EXPERIMENTAL SHEEP WORK

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 6411, 7 January 1908, Page 3

EXPERIMENTAL SHEEP WORK

ACTIVITY AT RUAKXTRA. Good work Ims undeniably befcn done ■ftt tho I’nakura experiment farm in connection with sheep-breeding and leading. With the object of making < ‘i-.- important feature of the station ; effective as possible the department has appointed a highly-qualified man, Mr D. Kvans, to tarn* charge of it. We may now expect to seo some of t.'ie M'ethe'U wiiieli oliuraotonso the work of tho American experiment stations introduced to the .Dominion. Cross-hrwcling and feeding tests at the American experiment stations are conducted on a thoroughly scientific basis. .Nothing is left to guess-work. In the feeding trials it is known to an ounce what increase* take place in the different breeds and crosses being experimented with, and tabulated records are published in the official bulletins. Tho deciding point in the feeding testa is tho blook» tho dressed weights being regarded as tho crucial point in tho experiment. The American stations not only pay special attention to carcase tests of sheep and cattle, but demonstrate tho practical value of their methods by competing at all the loading fat stock shows of tho country, whore full particulars of tho feeding ration arc -supplied with tho exhibits. So successful aro tho stations in these open competitions that over and over again rival exhibitors havo endeavoured to prevent tho colleges competing. It is such work that has made the experiments nt tho stations held in high esteem by American farmers. Tho stations have educated tho farmer to realise tho importance of determining tho ros>t at which increased weight has been produced, the only practical tost of feeding value. Wo can do well with some of tho American system.