RUGGING OF SHEEP IN AUSTRALIA

Southland Times, Issue 23388, 21 December 1937, Page 6

RUGGING OF SHEEP IN AUSTRALIA

IMPROVEMENT IN WOOL AND ANIMALS (United Press Association) WELLINGTON, December 20. ' A statement that he was impressed by the practice in Australia of rugging sheep was made by Mr George Davidson, jun., of G. P. H. Davidson and Company, the Wellington wool-broking firm who has just returned from a visit to Australia. For many years stud sheep had been rugged in Australia, he said, but it was only during the last two years or so that practical experiments had been made with flock sheep, end these had proved very successful. Not only had the wool improved in growih and freedom from vegetable matter, but also these sheep had developed a more robust frame. These advantages should alone, he considered, pay the cost of covering the sheep even under the most adverse wool and meat market conditions and therefore the reduced mortality brought' about by the protection of the sheep by rugs from weather would be a clear saving to the farmer. He had imagined that there would be many drawbacks to covering, but had found that he was wrong.

Discussing the effect of the hot sun on covered sheep, Mr Davidson said he wa. told that they were protected against the effect of heat. At present the practice had not been carried out to a large extent in Australia, but it appeared to him to be fast becoming popular with sheep owners. In his opinion New Zealand should follow closely what was being done in Australia in rugging sheep. There appeared to be sound economic reasons for it.