FIRST ROMNEY MARSH SHEEP IN NEW ZEALAND

Southland Times, Issue 23998, 13 December 1939, Page 22

FIRST ROMNEY MARSH SHEEP IN NEW ZEALAND

Southland Flocks Kept Up To Date By Importations

(SPECIALLY WRITTEN FOR THE SOUTHLAND TIMES) By DAVID MARSHALL

BEFORE going into a history of our Southland Romney Marsh sheep, it would be wise to note a few things about the breed at its start in New Zealand. The origin of the Romney Marsh or Kent sheep is now so well known that there is little use going into it. Perhaps no other farm animals have had such a brilliant history since being introduced into New Zealand as the Romney Marsh sheep. Since the first shipment arrived in the North Island by the ship Cornwall on September 2, 1853, the breed has con-

tinued to increase in numbers, improve in quality and grow in favour with sheep owners. There has never been a setback.

THOSE sheep of the first shipment came into the possession of a Mr Ludlam, who is said to have kept them at Hutt, Wellington. In 1895 15 per cent, of New Zealand’s registered sheep were Romneys, whereas now nearly half of the total number registered are Romney Marsh. It may surprise many persons to know that south of the Clutha there are 110 flocks with 23,015 breeding ewes registered, besides rams and the year’s hoggets.

Southland Sheep I DESIRE to discuss our Southland ' sheep rather than all New Zealand Romney Marsh and with that point in view, I must make a few statements about our first southern flocks. For a long time it was thought by many that Dr Webster, who was the pioneer in the South Island, obtained his sheep from Mr Ludlam, but that was not so, for at no time were Mr Ludlam’s sheep used in the doctor’s flock. In January, 1865, the late Mr James Little, whose name will ever live in the history of New Zealand sheep, more for his work of founding the Corriedale breed than any other work, left London with nine rams and 22 ewes of the Kent breed for Dr Webster and landed the lot, taking charge of them for 17 years. Mr Little, who was a true sheep man, although he had never seen the breed before, started to found that flock which has done so much for the sheep in this country. Of the lot there was only one ram and one ewe that Mr Little liked. He named the ram the

Duke of Kent and the ewe the Duchess of Kent. The other eight rams were turned out with Merino ewes and for years the only sires used in the flock were the Duke of Kent and his progeny from the Duchess of Kent. Here is an example of line breeding with the knowledge and under the care of a great man. When a change of blood was badly wanted some of Mr Ludlam’s sheep were obtained, but Mr Little did not use them then. Two were obtained from England, but they did not measure up to Mr Little’s standard and were turned down. At last the doctor, when in England, obtained a sheep with the desired characteristics, which saved the situation. It is worthy of note that by this time Mr Little was a worried man. He said that the best of his sheep kept as good as ever and in cases better, but he had what he called more of a tail (culls) every year, more bad mouths, over-shot and under-shot jaws and other defects. The fresh blood had the desired effect. The first draft of ewes sold from Dr Web-

ster’s flock came south to Mr Tolmie, of Waipahi, about 1869, some also went to Mr Fulton, of Taieri, and Mr J. Shaw, of Finegand, shortly after. The Finegand flock is still in existence in the sheep of the Trustees of the Estate of W. Marshall, who managed Mr Shaw’s flock for many years. The first of that great flock, Logan’s Greenvale, who did so much for the Southland sheen, went from Mr Tolmie’s place in 1875,* when Mr Logan bought 18 ewes. The following year he went down to Finegand with his dog and bought 40 Romneys, walking home with them himself to Greenvale. In 1876 that well-known Waimahaka flock (No. 1) was founded by the late Mr J. Holms with 35 ewes in lamb from Mr Tolmie’s sale. I might go on discussing

those who were early in the field, but the records of the founding of their flocks are to be found in the Flock Book and among the 110 breeders in Southland today will be found quite a number of the second and third generation from the bld pioneers of the breed who are upholding the work of their fathers.

British Importations THE Southland flocks have been kept up-to-date by importations from Britain and much money has been spent by our breeders in getting of the best from the foremost men in the North Island. It is claimed today that nowhere in the world are better Romney-Marsh'sheep than in this province, not even in their own homeland. While the English sheep hold their own in constitution and bone, for symmetry and wool the New Zealand sheep surpass them. But it is not only the stud sheep we look to for our income. What is the outcome of our breeding? What have our sheep men been aiming at? It is to produce meat and wool of the best, at a cost that pays for production, so it is to our crossbred ewes we are looking. Many men who are well qualified to judge say that from Moa Flat, south and west, Southland has the best crossbred ewe flocks in the Dominion and surely we have proved it during the past few years. In the past we had complaints about our Romney wool and our breeders took notice. The young men of today have had a great chance. We have had stock demonstrations with a study of wool to the front, while the wool classes have done much good, but the greatest results have come from the interest created among our young men. As soon as people become sufficiently interested it is surprising how quickly they will find education.

Now we come to our meat. Qur frozen lamb industry has been bur salvation and it is worth looking ot the position. Southland has gained. Until about a dozen years ago our main object was to get our lambs fat and heavy and those were the ones that paid best, blit a change came. It was found that the demand was not so much for fat meat as for prime meat, and there is a great difference About seven years ago the New Zealand Meat Board instituted the district fat lamb competition. The conditions of that valuable contest are well known, and Southland is in the proud position of having won each year. How has that great achievement been accomplished? Southland was ready. The demand had come for prime meat and that great lamb-getting breed, the Southdown, came to the front and the Southland

Romney Marsh ewes were here. From time immemorial Romney Marsh or Kent’sheep were great favourites with butchers, and the cross with the Southdowns proved a win for the fat lamb export trade. The lambs have the Down legs and quarters, but the prepotency of the Romney remains. They have that beautifully streaked meat that is everywhere wanted.

Lamb Competition SOUTHLAND farmers have not been slow to see what is wanted. As with the wool demonstrations, the interested created by the fat lamb competitions has had a wonderful effect. No man who has the good of the industry at heart can fail to be gratified when he attends the annual killings and sees the keen attention that is paid by our hundreds of young farmers, watching each lot to see how it turns out. Thus Southland’s proud position has been gained. Our lambs are. at the top of the world market, but we cannot stay there without keeping on the alert. It has been written; “Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.” Is Southland keeping up those splendid Romney Marsh ewe flocks that have made its name? Let our farmers see to it that while they are after those honours for fat lambs they do not kill their goose. Others are studying Southland’s methods and are finding the benefit of the Romney ewe.