NEW ZEALAND ROMNEYS

Southland Times, Issue 23942, 7 October 1939, Page 14

NEW ZEALAND ROMNEYS

Adelaide Royal Show Successes 23 OF 30 PRIZES WON New Zealand-bred Romney sheep or their progeny, won 23 of the 30 prizes in the Romney section at the Adelaide Royal Show. Up until 1936 there were comparatively few of the modem, or New Zealand type, Romneys m South Australia. In that year Voss Bros sent over the first consignment to Mr A. Koch, who is farming a large property in the south-east. These sheep at once established their popularity and m the Royal Show that year a ewe from the consignment took the championship. For the next two years judges with a bias towards the old type sheep adindicated, and although the New Zealand sheep won the ewe championship on each occasion, the majority of the prizes was awarded to the old type sheep. This year, however, a judge who went for the commercial sheep was selected with the splendid result stated. These results will be of interest to the New Zealand breeders who forwarded sheep over in these consignments. Voss Bros.’ sheep, or their progeny, took the ram championship, ewe championship and reserve championship, also the breeders’ plate for the best ram ana two ewes. Sheep from Messrs Blair and Hunter, W. H. Gibson and R. Oakley (Rakaia) also took a number of the awards. Sheep from other New Zealand breeders have been purchased by other studmasters in South Australia, but these breeders did not show. Had they shown it is safe to predict that New Zealand-bred sheep, or their progeny, would have taken all the awards. Wright, Stephenson and Co., Ltd., advise having forwarded 100 ewe hoggets from Mr R. Oakley (Rakaia) to a wellknown New South Wales breeder; 100 ewes from Mr J. A. Mitchell (Longbum) and 100 ewes from J. Mosley and Son have also been booked for delivery in 1940. Negotiations are m hand for the disposal to other overseas buyers of numerous stud ewes from other leading breeders.