DECEPTIVE METHODS IN PREPARING SHEEP FOR EXHIBITION.

Otago Witness, Issue 2927, 20 April 1910, Page 6

DECEPTIVE METHODS IN PREPARING SHEEP FOR EXHIBITION.

Attention has been drawn on several occasions of late to the methods adopted by many exhibitors in getting up their sheep for show purposes, and exception has very properly been taken to the various means devised to make the animals appear in the eyas of the judges better than they really are. In England, the National Sheep-breeders' Association purposes taking this matter up at a conference to be held there in June of this year, when a paper will be read on the desirability or otherwise of the oiling or coloaring of show sheep for exhibition. Honest sheep-breeders in HWla.n<l hnvo

become alive to the existing evil, and are desirous, if possible, of checking the growth of unfair practices in connection with show exhhibits. While competition, is the life of trade, and healthy rivalry, much to be desired amongst exhibitors at the various agricultural and pastoral shows, deceptive practices should unquestionably be put down wiith a firm hand, as being first of all dishonest, and also acting as a considerable handicap to ex* hibitors who would not stoop to win a prize by any unfair or doubtful means. In America, the same question is exercising the minds of many pastoralists. A recent writer to the Sheep-breeders' Journal states that in his opinion the high colouring, blocking, and oiling of sheep should be firmly put down, as every honest man is opposed to these deceptions, and he himself would like to see a rule passed by agricultural associations to disqualify from competition all sheep treated in < this way. It is quite a common sight at many of the leading shows in this Dominion to see those in charge of sheep exhibits making free use of salad oil, usually the day before the sheep are penned up, and also applying other ingredients with a view to adding artificial lustre and condition to the wool, and, unfortunately, the attentions that are in this way bestowed upon sheep exhibits are not infrequently rewarded by success in the prize-list. Another very common practice in New Zealand at the present time is that of trimming sheep for show purposies, and in some districts this custom has become quite a fine art. _The building up of the sheep for exhibition is often commenced at shearing time, and a sheep whose frame, let us say, by way o£ example, shows a low back is made to appear by clever shearing a well-framed animal. An experienced judge certainly soon detects shearing tricks, but at the same time he does not as a rule care to take the responsibility of disqualifying an .exhibit for the above reason alone on°his own shoulders. We are informed!. that the leading Metropolitan A. and P. Associations have adopted a rule which reads as follows: —"Judges are requested l to pass over- any sheep which in their opinion have been unfairly shorn _or trimmed." So that much of the overtrimming which is seen in the show ring could very soon be suppressed if judges of sheep were more strict in regard to this matter, and would only take a firm stand. If this were done there seems no reason to doubt that a very prevalent and unfair practice amongst many sheep men would seen be put a stop to. At every agricultural conference that is held: in N«w° Zealand the question of the unfair preparation of sheep for show purposes comes up for discussion, and recommendations are made and carried against the system; but there the matter ends, and until the judges themselves show more backbone in the .way of disqualifying sheep that they think have been unfairly prepared for exhibitions, these unfaw practices will continue. Every exhibitor is aware .that it is useless nowadays to enter for competition at a metropolitan show unless his stock has been well cared for and properly, brought out; but at the ■ ame time there is absolutely no reason whv any unfair practices should be Idoptel I make any. show stock appear . better than it really is and it seems therefore, to be the duty of our agricul W associations, seeing that the evil .* a o-rowing one, to endeavour by every, means possible to put down practices of deception such as have already been enumerated in the of Jeep for exhibition at many of the leading shows in this Dominion.