STOCK-BREEDING IN NEW ZEALAND.

Otago Witness, Issue 2805, 18 December 1907, Page 6

STOCK-BREEDING IN NEW ZEALAND.

Now that the principal agricultural shows have been held, the time is opportune for a glance at the position of stockbreeding in the Dominion as evidenced by tha exhibits at the largest of these shows. Certain events are landmarks from which progress andi retrogression are measured, and the International Exhibition show of last year is one of these landmarks. It was freuuently remarked previous to the opening 0* the show season which is norr drawing to a close that this year's shows wouW fall flat after the extra effort put forth last year; but such, has not been the case, at any rate as far as the leading fixtures have been con•oerned. On the contrary, in many cases an advance has been seen, «v«n upon the high standard set by lost season's di*-

plays, and where there has been a falling off the weakness has been due to causes far removed from, a diminished interest or eucceas in 6tock-breeding. There is almost everywhere perceptible a vigorous enterprise in improving further the already high quality of stock, and this will be still more evident in the next year of two, when the animals bred in the and present seasons will appear at the shows, and also permanently, in the more distant future. So far the Exhibition show has marked the beginning of an era of progress, not merely lpoal, but extenduing throughout the Dominion, Take first sheep, as the most important section of the live stock of New Zealand, The respectibe breeds were more or less prominent, according to the district. Thus, Lincoln a anal Homneys were most strongly in evidence at the North Island shows, while the Leicester and Down breeds ana the Corriedales appeared in greatest force at the South Island gatherings. Merinos wera scarcely seett elsewhere than at ChrislchuT«i, and of them it mat be said that there have been better exhibitions of the fine-combing class, but the strong-combing were as good as at any previous time. The absence of the Central Otago breeders from this year's shows left a great roid; ; no doubi the trying circumstances through which they have passed the last two years prevented the she^p from being got in^o show condition. It is the fashion to refer to the Lincoln as an out-of-date breed in New Zealand, but this is wrong ; the Lincoln sheep shown this year at Hastings, Palmereton North, and Christ-church (as well as at some of the smaller shows; were of very high merit; the*« may not have been any <mtefc&n<3ing animal amongst them, but there has seldom, if ever before, been so great a number ot good! sh«ep. Some additions | have been made to the ranks of tjie breeders, and at Ohristphurch one of »ho oldest pedigree nooks of the breed in rbe Dominion made a first appearance in the show aren*. Under present sheep-far/ning conditions in a very large part of the North Island, where sheep cannot be fattened until two or three years old, and the wool it consequently a vital consideration, the Lincoln, cannot be dispensed with. English Leicester* wsre this season more uniformly of the New Zealand type — or father, of the type 01 the early importations to the colony from the leading Yorkshire flocks of those days, moderatesized', iteat-soQ|iedi sheep, wtiioh on the Canterbury and other similar pastures and fields do not put on the BU|>er^bundttnce of fat which was characteristic of the Dishley sheep when ott abundant feed. Importations of modern spscpnensi of the breed are