SHEEP MUST BE HEALTHY

Southland Times, Issue 23852, 24 June 1939, Page 19

SHEEP MUST BE HEALTHY

PRODUCTION OF WOOL Among those who breed sheep primarily for their wool there exists the world over an almost universal fallacy of paying too much attention to . wool specifically, and insufficient attention to the sheep which produces it. The sheep should come first, for only a healthy sheep adapted to its environment in every way, can produce sound wool and a heavy clip (says /The New Zealand Herald). On all heavily-grazed country the dense infection of the pastures with internal parasites and disease germs makes it imperative that the sheep should be organically sound, in every way capable of maintaining body tone and general fitness under existing grazing conditions, without risk of dehabilitation, and thereby increasing risk of mortality and disease. The heavy, dense fleeces at present sought after by crowding as much wool as possible on sheep require particularly good nutrition. More often than not sheep pastures fail to provide this and recourse to artificial or supplementary feeding is necessary to obtain full expression of the hereditary wool-bearing capabilities of the sheep. This is possible in the stud, but impracticable in the flock of the ordinary farmer —a weakness in the relationship of stud breeder and wool grower which, unless corrected, must do incalcuable injury to the wool-growing industry. In other words,, the artificial conditions of housing’ and feeding practised by most stud breeders are likely to mask innate weaknesses, interfere with proper selection, and produce flock rams of attractive appearance but of restricted utility. It is impossible to rely on flock rams bred and reared under these conditions. Given such treatment even the poorest sheep in a flock can be made to look attractive, but his offspring, reared under natural and competitive conditions, will inherit and reveal all his hidden weaknesses. This weakness in the system of sheep husbandry is engendered chiefly by over-emphasis on wool, the value of show successes and records, and a superstitious respect on the part of buyers for “pedigree.” To the extent that shows encourage pampering in the form of housing, rugging and feeding on concentrates, they create a false standard of excellence which frequently influences the buyer to purchase sheep which will injure rather than improve his flock.