RAM BREEDING.

Otago Witness, Issue 3275, 20 December 1916, Page 10

RAM BREEDING.

The breeding of high-class rams requires the exercise of the keenest judgment on the part of the breeder, who must, indeed, to be successful, be a practical shepherd himself, and be thoroughly well up in all the details of sheep management. The country, too, on which the sheep arc bred must be favourable, as well as the climate, as it is but courting failure to endeavour to bring out high-class stock on sour, unkind pastures. Given the knowledge, however, it is wonderful what a good man will effect in course of time by means of "catch crops," etc., to push the ramlambs along with, provided the breeding is on practical utility lines and the supply not over-done. Needless, perhaps, to say, the breeding of rams differs considerably from the breeding of the ordinary commercial sheep, the latter breeder probably knowing nothing of the anxieties, expenses, and disappointments attached to stud-breeding. In the Homeland, where stud-breeding has reached a fine art—and fortunately some of the Home artists are in this Dominion, —it is the custom soon after the lambs arc weaned to separate the sexes and push on the ram lambs in every way, with the view in mind that early development and quick growth are two of the greatest factors in effecting satisfactory sales on the convincing day later on. It is at weaning time that the benefit of the "catch" crops are apparent, when the various palatable foodstuffs can be made free use of until in due course the root crops are available, which will serve to carry the lambs on until the spring. They are now carefully gone over, and the best selected, and they will be carefully shorn as early as possible, so that they may be ready for, if wanted, show purposes, etc. Those not good enough to keep for stud purposes are marketed. The selected sheep will now take up a great deal of time and attention in the case of a flock with any sort of a reputation. No expense will be spared in order to grow them as big as possible, and yet with plenty of lean flesh, with the idea of them handling well. Ram lambs of the early maturing breeds intended for service in the autumn are forced along from the very start of their life, getting the best of the feed on the farm, and if not in over supply at the autumn sales, the "pick of the basket" may realise prices well up to those ruling later on for the shearlings. In regard to the ewo lambs, naturally the best ewe lambs as shearlings are selected for the home breeding flock in place of those culled out, while the balance may be taken by home or foreign buyers. Hence the necessity of doing the ewe hoggets fairly well. The lambs are usually marked soon after birth, figures being either tatooed in the ear or metal numbers fastened in the ears, which numbers must correspond with those entered in the flock book with the pedigree attached. The foreign buyer at least may look for the pedigree of individual ewes, as well as the certificate of export, issued by the particular breed society concerned. The salvation of the fame of New Zealand stud sheep turns very largely upon the ruthless sorting out by the breeder, and the free use of the knife when the ram tegs are brought in off the roots, together with the strict impartial inspection by the various selected inspectors of the several breed societies. Nobody wants fine bone in these days, nor undersized rams, nor yet an ill clothed animal; and with Australia at onr doors on the lookout for longwool sheep, it would be the height of foolishness if breeders ignored the requirements of an important market. Those who have_ maintained and furthered the reputation of their stud flocks must in the near future find a ready sale at both encouraging and profitable prices.