STRONG ENTRIES IN SHEEP

Southland Times, Issue 23998, 13 December 1939, Page 13

STRONG ENTRIES IN SHEEP

EXHIBITORS FROM CANTERBURY

DOMINION’S BEST FLOCKS REPRESENTED

. Keen interest was taken in the sheep, which were representative of some of the finest flocks in New Zealand, and some of the strongest competition came from Canterbury competitors, who competed in most of the classes. It is to be noted that English Leicesters, after many years of comparative neglect in the south, seem to be coming into favour again, due largely to the enthusiasm of Canterbury breeders for this useful long-wool breed and such enthusiasts as Mr H. J. Andrew, of Maheno, and Evans Brothers, of Longbush. It is many years since there has been a better display of English Leicesters at Invercargill. Lincolns, once an integral part of wool production in New Zealand, faded into obscurity afterwards, but the increasing popularity with overseas customers of coarser descriptions of wool is directing attention once again to the breed. Marlborough and Wairarapa breeders livened the competition. The Moutere station flock of R. Jopp is one of the last of the old Central Otago strongholds of the Merino. Fortified by frequent infusions of best South Australian strains the stud has maintained its quality. Otago and Southland breeders still regard the Romney Marsh as the most valuable factor in fat lamb and crossbred sheep raising, and some of the best flocks in New Zealand are undoubtedly represented in this section, the judging of which is not completed. After a sudden fillip in Southland Ryelands have remained quiet, but Canterbury, and to a certain extent Otago, have developed the breed as an important factor in fat lamb trade. The entries are all of northern stock.

Shropshires have proved very useful for crossing purposes for fat lambs but they have made no great strides. In Southdowns the South Island has overtaken the North Island in recent years, producing a beautiful uniform type with no superior in New Zealand. They are rapidly becoming one of the most important breeds in Southland and Otago.

CORRIEDALE The judge of the Corriedales (Mr G. H. Grigg) said that a good all-round display was on show which would bear comparison with any other show in New Zealand. The entries, indeed, were remarkably good considering the distance they had to come, and Canterbury breeders were well represented. The champion ram, from the Bushey Park Estate, Palmerston, was a nice long, low-set sheep, with a good head, but a little too woolly in the face. It possessed a good, true Corriedale wool, and had an ideal fleece for a ram.

The reserve champion, also an entry of the Bushey Park Estate, was a nice masculine sheep, not quite so low set and long as the champion, and not quite so good behind. D. and M. Sidey’s shorn hogget was an excellent type of Corriedale, and in the ewes, 30 months and upwards, the standard was equally as good. There was very little to choose between the champion and reserve champion, both entered by D. M. Sidey and Son, the champion having a slightly better carriage.

LINCOLN The judge of the Lincolns (Mr W. H. Booth) said that although the numbers were not large the quality was good, especially of the top sheep entered by L. R. Wilton (Masterton) and W. M. Bishell (Blenheim). W. M. Bishell’s reserve champion .ram was an exceptionally good sheep, true to type, well woolled almost to the feet; with a strong ram head well set into the shoulders. There was very little difference between the two rams, L. R. Wilton’s sheep being, if anything, slightly more masculine and having a better-covered head. The first prize hogget ram was a very fine sheep indeed, and should be a prize-winner next year. In the ewes, 18 months and over with lamb at foot, L. R. Wilton had to take second place and reserve champion to W. M. Bishell’s ewe which was first and champion. This ewe was an excellent type, showing strong feminine character. L. R. Wilton’s ewe was excellent also, but slightly deficient in the neck compared with Mr Bishnell’s, which seemed to show herself off much better. In the ewe hogget class Mr Wilton had two very nice hoggets that should grow easily into prize-winners next year. SOUTHDOWN

