ROMANCE OF WOOL INDUSTRY

Otago Witness, Issue 3828, 26 July 1927, Page 12

ROMANCE OF WOOL INDUSTRY

SALE OF 5000 GUINEAS RAM, AUSTRALIAN RECORD PRICE. (See photograph in This Issue.) 'Fro-i Oub Own Cobbespond’ ? .nt.) SYDNEY, July 6. There are many romantic features and stories linked up with the Australian woo! industry, and one of these marked the conclusion of the recent sheep show in this city. F. S. Falkiner and Sons (Ltd.), of Boonoker North merino stud, the most famous breeders of merino stud sheep in Australia, bought from Mr Fred M'Master, of Dalkeith, a ram for 5000 guineas. This price equalled the highest ever paid for a ram in this country. But there were two other features that lent romance to this transaction. It was the first time in half a century that tho Boonoke stud had purchased an outside ram. This stud is the largest merino stud in the world, a stud that has exerted a tremendous influence on the flocks of both Australia and South Africa. It was founded in 1878, and since then the most rigid system of inbreeding has been practised. It has been the boast of the owners that nothing bred outside the boundaries of their station had ever been introduced. The change of policy in purchasing the ram, therefore, created a sensation in the sheep industry, but there is reason for it when the history of the two flocks is considered. The Dalkeith stud has been built up wholly on Boonoke blood. Three years ago Mr M'Master purchased a Boonoke ram with a view to’ improving his flock. So potent was the influence of this blood that it made its mark with the first lot of lambs dropped. Among these was an outstanding youngster, and at one and two years of age this ram has carried all before him in his classes af- the sheep shows. When Mr Otway Falkiner, one of the principals of the Boonoke stud, saw the young ram. he immediately, made an offer of 5000 guineas for him. Mr M'Master accepted, and the cheque was forthwith handed over. .Afterwards Mr Falkiner said: “I think Dalkeith was foolish to sell him, and we were more fortunate to be able to buy him. I consider the ram one of tho greatest sheep I have ever seen. His father was a ram that probably we should never have sold to Dalkeith. Curiously enough, we sold the rani’s father to Mr M'Master for 1600 guineas, and now we have bought his son for more than three times that figure.” What must endear this ram to Mr Falkiner more than' his own great worth as a merino is the fact that Mr M'Master christened him David after Mr Falkiner’s famous racehorse of tliat name, who won for him £20,000 in stakes and many more thousands in bets. For New Zealanders, most sentimental interest in the sheep show centred in the Corriedales, of which the judge was Mr H T. Little, of Woodgrove, North Canterbury, whose father, the late Mr James Little, played such a prominent part in the origin of the Corriedales. Their name, indeed, was taken from his Corriedalo estate in Otago. There was some, division of opinion concerning Mt Little’s judgment on the Corriedale rams, but he backed his opinion by purchasing the animal he had placed first in the championship.