OUR YORKSHIRE LETTER.

Otago Witness, Issue 3888, 18 September 1928, Page 13

OUR YORKSHIRE LETTER.

THE DEVELOPMENT OF SHEEP / BREEDING AND WOOL GROWING. (From Our Special Correspondent.) BRADFORD, July 12. At the twenty-seventh International Conference of the National Sheep Breeders Association, held in the University College, Nottingham, Mr S. B. Hollmgs, of Bradford, gave a lecture on the origin and uses of wool. He said that archaeologists tell us that away back in the early days of the world’s history there lived an animal called the moufflon. This was somewhat like the South American yak, which has long outstanding horns and wears a rather shaggy long coat. In spite of its somewhat formidable appearance, the moufflon was not well adapted to live on the plains

and defend itself against the other animals which lived there. Possessing an agile frame, it made its home in the m untainous districts, and with .the exception of an occasional sally down into the plains seat ch of better food was content to live upon the plainer, fare which the mountain tops provided. It is supposed that the moufflon was n«Ad” rC< i al A‘• slau « ht ? re d, and its skin sed as clothing. It Js further supposed that mankind, finding their captives were ot great practical utility, began to develop that utility to a still meater ex--I.Witb S' 1 ’ 8 °Nect in/vfew the animals weie kept in restricted areas, and by constant association with man became more accustomed to his soeietv. IN™? 01 ', 1 .? W i ere k . epfc in view and aimed at steadily by these pioneers in the woo! industry: (1) The animals chosen «eie those largest in size, because they piovided their owners with the largest skins, each of which when t iken off in one piece provided an adequate coverin'' for one person (2) The skins were examined and those were chosen which had on them the softest wool, because they were most likely to make comfortable coverings lor the human bodv. In tins way our present requirements' were anticipated.

SHEEP AT A PENNY APIECE ! How long sheep have been in England P;° 8 ’ , bUt there is a roc0I ' (1 that in 1298 a live sneep was sold at .Scarborough for Id. 1„ 1355 a f. lt mutton was sold for 4<l. and a stone of wool (that is 161 b) for 9d. Many such references to the. early sheep and wool trade ot this country have been found, it would Ot course, be incorrect to say that modern sheep are exactly like those of hundreds of years ago. There have been gieat changes in the sheep reared and the wool grown in this country. Geoige 111 laid a very sound foundation when he introduced into this country the Spanish merino. The very good use of tins breed made about 1790 and the following years undoubtedly left its mark upon the Down breeds in the southern counties ot England. BREEDS AND TYPES.

A greater number of so-called pure breeds are to be found in Great Britain than in any other country. We havno fewer than 30, but one" should avoid confusing breed and type. If the Flood was universal and the animals went into the ark in twos of their own kind we have only one breed even to-day ’The spreading abroad upon the face" of the eaith of man and beast has resulted in many races and types. If we take the sheep found in Europe. Asia, and the bar East we shall not find much less than 50 breeds and types. The development and permanency of distinctive features perm-ts us to speak of breeds, and each and all turn out wool somewhat different from the rest. Perhaps some may think that the wool of the Lincoln and Leicester breeds in England is the same as from the same breeds q 1 Victoria and New Zealand or bouth America. That is only partially correct. Climate and pasturage exert a great influence upon sheep and wool, ihey are probably more responsible than anything else for the great differences t - en ‘ 1 18 more lustre a pure Lincoln fleece grown in Victoria than a pure Lincoln grown in England or New Zealand. One can only attribute that to the difference in climate and pasturage. A pure Lincoln fleece from a sheep reared in New Zealand possesses a little softer and finer quality than the Lincoln grown in England, and the same can be said of the Romney. Such differences as these may be very small, .but they count for a great deal among spinners ami manufacturers, and when one considers that these differences exist all the way through the breeds and types I have mentioned it is apparent that there is a ierj wide range to work upon. SHEEP IN OUR DOMINIONS • , i l x? alc A' l ‘l. te the . British clip of wool,” Hn d n^ r nn^°li ,ng i’ > bc worth aII ro,ln<l £19,000,000 the Australian clip £60.000.000 to £6a.000,000. the New Zealand clin f 15.000.000. and that of S<uth Africa £16000.000 These figures show the importance of the pastoral industry, and we must not forget the sheep and wool trade •of South America, the United States and Canada. The British dominions are contributing approximately 60 per cent, of the wool supplies of the world. As tar as we can ascertain Australia the last census was pasturin'' 103.000,000 sheep. New Zealand 25.000 000 3 266000 lICa 35 ’ 000 ' 000 ’ alld Canada