mad©, anjjjl are executed wit]i improving or maintaining the constitution of the flocks to wbicn they are introduced ; but some q! the best nock* have not for many years tsea imported sires, and many bare not done so since their foundation. la cotae opinions many of the sheep exhibited this e&son are still too big, but there could be no jsaina»ying the quality >f the great majority Of rheitt ; and it mus.t not be forgotten tint a ram of fair size is necejjsarv- §i rhodfc farmers' flocks where prime fat lambs are thjb objeot in view. The Border Leicester is just now in ihe South Island the breed which is showing the greatest tendenoy to "boom" ; but in the North Island it is not appreciated in proportion to it* proved suitability to m.ush of the country — probably the idea that the fleece is lignt frightens the owner* of large flocks, but the use of the Borders would in very many flocks enable a larger proportion, of the lambs to bo fattened 1 t/nan would be possible hy any other method!. From Hawke's Bay to Southland the Border Leioeeters this season have beeft, as far as recollection go^s, the best that have y«t been shown kl New Zealand. Our bfted4t& have greatly improved the fleece without detracting from the quality of th£ oaroage or the hardiness and prolificacy of the breed, and if there is any sheep which is better here than in the Old Country it is the Border Leicester. 'the new importations, however, have a "style" which is th^ir own. The Romney March is being ''boomed" in the North Island to an extravagant degree, ohiefiy by me&QB 01 newspaper puffing. There were, no doubt, many very fine sheep amongstthose exhibited, but there were many faulty ones, the defects being mostly in the wool, in the shape of kemp and irregularity of quality ana covering. The most useful ftheep were those bred by the exhibitors, but many of t&ese varied considerably from the Kentish type, and it was rather amusing to hear the " colonial type "'—which conveys the impression of its being a cross between the Roirm,ey and the English Leiceiter—being lauded above the sheep which aad been bought in England at record prices. It was stated positively that the local Romney Marsh Breeders' Society had actually requested the Kentish Society to alter its description of the breed 30 as to conform with the North Island breeders' ideas ! If the North Island Romjiebe have improved, so ako have those of the South Inland, for of 10 entries of southern sheep at Palmerston North — the great Romney show of the Dominion — six received awards, and one of the rams was, in the opinion of many good judges, the best in the show ; he had fewer serious faults than either of the imported Royal Show winners^ and if the " colonial Romney " is the desideratum he should still more certainly have got the championship. There was some talk of sending New Zealand-bred rams to England to show against the natives, and if wool was to be the criterion they would probably score, but the English breeders and judges must be allowed to know something about the breed, and colonial buyers, too, cannot be rightly accused of parting with hundreds of pounds for sheep than which they have better in their own paddocks. Commercially, the Roniney no doubt suits much of the wet, bleak, North Island country — quite as trying as Southland for sheep, — but H will not become the universal sheep as its admirer* predict — indeedi, as cultivation extends, the breed will have to give way to something more i w* A^le in producing fat lambs.