The judge of the Southdown section (Mr W. C. Gimblett) said that H. J. Andrew’s (Maheno) champion ram was quite an exceptional animal, and was one of the best of the breed he had seen. It was an imported animal and was absolutely outstanding in its class. The same exhibitor’s reserve champion in the next class was a good specimen, but was a shorter sheep, and was not in the same class as the champion. Taken all through, he was well pleased with the Southdowns, which were a very creditable class. The ram hoggets were a good even lot, although the winner, entered by H. J. Andrew, stood well ahead of the rest. There was fairly keen competition in the shorn ram hoggets and Mr Andrew’s winning entry was a well-brought-out sheep. A. S. Elworthy’s (Timaru) entry which gained second place was not as well grown as the winner, but was of good quality. The first and second place winners in the ewe with lamb class both entered by H. J. Andrew, were exceptionally good ewes and there was very little between them. “Either was worthy of the championship,” said the judge, “and, in my opinion, the first prize-winner was just a shade better than the reserve champion.” He added that H. J. Andrew’s sheep were outstanding throughout the royal classes. In the natural condition classes the sheep were very creditable throughout the section. The rams were

an even lot, and there was not one particularly conspicuous animal. They were hard to separate in both ram classes. Nor was there very much between the ewes over 18 months and lamb. In the ewe hoggets the quality was not quite so even throughout the class, and there was a wider division between the placed animals and those left unplaced than there was in some of the other classes.

DORSET HORN “Rather disappointing as a class as far as quality is concerned,” was the comment of the judge of the Dorset Horns (Mr C. E. Robertson). He added that most of the sheep shown were imported from Australia, where the Dorset Horn was a boom breed today. Naturally these importations to New Zealand were hardly of the very best class. The Dorset Horn was a prolific breed and very quick in growing, but the standard in New Zealand for fat lambs being the highest in the world, it followed that every breed imported into New Zealand should conform to the very high standard required here. “If that is not strongly adhered to we may do ourselves a great deal of harm,” he said. “Perhaps there is a place in New Zealand for Dorset Horn sheep in getting early lambs for butchers’ requirements, but there is a lot of criticism whether the products of this breed will fit in with the standard that has made New Zealand’s . reputation overseas.”. ■

A. C. Gray’s (Wallacetown) champion ram, Mr Robertson said, was quite a good fair average for this type of breed. The same exhibitor’s reserve champion which was in a different class, was a smaller type, but was not so well carried out behind. Both the champion ewe, entered by the same exhibitor, and B. Selbie’s (Five Rivers) reserve champion were imported and were a rather superior type to the rams.

SUFFOLK Commenting on the Suffolks, of which he was also the judge, Mr Robertson said that this breed of sheep was rather new to Southland, and the classes were quite good. They were really a mutton sheep. The champion ram, entered by the Oakleigh Estate, Southbridge, was a well-made sheep, evenly balanced and nicely fleshed. The reserve champion, entered by Falconer Brothers (Morton Mains) and A. O. Fleming (Mabel Bush), was similar in type, but having been just recently imported and closely shorn, was hardly as impressive as the champion, but was very even in his construction.

Both the champion and reserve champion ewes from the Oakleigh Estate were nice, well-balanced types, of very good mutton quality. “These two breeds (the Suffolk and the Dorset Horn) are much heavier meat animals than the popular Southdown, and there may be a place for them in providing butcher’s carcasses,” Mr Robertson said, “but the general criticism of them is that they have not the sweet conformation and ideal quality the Southdown ram produces when mated with the Romney ewe. It is this cross that has undoubtedly made the present outstanding name that New Zealand lamb enjoys in the Smithfield market, which after all sets the standard for the world.” CROSSBRED

There was a good entry in the crossbred sheep, said the judge (Mr Crawford King) who said that the sheep were well grown and well woolled. Altogether they were of a good Royal Show standard, and were a better type than was usually seen at shows. The winning ewes, entered by Fleming Brothers (Crookston), were strong woolled and well grown. The two ewes, over 18 months, with lambs, were excellent animals, but the single ewe hoggets were the outstanding sheep in the section. W. Lindsay’s (Otahuti R.D.) pair of wether hoggets were also a splendid type of sheep. Competition was-keen and fairly close in some divisions, although in others the judge had no difficulty.