These figures make one ask. What would the world have been like to-day but for the huge output of wool bv the British domin ons ? At the beginning ot the nineteenth century Australia’s output was only a few thousand bales and has since increased tremendously, lhe last clip was 2,750,000 bales, and"l forecast a still bigger clip for the woo] year that began on July 1. An adequate rainfall brings wealth and prosperity to the pastoral industry of all the British dominions, and every person present to day cannot but rejoice that Australia New Zealand, and South Africa are enjoying a bounteous winter season. I have no intention of going into any further detail regarding the sheep stocks of the countries named, but sufficient has been said to indicate that sheep and wool are a source of tremendous wealth. Every manufacturing country takes part of its supply from the British dominions, while tlie industries of Great Britain and the Continent have been largely built by using ■'Y 00 1 from the same source. At" times the United States has also been a big buyer oi-colonial wools, but the high tariff compels American manufacturers to draw chiefly upon domestic supplies. MERITS OF AUSTRALIAN WOOL.

Very big changes have come over the wools grown throughout the British dominions, but more particularly those produced in New Zealand. One cannot look <at this big subject without expressing appreciation of the great strides made in sheep breeding and wool growing by Australian, New Zealand, and South African pastqralists. Australia still leads in the production of merino wool, and in all probability the clip for the current year will exceed all previous clips in size and probably value. There have been changes since 1914 in th e general character of the clip grown in Australia, but on the whole, notwithstanding a deeper and a broader staple Australian stud stock breeders have still a very lofty con-

ception of what their sheep and wool should be. Australian pastoralists are showing unmistakable signs of producing a bigger framed merino sheep, which must of necessity grow a slightly lower quality wool. All one can do is to express the hope that Australian pastoralists will not overlook the essential characteristics of the merino—wool of good quality and character. Manufacturing needs have changed. There is not now the need that obtained 25 to 50 years ago for a large production of the finer quality wools, but whatever quality is produced, be it 60’s, 64’s, or 70’s, .. Australian pastoralists should remember that manufacturers are wanting wool of good style and character, full of spinning quality ""and soft handle.” Concluding his speech, Mr Hollings said: “Australia must ever remain the home of,.the merino. Of course, here and there, where a station is capable of carrying mutton breeds successfully, these will probably be kept. Certain parts of Victoria and South Australia seem capable of carrying them. I have nothing to say against this development, though I hope pastoralists will remember that the best merino wool in the world can be grown in Victoria. With regard to New Zealand a great change has taken place. In the ’seventies 98 per cent, of the sheep flocks of the Dominion were merino, with only 2 per cent, of crossbreds. To-day it is just the reverse, there being 98 per cent, of crossbreds and 2 per cent, merinos. There have been years since 1920 when New Zealand pastoralists have had a gruelling. Many have experienced such a difficult time that they have had to relinquish sheep farming. It is not now proposed to deal with the chief causes, but I sincerely hope there will be no repetition '"’of them.” ENCOURAGING OPENING IN COLEMAN STREET.

Last Tuesday saw the opening of the fourth series of colonial sales, there being the usual large attendance of home and Continental buyers. The initial results exceed all expectations. Combing merinos do not show a great deal of change com-r-ared with the close of the May sales, and greasy crossbreds are generally steady, it being in slipe crossbreds down to 46's that there is an ease of about 5 per cent Competition was well sustained throughout the entire sitting, and the opening result, in face of general slackness throughout the whole industry, is remarkable. Continental buyers complain just as bitterly as Bradford, and yet everybody comes to London to buy wool—presumably because they must have | it? Opening values will probably be maintained to the finish.