OUR YORKSHIRE LETTER. From Our Special Correspondent.) SELECTION OF BREEDING RAMS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2497, 22 January 1902, Page 9

OUR YORKSHIRE LETTER. From Our Special Correspondent. )

SELECTION OF BREEDING RAMS.

BRADFORD,

November 22, 1901.

Some flookmastere believe — at least, so it appears — that, providing a first-class ram is used on no matter what ewes, the result will be such that any ram lamb that conies may be saved for a ram. How far this is from being correct can best be proved if readers will ponder for one moment, and consider how very, very few really firstclass rams we see compared with toe enormous number of second-rate ones. Often during ram-selling season we hear the remark, "The trade is overdone," "There are too many about," etc. This may be true, but only so far as regards second and third quality. It is a notorious fact that really first-class rams are, if anything, far harder to find now than they were a few years ago. Why is this? Because of the" fact that sufficient care is not taken by breeders in making proper selection at the time of castration, and because so very many flockowners, who are not really ram-breeders, cave and sell for rams a very large number of ram lambs, taking simply those that appear to be biggest and beat. All who desire to breed rams for sale must first remember that it is a business by itself. How difficult it is to become a ram-breeder in deed aud fact can only be realised when we remember how very few are the names that remain long as such before the public. Few, indeed, are the names that one can remember, going back for a period of, say, 20 or 25 years. Many new men come out year by year, but as a rule their appearance is brief. Why is this? Simply because it is not thoroughly understood by most of our present-day ram-breeders that it is absolutely essential for the success of their business that the lams they sell should not only get good stock, but should be themselves sheep of individual merit and character. Why are there so many failures? Because of the mistakes made in the selection of the lambs in the first instance: and, secondly, because of the insane idea of being able to sell so many rams or ram lambs every year, which means that, be they good, bad, or indifferent in themselves, so long as they have for a sire a noted sheep or one of Aoted pedigree, they are left and aold for males.

To attempt in so brief a space as I have at command to set forth .all the details of this most important brancli of the flockmaster's business is, of course, impossible. Therefore, perforce, I must content myself •with briefly summarising some of the most important facts. The proper selection of males for the females at ;oupling time, is, of couree, the starting point, and to do this properly every ewe (mould be "hand-risen," Sot only by this means can we properly and J-eally compare the two sheep, and see if the pair match, as they should do, to have a fair chance of giving a satisfactory result. This being done, the next operation takes place at time of castration of the Jambs, as follows :— First separate the lambs into male and female, then put the males into a pen, and, with care and time as they move about, select those that appear to the eye to be such as are suitable for rams. The outward visible essential points are a straight back, wide loin, well-sprung ribs, shoulders well put in, with the tail set in a level with the loin, neck short and thick, head masculine in appearance, wide 'between the ears, and wide nostril ; eye prominent, legs well outside the body and etraight, gay carriage and active walk. All 6uch as these should then be caught, one iby one, and thoroughly examined, to see there are no defects existing, and that the wool and colour are right. None save those that pass the ordeal should be allowed to have a chance x> pass the final examination, for it must always be remembered — although it is quite possible for the breeder to hide faults, etc.. by dressing and trimming — that the purchaser is sure to find out these when the gloss is worn off in actual use, and thus lie Joefe not a second time give his patronage to a flock from which !he has once been disappointed. Having carefully examined each lamb, those that are selected should then be put into a separate pen, and from this they should be taken one by one, and the pedigree of each lamb carefully examined. By this is meant not only the pedigree oi the sire, but also -he pedigree of the dam. Depend upon it, no matter what may be eaid to the contrary, the dam's pedigree is quite as essential as, if not more than, Hie sire's, and should any line of hlood or other objection be discovered in either the dam's or sire's pedigree, thf lamb should at once be castrated, no matter how good he may be. Many will, I know, exclaim that it would never pay to take all this trouble. Why not? Refer to the career of any past noted ram-breeders, and it will be found that some such ' principles as these have ibeen adopted. Some may declare that it's all nonsense to go to the trouble, bother, and expense to keep an individual ewe's record, suoh as this suggestion would necessitate. To such arguments as this an easy answer can be found. If the dam's pedigree and bi'eedmg are not necessary in a ram, it iol'ows as a mattei if cours that they are r.ot needful oi necessary as regard-) horses or cattle; and yet we find, in not only all pedigree records, but aLo in all hor^e and «'attle sale catalogues of pedigree stock there is always given the lam\ pedigree, whilst in the ca»e of shorthorn cattle, it is generally found that he pedigrees gncn are the sire's, and then on the dam's side as many generations as possible. Such time and .rouolo as would be inemred by tho method suggefted 'lerein would be lecouped by higher prices. Tho,e who go in a m^sion of ram-buy-ing should take careful note of the condition of the fleccf of the animal. There is such a tiling as sheaiing a sheep to give i» a desirable rotund form v. lucli ie not its real shape. The length cf the wool on the flanks aud rump is to be looked to, a. it is ea-^y to gnc a scraggy, nai row-bodied hoop a mut h bitter appeiu.incr than i* really is entitled to, by leaving the wool longer ihcic than el e-wiicie. li the i:ii"iw ing buyei is not experienced i»i iitcp. it will mr~ tiaj, well to take an ux^ttit wuli Uim to

examine the flock and advise ar to the actual value of it.