that most of the likely sheep lands of the world are taken up, there is not much likelihood of a serious slump, in wool. Tlie consumption of wool grows with the increase of the population of the world, and so long as it can be obtained at fairly reasonable rales it is a commodity which must always hold its own.

Tho journal goes on to say:—“There is one feature of the rapidly developing situation, however, which opens up a bright possibility for the future. It is confidently asserted that Persian sheep and their progeny are not susceptible to lieartwater, and in any case noc nearly so susceptible to that fatal disease as merinos. This has yet to be proved to a certainty, but, as' there is just the possibility of it being demonstrated in practice, it there is also a possibility of the heart-water-infested districts being again restocked. In that case, the country 7 s supply of mutton could be drawn from those districts with more profit to the community at large than from oversea sources, which would mean in turn a great increase in the wealth of the whole colony. But these are mere speculations as yet. The Persian sheep has evidently come to stay, and as its popularity threatens to increase, a word of warning may prevent mischief. Stock-masters who launch out in the new direction should make every endeavour to keep their flocks separate. If Persians are to be used to breed for the butcher, let those flocks be kept strictly apart from the merinos whose duty it is to supply the wool clips. Otherwise there is more trouble ahead for South African wool —a trouble similar to that which afflicted the Australian market after the sudden inrush of crossbred Lincolns.”