The Ryelands are be&ff rn.ucb. "craoked up" in some quarters, -but more will have to be of them before the "puffing" fa accepted. A very preity pen of lambs of the breed was shown at Cbrißtchurch. but being stud ewes the comparison of them with crossbred lambs was unfair. The Boscommon sheep ohoirn at Palißer-at-on North had nothing to recommend them ; the Weoejeydeta is out of sight a better sheep, and' will thrive in quite up Sugh country aim) climate. The Dorset orbs, whicb. a few years ago ' we*» heralded *& the coming progenitors or fat lambs, seeni to have dropped into obscurity. On the other hand, the "New Zealand breed," the Corri^dale, made a bett-er display than ever, though only at the South Island shows ; indeed, the exhibition at Christchurch was marvellous. It is unfortunate tn|t the Bhe«p-breeden»' Association decided to allow the name to be used by all inbred halfbred sheep of so many ieoerntibne, whatever the bre^d of their longwodl ancestor, the Lincoln Corried&le vark* much from the Leicester ' Corriedals. and as the breeders have not yet formulated a scale of pointa for judging, or a description of the breed, the awards are ocainicting. The Lincoln Corriedales were m tha ascen.daat> everywhere ' —even at Dunedin, though here did English Leicester Corriedale rams were per- ' ferred. They are all grand sheep, and if • they succeed on the high country, where » they are displacing the merino, they will add much to the colony's wealth. South- ' downs have gained) patrons in both islands, . 1 and the display at Christohurch was even ■ >etter than last year*, while at Hastings > and Palmerston North there were some beautiful sheep. Shropshires seemed to ; mate little aivanca th.& last two or three 1 years, but the large importations, particularly of ewes, are telling their tale, and toero has never before been seen su£h a fine collection as at Christchurch this year. They were quite of the fashionable English type — and, it may be said, 'brought out in something approaching Epglish style, bar the colouring. Some of the sheep up north were coloured, but the innovation did not meet favour. To sum up, the sheep all round, excepting the noi-wooUed merinos, showed improvement upon those shown in previous seasons. The causes are several: the sheep-breedina industry ie more profitable than it has been for years, enabling breeder* to launch out into expenditure Upon, higi-clasft stud sheep, both coloniajbrea afoo! imported; competition is Ktttoer ; And, without dierespeot to the übillty of 019 preddiew, it must he said thai mote art 1* now. shown in bweging good sheep aftd making them look their best than at any previous period. In regard to cattle, the most notable feature is the "feoqm" in Jerseys in the North Island, the breed leading in number of entries at' many of the shows. ' The quality was not always on a par with the number, animals of poor and even doubtful breeding being too plentiful1 The best, however, were very good, while the "fancy" points so much prized by. Old World breeders were seldem unduly ..prominent or allowed to sway judgment. There is no doubt, from trustworthy information received, that in the maregen|al parts of the North Island, where buiter-fiat is the sole consideration, the Jersey is the most profitable cow. There is also evidence that South Island dairyfarmers are giving the breed a fair trial. Of the other dairy breeds the variously named fiolsteins were in advance of any previously seen in New Zealand, and win gain in favour with cheese-makers and those Who will rear a male calf for veal , or beef. Ayrshire* up north were not so Seed as in former years, bnt at the Otago shows they were as good as ever. The Canterbury shorthorns may almost be included as dairy cattle : they were de- . cidedly good, particularly the females, the , classes of cows and heifers at Ohristchurch ' being of very great merit. The Canterbury breeders also contributed substantially to the splendid display al Dunedin. The beef shorthorns at Hastings were equal to the high standard of that district, but at Palmerston they fell far short of old-time displays. Few Herefords or Aberdeen Angus were shown anywhere, but they included some splendid animals. Cattle-breeding &V present is running mostly on milk lines, which is not to be wondered at, with butter-fat at l> per lb and upwards -, bnt beef will soon be as scarce as wheat has been lately, and the price will advance similarly, ana then the shorthorns and Herefords and "Doddles" will hay*« their day again. It is a wonder that the Devons and the red-polled do not gain more friends ; they are pretty cattle and most useful. Some very fine pigs were exhibited. The Large Blacks gained many admirers, and those who have tried them have found them very profitable, both with the Berkshire and the Yorkshire. It has many good points in common with the Taraworth — lean meat and rapid fattening to a certain age. The Tamworth has made a peor show, but both Berkshires and the white breeds have been better than usual. Horses have been the least satisfactory from a breeding point of view. The young stock, the produce of the grand mares which have been bred from bygone champions, have been a grand sight, but there is grave apprehension that the use of the fashionable light-boned Clydesdales which are being imported in such numbers will lead to the production of stock wanting in the weight and power of those for which New Zealand has gained a reputation. In light horses there is no sign of improved system of breeding, and ii the stallions could be taken as a> sample of these in general use it would compel the conclusion that the good saddle and driving horses which we see at times must have been produced by miracle. An encouraging point in all branches of stock-breeding is the enthusiasm with which it is being taken up by the younger generation., A number of veteran breeders' sens have taken over the charge of the

old aeoks and stud^ or have started otita?* far themselves, ana have acquitted %btm* selves wsll. Some %«.ve been entrurtecl 1 * with good results, wi^O the iudgjjtta of important classes ai teftddbflc sbxtws •#• wett as at many of the smafiex fuctures- (4BotiflH most of the latter are very conservative in their appointments, and J00& nßanc^t at a novice, no matter what Ws credettt tials as a breeder or herdman^ Judging by what has be«n seen at the; - shows, therefore, the oontfon et tfte stk)CKbreeding industry of the Dbmlnibrr can 6a set down as being *»iy •atfifactory', and! no stronger proof of urfa arts presented anywhere than at Donedur.