STUD SHEEP

Southland Times, Issue 21822, 27 September 1932, Page 6

STUD SHEEP

INSPECTION OF FLOCKS VISIT TO KAUANA AND CENTRE BUSH INTERESTING DEMONSTRATIONS A pleasant afternoon .was spent at Mr R. J. 'Anderson’s stud farm at Kauana yesterday, the outing being arranged by the instructor, Mr McGregor, and the members of the local wool classes. A group of boys from the Southland Boys’ High School under the agricultural master, Mr Allen, were also present. The afternoon was beautifully fine and the outing was much appreciated and proved a most instructive one to all concerned. Before commencing the different demonstrations Mr Anderson paraded before the students various pens of stud sheep, these in themselves being a distinct education. Among the number were several adult sheep which have gained high honours and championships not only in the province but at Royal Shows and some proved sires and dams of stock that have made the name of Kauana a distinguished one in several of the states in Australia. Following on these came pens of the rising generation, some of which are already tagged for shipment abroad, and a pen of Border Leicester ram hoggets which was under inspection could not probably be beaten in the Southern Hemisphere. After a general inspection of both the Romney Marsh and the Border Leicester breeds, the individual demonstrations commenced. Mr David Marshall, of Waianiwa, handled the Romney Marsh section in which he had the services of a past champion ram. Mr Marshall stressed the great necessity for constitution in any animal and described to the boys the various points indicating this great quality. Symmetry and the necessity of producing weighty animals with meaty carcasses were some of the main points set out by the demonstrator and at the conclusion of his address he pointed out to the boys the great and essential need of having roomy robust constitution and heavy woolled breeding ewes, and indicated that probably the first sign of improved values in sheep in Southland would come in the direction of a keen demand for young Romney breeding ewes, the supply of which has latterly been depleted. Demonstration on Wool. Mr McGregor, in opening his demonstration on wool, pointed out the necessity of a sire carrying a fleece of sound, strong wool as even as possible throughout, but said there was no real objection to that little extra strength in the britch which was so common in the best of Romney flocks as long as the britch did not cover a great area and so long as it consisted of wool fibres and not hair fibres and kemp, which were so objectionable from all points of view and particularly so from the manufacturers’. The sheep under review carried an ideal fleece. The wool was in a splendid condition, well grown and shafty with the crimp well defined, and throughout the whole fleece healthy condition and a gold tinted colouration were obvious. Density along with an evenness of quality and any amount of character with soft down on the ears and the covering right down the legs were qualifications much desired and, in the demonstrator’s opinion, the type of sheep under review was likely to leave his mark on his progeny. Mr Alex Drummond, of Five Rivers, then gave a demonstration on Border Leicesters, the sheep being a one-shear ram, low-set, beautifully sprung in the ribs, with a typical sire’s head, strong flat bones and carrying a fleece with a broad typical Border Leicester ram staple of about 40’s quality. The demonstrator pointed out the desirable attributes in this particular breed, indicating at the commencement that constitution was most desirable and that without if there could be no success. After quoting from the British Agriculturalist on New Zealand Border Leicesters, the speaker proceeded to deal with the covering, and it was obvious from his remarks that Mr Anderson has reached a perfection in Border Leicester wools which is rarely beaten in the Dominion. The sheep with square, low set, thick carcasses, are also meeting with much success in the Royal Shows in Australia. Mr McGregor then demonstrated on the wool of the Border Leicester breed, pointing out the outstanding qualities and those most desired. Following on this Mr Anderson had a sheep paraded which showed marked deficiency in the fleece and after devoting some time to the undesirable points in which all assembled were interested, the demonstration was brought to a close. Interesting questions were asked and these were answered, much to the education and benefit of those present. Thanks Returned. Mr Allen, on behalf of the students from the High .School, thanked Mr Anderson and the demonstrators for the interesting afternoon provided, and Mr J. S. Marshall, on behalf of the visitors and the members of the Invercargill wool classes, thanked Mr Anderson and his assistants for the considerable amount of trouble and valuable tuition which the afternoon had given. He stated that with the amount of education at present being provided in the way of boys’ and girls’ clubs and other movements a little adult education was not out of place, and commended the wool classes for the favourable consideration of both young and old. Mr Marshall stated that arrangements were in train to have the wool exhibits at the coming show considerably increased, and it was practically assured that either one or two wool classing competitions would be instituted at the show. These had been very successful some years ago and had proved quite valuable in bringing out members who had attended wool classes. •

Afternoon tea was provided, this being much appreciated, and after a vote of thanks by Mr King to the ladies for their assistance, the visitors left Kauaua feeling that one of the most memorable afternoons in their lives had been spent. The parly then journeyed to Mr William Swale’s property at Centre Bush, where some very fine specimens, both of the Southdown and the Shropshire Down breeds, were examined. Mr J. M. Watson, of the Southland Frozen Meat Company, demonstrated on the carcasses of them, pointing out that they were essentially mutton varieties of sheep. He advocated the use of Down rams on the long-woolled breeds of ewes to produce the ideal and meaty carcasses of lamb for the English market. Much had been said of late concerning the most suitable carcasses for the Home trade and it had been evidenced by recent reports from London of the various pens in the fat lambs classes at local shows that the “meaty lamb” is the one most desired. Mutton Varieties. Following Mr Watson, Mr McGregor gave a demonstration on the wools of the two breeds, explaining that although they were decidedly mutton varieties, some very distinct characteristics were obvious in their wools, the

Southdown carrying a fleece of about 56’s quality while the typical Shropshire was of about 50’s quality. After thanking Mr Swale for providing the exhibits and very much regretting his indisposition and inability to be present on an occasion where his services would have been greatly appreciated, the visitors wended their way to their homes, all being agreed that they had spent a most enjoyable and instructive afternoon.