COMPARISON OF SHEEP BREEDS

Southland Times, Issue 23502, 7 May 1938, Page 19

COMPARISON OF SHEEP BREEDS

Demonstration To Rural Students IMPORTANT POINTS IN BREEDING On Thursday a party of 44 boyst aking the rural industrial course at the Southland Technical High School received at Mr S. T. Evans’s stud farm. Longbush, instruction relating to various breeds of sheep. That this instruction was comprehensive may be gauged from the fact that Mr Evans had yarded representative animals of Romney English Leicester, Lincoln, Southdown, Shropshire and Ryeland flocks. Assisting the owner were Mr D. Marshall and Mr J. Watson, Invercargill. Mr Marshall gave a short historical survey relating to the Romney breed The Kent or Romney Marsh, he said, was a native of the rich but cold, exposed and damp grassland district in England after which it was named. Mr James Little had brought the first Romney flock to the South Island for Captain Webster and today the breed provided the pre-eminent ewe in the fat lamb trade and was also noted for its wool production. By reference to a typical Romney ram Mr Marshall stressed the importance of constitution, and pointed out the conformation indicative of it. The animal should show a good jaw with sound teeth well set on the pad, a square muzzle, preferably with a black nose, open nostril, strong head, with the eyes clear and prominent. The top of the head should be wide and flat, while the ears should have a soft covering. This latter characteristic, said Mr Marshall, could be taken as an indication that the fleece would be free from kemp. ' - After referring to the well-muscled neck, the demonstrator explained to the boys how teh shoulder blades should be well laid in and not wide open on the back, though the spring of both the blades and the ribs should be big to allow large body girth. The loin of the Romney was a particularly fine feature, while the fleshing of the hindquarters had greatly improved. A short cannon bone and a short pastern were also good features as was good sound horn in the hoof. Referred to as very good crossbred the wool was characterized by the density of the staple and fulness in handle. RYELAND AND SOUTHDOWN Mr Evans next introduced the Ryeland and remarked on its being, contrary to general opinion, an old established breed. Crossed with the Romney ewe the Ryeland produced a good fat lamb and had an added advantage in that a very useful ewe hogget could be kept. The face was a dull white in colour, the wool of good quality and deeper in the staple than the Southdown. The general symmetry was good and the sheep was well covered with firm flesh. Constitution points were similar to those outlined by Mr Marshall.

The stocky Southdown was next on the list and here Mr Watson showed

how the maximum amount of meat was carried on a neat compact frame. There was no doubt as to the popularity of the breed for crossing with the Romney ewe for fat lambs, he said. In describing the points the speaker mentioned the nice blocky head, width between the eyes and the level nature of the head between the ears. Constitution was again stressed and the statement made that an animal bad in the shoulder would probably be bad everywhere. The straight back, wide loin, good leg of mutton and good twist were all clearly pointed out. In this connection Mr Watson remarked that fat lambs were graded on the hooks into the Down class irrespective of breed provided they showed the Down hindquarters. The wool was revealed as being very fine, but lacking in crimp and fuzzy with an indistinct staple. The pink colour of the skin, said Mr Watson, was an indication of a healthy animal. A bluish skin was objectionable. The speaker’s next subject was the Shropshire and the class was given an opportunity of comparing this rather bigger Down breed with the Southdown. DUAL-PURPOSE SHEEP A study of the English Leicester and Lincoln directed by Mr Marshall finalized the demonstration. The dual purpose of the former and the part it had played with the halfbred ewe in making the name of Canterbury lamb were outlined. The massive Lincoln with its dense, wavy, strong, lustrious wool provided a marked contrast to the Down breeds. In concluding his remarks Mr Marshall impressed on the boys that they, as future farmers, should interest themselves in their studies and later strain to perfect themselves in results. The class enjoyed afternoon tea hospitably provided by Mrs Evans and helpers. Sincere thanks were wexpressed by Mr K. E. McKinnon on behalf of hte boys to the hostesses and Mr Evans, Mr Marshall and Mr Watson.