N.S.W. FLOCKS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16360, 7 June 1927, Page 4

N.S.W. FLOCKS

HEAVY ADDITIONS SYDNEY, May 26. With the wool sales over,, stock is being taken of the pastoral industry in New South Wales. Although the 1920 lambing was a failure, the State lias since then witnessed consistently heavy additions to its flocks each year, the advance from 33,150,000 sheep in New South Wales in 1920 to this year’s amazing total of 54,630,000, having chiefly been made in the last three years. „In some .quarters the number of, sheep carried is considered risky, but it is pointed out that, from 1887 to 1896, the New South Wales flocks averaged more than 52,000,000 head, and that if, in that period, such a number was pastured, the Stato should, with less risk, be able to carry more sheep to-day. The country is to-day more settled; paddocks arc smaller; the stock therefore got bettor attention. Two more good lambing seasons. however, will, according to experts, put the flocks of the State on a dangerous level, which will mean either lower prices, to encourage export orders for mutton and lamb, or a partial halt in breeding, if bounteous pastures continue. Authoritative opinion is that a larger outlet abroad will open up before the danger level is reached. To preserve the standard of the flocks and the quality of the wool, flock culling has been ruthlessly applied in New South Wales. On some of the big holdings,, 30 to 35 per cent. Of the young owes bred are being annually culled, in order to eliminate faulty stock. The pastures of New South Wales carried so much feed during the past 12 months that in some places it was a problem to eat the growth olf. Some of the Western owners went so far as to offer to take cattle on free agistment in order to check the feed.