THE SHOWING OF SHROPSHIRE SHEEP.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1775, 14 March 1906, Page 60

THE SHOWING OF SHROPSHIRE SHEEP.

On this subject Mr H. Huntingdon Peck of the Australian Shropshire Association, thus submits bis views in the Melbourne “Leader.” There has been some writing to the press recently in several of the States advocating that Shropshire sheep shou d be shown untrinimed, which practically means putting the Shropshire m a rough and unkempt state before the public, while all other breeds are to be got up a 3 usual in best possible trim, tne reasons given being that trimming disguises the true shape of the sheep. As honorary secretary of the Australian Shropshire Association, .and salesman for the registered breeders of the Commonwealth, I have handled individually and with extreme care fully 80 per cent, of the show and sale of Tasmania. Victoria and New South Wales, and also pretty well every sheep of the breed imported from the Old Countiy into Victoria, and a large number of those imported to Tasmania, from to date, and the experience thus gained has convinced me that trimming, instead of disguising the weak points of a sheep, serves to the same being all the moio easily detected. In theory, it seems very feasible to argue that the shape or a sheep may to all appearance be largely- altered by trimming, but facts, based on practical experience, prove that the closer a sheep is trimmed or clipped or its superficial covering, the more easy it is, even to an inexperienced eve, to detect faults in the contour or type of the carcase without handling, and when it comes to handling (and the Shropshire, like all the good mutton breeds, must ho handled to be properly valued), the difference, ease and saving in time in which a well trimmed, well brought out sheep can be summed up and judged, compared with a rough untrinimed one, is almost incalculable. As regards the assertion that it is the custom .to trim Sliropshires into shape at shows and sales, and thus give them an artificial appearance of symmetry, which they really do not possess, I can say that among the many thousands or show and sale trimmed Sliropshires that I have critTcaTly handled, I can only call to mind the sheep which couhl be described as unevenly or unfairly trimmed, and I leave it to both breeders and buyers alike, who know my methods, to say whether I go careful y over a sheep or not when I overhaul him. The great bulk of my notes on these examinations have been recorded and preserved and anyone who may think it is unfair to trim is welcome to peruse them. The result, considering the thousands ot sheep handled and examined, can be nothing else but a complete refutation of the charge that it is the custom to trim unfairly. Considering those circumstances, the expressions of “facing," “barbering,”

"unfair shearing,” etc., which have bee» used by some in this controversy, ari looked upon by the great body of breeders of registered 1 sheep as altogether overstepping yie boundary line of fair criticism, both as regards the breed and themselves. However, they believe that such have not been used with unfair intent or hostile feelings towards the breed, but rather in ignorance of the fact that as a w'liole trimanmg is carried on legitimately and fairly, and they feel sure that it is only a matter of time, following the, experiences in Great Britain, when'all admirers of "the bonnie Shrop.” will unite in agreeing that the breed, like all others, should be put before the public in proper show form. The breed naturally, from its earliest known history, has been one of the thickest fleshed and best shaped of the mutton breeds, and the grand backs, quarters and legs of mutton which some of the letters published would almost lead one to believe the trimmed sheep seen at show's and sales only appear to possess they really and actually do possess, and these characteristics are the fixed result of generations of most careful and skilful breeding. I admit, however, that trimming emphasises these good qualities and allows them to be more easily seen, with just the same certainty that it also emphasises .and shows up the weak points of a sheep’s conformation.

This controversy is ancient history in both Great Britain and America, the same issues having been raised by careless exhibitors .and breeders of little or no celebrity in both countries, and fought out years ago, with a like result in both, that the legitimate trimming and consequential bringing out of all Down breeds In best possible form at shows and sales remained, while at all the leading show's the untrimmed, or in the rough classes, after a few years' trial, died a natural death. In New Zealand lately the same controversy has waxed hot and strong, and in consequence the committee of the Christchurch show (which is the leading one of New Zealand as regards Sheeps.) passed a resolution previous to their recent show, prohibiting trimming, in spite of the experienced advice of that well-known importer of Hie breed, Mr J. E. Davenport, that they were making a mistake. The folly of this mistake and the wisdom of Mr Davenport’s advice have been since acknowledged by the committee rescinding the resolution against- trimming, .and substituting in its place the following rule:—“That the giving of a prize to a sheep shall imply that the judges are satisfied that such sheep is fairly shorn or fairly trimmed.” For the sake of the breed, and all w'ho have its interest at heart, I believe it would be a good thing if all the leading societies of the Commonwealth adopxed the same rule, as.it would serve the purpose of disarming adverse criticism .against fair and legitimate trimming, and should at the same time please both, those in its favour and those against.