SOUTHDOWN STUD SHEEP

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18991, 12 October 1923, Page 11

SOUTHDOWN STUD SHEEP

MR J. E. CLOSE AND HOME BREEDERS. SOME USEFUL SUGGESTIONS PURCHASES FOR NEW ZEALAND. (Fbom Our Own Corbesi undent.) LONDON, August 50. Mr J. E. Close, Mr E. Oates, and Mr A. Kinnell were all guests of the Southdown Sheep Breeders’ Association at its annual dinner at Chichester last week, when some 250 members from all parts of England were present. The same three gentlemen were the quests at a dinner held at Arundel (Sussex), when the representative breeders of Southdown sheep attending Messrs Stride and Son’s great annual August sale and show of the breed were entertained by the auctioneers. There were breeders present from all parts of the country and from the dominions, for the sale, is an affair of national and even importance in Southdown circles. Mr A. Miller-Hallett. president of the Southdown Sheep Society, was in the chair. Comment was made by Mr W. J. Fleet in toasting the overseas visitors on the increasing number of these, and the desirability of extending the overseas sales of Southdowns. Pure bred stock, ho declared, was the most important asset of British agriculture, and the list of breeds that leawo the shores of this small country to replenish the blood of the world’s flock and herds is surprising, far surpassing the number of breeds exported for world use from any other lands. Mr Close made the principal speech in reply to the toaat. He suggested a scheme' whereby the best of British Southdowns should be sent out to New Zealand. He proposed that a sub-committee should bo set up from the Southdown Sheep Sociotv with power to select, and arrange details for exporting to New Zealand a consignment of both ewes and lambs, to arrive about the first week in February, and be sold at a similar sale to the Chichester sale —which in the dominion would be equivalent to the English autumn season. “If that was done, he assured his hearers, “you would meet with a very ready sale for those sheep, and if the first lot met with the support anticipated, they could be followed by an annual shipment. But they must be your best sheep, and your guarantee must be behind them.” As things wore, he said, an ordinary breeder must come to b-ngland to get his best blood. Most of the breeders, wanting, on© or two sheep, could not afford the journey for that, and must send Home a letter with very vague instructions as to their requirements. When the sheep got to Now Zealand it might be a perfect animal from the selector’s point of view but no good to the particular buyer. “I commend the suggestion to your hearty consideration, and the sooner it is taken up the better.” APPRECIATION OF SHIPPING COMPANIES. Another suggestion he made was that the Southdown Sheep Society should offer to New Zealand a trophy for the best price obtained at a sale of a sheep from the best English Southdown blood. Such a prize would encourage beginners to buy a aheep which had won such a trophy. Mr Close commented that very little notice had been taken of the generous offer of the shipping companies to take freight free the beststud stock to the dominions, and he was afraid if more advantage was not taken of it the concession would be withdrawn. He suggested that special acknowledgment be made by a communication to the companies of the appreciation by home breeders of their concession. FAULTS OF HOME SHEEP. Dominion breeders, he went on to say, found that with regard to some of the finer points of stud breeding, there were some things which New Zealand breeders were particular about, but which the home breeders did not worry over. “The most glaring faidt you have to face is bad feet. Sheep with bad feet are absolutely useless when they have to go out and find for themselves, as they do with us. I have walked down the line and pointed out sheep after sheep in the show with bad feet. There v.-as a sheep at the Royal Show, that won a prize, that was bent from the shoulder to the front foot. It was deformed, but it won a prize. I pointed him out to the owner, and he said: “ iVe don’t bother about that sort of thing.” Another criticism was as to “Kemp” and black wool —two absolutely fatal things from the New Zealanders’ point of view. Another was light-coloured ears and light colour round the eyes—almost pink. He had noticed several instances in the show, apparently from one ram, “and it would pay the society to give £lO to someone to buy it and cut its throat.” Overseas breeders found it very difficult to buy just a few sheep of the exact type they wanted. It was very essential for home breeders wishing to supply New’ Zealand to study the wool. “We have to, to pay our rent.” It was a matter of personal selection and judicious crossing. There were in New Zealand 23.C0C registered Southdown ewes, added Mr Close, by way of impressing his hearers, with the scope for a good overseas trade in stud stock. Mr Kinnell said the Southdowns had built up a reputation in New Zealand as the best sires for fat lambs. Attempts had been made to find markets for New Zealand lamb in other countries, “but the majority of us are satisfied that the best market is this country.” The Chairman, on behalf of the Southdown Sheep Society, assured Mr Close that the subjects he had mentioned, and particularly his suggestion as to sending a selected consignment of Southdowns to New Zealand, should have the most careful consideration. He commented on the enormous growth in recent years of the propaganda work in connection with the breed, and on the debt which in this connection breeders owned to the late president of the society (Mr John Langmead). As to the prevalent feeling that it was always two or three flocks that won all the great prizes, he remarked that this was in the nature of things most inevitable, but he advised smaller men to make a beginning by concentrafing on the smaller local shows, and thus gain experience. PURCHASES FOR NEW ZEALAND. After attending the Royal Show at Newcastle and several county shows, Mr Close has visited most of the principal Southdown sheep flocks at their homes and has made seme important purchases. These include: On account Mr Burrell, Feilding: 1 special stud shearling ram (bred by Lady Fitzgerald), 1 special stud ram lamb (bred by Sir J. Coleman. On account Mr Vile, Bulls, Rangitikei: 1 special stud shearling ram (bred by Lady Fitzgerald), 1 special stud ram lamb (bred by Sir J. Coleman). 5 special stud shearling ewes (bred by Sir J. Coleman). On account of Air James Knight, Feilding: 1 champion shearling ram (bred by Sir J. Coleman). On account of Mr B. Gates, Christchurch; 1 selected stud ram lamb (bred by Sir J. Coleman). 5 selected stud shearling owes (bred by Sir J. Coleman). Mr E. Gates also purchased several of the best sheep at the Chichester annual Southdown show and sale, including the first prize ram lamb at 105 guineas.