Successes Of Prominent Breeders

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27572, 14 December 1950, Page 9

Successes Of Prominent Breeders

A former Oamaru Jersey cattle breeder. Mr Archdale Irvine, of Tlsbury, was one of the most prominent exhibitors in the section at the show. He began breeding Jerseys at Oamaru in 1939 and came to Southland three years later to start his Rochette Jersey stud. After importing a bull from Jersey, he founded his Rush’s Design blood line. Mr Irvine selected the animal while on a visit to Jersey, and he can claim to be the first Southland breeder to import a stud beast direct from the island to the southern province. After winning a number of championships with the bull. Mr Irvine sold him to a North Island breeder for 1000 guineas. The bull is now at the stud of S. H and R. Jagger, and won the New Zealand Royal championship last year. Estate D. Robertson, Waikoikoi. For the past 12 years sheep from the Robertson Estate, the Merrivale stud, have carried off prizes at shows from Invercargill to Christchurch. The sheep department is being managed by the, sons, John and David, who have had considerable success with their Romneys. Merrivale rams are sought after at stud ram fairs in Southland, Otago and Canterbury. In recent years good Southdown blood has

been introduced for the development of the stud, and the breed has taken honours at shows in the two southern provinces. Mr A. R. Johnston, Waikaka Valley. A prominent Romney Marsh breeder. Mr Johnston has met with a great deal of success in recent years at shows in Southland and Otago. At the Royal Show at Christchurch, his ewe hoggets met with success in the open section, winning several places against strong competition. A few years ago Mr Johnston was well known for his saddle horses and ponies He was connected with Farmers’ Union affairs for 30 years, and is a past president of the union. He was competing at the Balclutha and Gore shows this year, and judged sheep sections at Milton. Mr R. J. Low, Mount Hutt, Rakaia. Judge of the Southdown ewes, Mr Low has many qualifications to help him tn this posltiorv For over 30 years he has been breeding sheep at his Aberdeen stud and showing them in many parts of the South Island. Mr Low has what is probably one of the most diversified studs in the island, with Southdown, Border Leicester. Romney and English Leicester sheep. At the South Island championship show at Blenheim last year, Mr Low’s sheep took six championships in four breeds.