DORSET HORN SHEEP

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18580, 14 December 1934, Page 3

DORSET HORN SHEEP

GISBORNE IMPORTATION GOOD FAT LAMB BREED An importation of dO stud Dorset Horn ewes and one rain has been arranged by Mr. C. C. Laver, Ngatapa, and they are expected to arrive in Gisborne next week. The Dorset Horn is one of the finest breeds in the United Kingdom, and was originally bred in Dorsetshire. This sheep is strikingly different from the other iniddle-wooiled sheep, such as the Southdown, in that the Dorset is a survival of a white faced horned and short woolled race, while the other breeds in Ibis category have brown or black faces and legs. English writers favor the theory that the present Dorset sheep are similar to the extinct Wiltshire breed which roamed in Dorsetshire and Wiltshire many years ago. In improving this breed, the Knglish Dorset breeders settled upon a process of selection rather than of crossing.

In England tile breed is greatly in favor for the production of early: lambs,, enabling high remunerative prices to be obtained when lamb supplies are scarce. They are very prolific breeders and produce from 17.6 per cent, to 190 per cent, of lambs. They are considered I>y many to lie 200 per cent, better milkers than any oilier known breed, and thus are a bio to rear twin lambs as well as singles. In fact, it is thought desirable to put another lamb on tt*, «we if slie lias onlv one.

Dorset Horns are the only sheep which will mate at. any time of the year, and therefore the breeder is always aide to produce an out-of-season milk iamb. The ewes can he mated again nine days after they have dropped their lambs, and thus two hurdlings are. obtained in one season, but it must he borne in mind that to obtain this result the slice]n must be well fed and carefully looked after. On the Poverty Bay flats, this practice could easily lie adopted. The Dorset Horn is noted for its great constitution and long life, Jiving to nine or 10 years, and owing to their constitution produce high quality lambs reaching maturity very quickly, and are ready for the butcher in 11 or 12 weeks. Dorset Horns are hardy and excellent mothers, and yield well flavored mutton. It. is interesting to note, that in 1932 Dorset Horn-Southdown lamb won the cup for th(> best carcase of mutton at the Smithlicld Show, the performance being repeated in 1933. Bull) the ewes and rams arc horned, the horns of the rams particularly adding character and masculinity to the head of these most prolific and energetic sires. They have splendid hard feet, and therefore will not give any trouble in our heavy pastures. Mr. Laver has lived in Dorsetshire, the home of the breed, and is of the opinion that the Poverty Bay climate is ideally suited for this sheep and that they should thrive well in this district. The imported ewes will be lambing in January, having been mated with stud rams of the highest quality from a wellknown stud. Mr. Laver is to be commended for ins enterprise, and no doubt the outcome of bis venture will be watched with interest by the progressive slieepfarniers of this district, more particularly those connected with the breeding of early or late fat lambs. The consignment is being imported through the agency of Messrs. Dnlgety and Company’s Gisborne office.