PREPARING SHOW SHEEP

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8329, 15 January 1913, Page 2

PREPARING SHOW SHEEP

FAKING CONTROVERSY REVIVED. GOVERNING BODIES INACTIVE. At the request of a southern writer Mr ti. D. Vavasour, the well-known Marlborough Shopshiro breeder,.has expressed the following opinion upon the colouring, trimming and covering of sheep intended for exhibition. Mr Vavasour says; "Colouring sheep should never bo allowed, and any sheep artificially coloured should be (ipso facto). disqualified. Colouring Shropshires was in vogue in England some years ago. His Majesty the late King Edward was chiefly instrumental in doing away with the practice as being palpably dishonest, and no one now ever sees a Shropshire sheep at a show in England artificially coloured. True Shropshire wool has a yellow tinge in its natural state. Owners of badlybred sheep that had not the true bhropshire colour in the wool therefore took to colouring so as to minimise their chances of being turned down for not having the true Shropshire wool. This, of course, was dishonest, and hence it was aono away with in England, and should be go in New Zealand. ASSOCIATIONS FEAR THEIR OWN RULES. "The Canterbury Association recognise the dishonesty ot the practice by the following rule in* their conditions tor exhibiting sheep, which reads as follows: ‘The giving of a prize to a sheep shall imply that the judges lire satisfied that inch sheen are not coloured by any artificial process’ But this rule is not enforced, and attention was drawn to this a few days after the last Christchurch show. It seems to roe ridiculous to affirm the principle that colouring is dishonest, make a rule against it, and then not carry it out. There were many sheep at the last show artificially coloured that were awarded prizes, ana I heard many comments on.the matter. I consider any sheep artificially coloured should be (ipso facto) disqualified and not allowed to compete. "FAKING" AGAIN CONDEMNED. “As regards trimming sheep it is quite cn regie, quite so much so as grooming a horse and trimming his mane and tail, and exhibitors should bo encouraged to bring out their stock in the best manner possible. Of course, dishonest trimming, i.e., blocking, should be put down with just as strong a hand as colouring. Blocking or inking a sheep ia trying to hide tho defects of tho carcase by leaving tho wool long in one place and short in another, in hopes of deceiving the judge; but any judge who could be taken in in this manner would bo a mere tyro, and not know his business. The Canterbury Association has quite a sufficient regulation on this matter. Clothing sheep, i.e., systematically housing or clothing sheep, should be discouraged, but there is no harm in putting on alight cloth on a sheep for a week or so before a show, after they have been got ready. It is essential for sheep that are travel-, ling long distances by rail or sea that they should be protected, otherwise they could not hope to compete on anything like equal terms with local sheep, as they would be black with smoke and dust. I take it it is the aim ,of all associations to get as much outside competition as possible."