BREEDS OF SHEEP

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 7292, 23 November 1910, Page 2

BREEDS OF SHEEP

AX AUSTRALIAN'S IMPRESSIONS. Professor Perkins. princi|Kil of _ the Rovseworthy Agricultural College (South Australia), is making a tour ot the world, and has been writing up his impressions. "In Greece,’’ ho says, “sheep are exploited principally us milch beasts. There appear to be only two breeds in tho country, or perhaps three, with

crosses between thorn. hat I take to 'bo the true Greek sheep is a rather .small animal, as are all essentially .mountain breeds. 1 wais told that a good average ewo dressed from 291 b to fell}, and a very good ewe 121 b to 181 b, [whilst an average ram would dress 181 b to 501 b, with occasional ones running tup to 701 b, It should be noted tbnt in ! Greeco the dressed weight includes the head, which is not detached. . . . Iho ewes are all provided with excellent udders, being in that respect more like cows than sheex> in our estimate, they are provided wild long, thin, rat-like tails that are kept clipped of wool to facilitate milking.” In England, in June last, Professor Perkins attended the Royal Show at Liverpool, He gave special attention to sheep, and makes interesting references. Of Oxfoi-d downs he writes : —‘‘These appealed to mo as the best all-round sheep of the show, with the exception, perhaps, of the Suifolks. They are hue, large, compact sheep, with good allround conformation, and without any suggestion of coarseness.' They carry fine, sound, useful fleeces. I am surprised that they should not have been availed of more freely in Australia. They should prove magnificent mutton, sheep in good pasture country.” The ■’Shropshire wore most numerous, and satisfactory prices were obtained at the subsequent sales. He noted that the breed took on greater size in Australia, 'and also that the same tendency to wool blindness was evident in England.

The Southdowns disappointed him as to quality. Of tho Suffolks at the English Royal, Professor Perkins remarks"A very line class of sheep, and likely to be useful in Australia, either as mutton sheep in good pasture or for crosses with merino. They are more finely' built than the Hampshire?, "with lighter head and bone, and with more active, sprightly carriage. As a breed they appear to me to lack somewhat in compactness.” The Dorset Horns were sparsely represented, only nineteen pens, and these by no moans very' meritorious, “1 have seen, saws the professor, “finer .Dorset Horns in' South Australia.” Commenting on tho Lincolns, ho said he had seen them equalled in Australia. Tho Leicester's were “very attractive,’’ and the Romney “deserving of greater popularity than it has hitherto succeeded in securing.”