FARM AND DAIRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 February 1919, Page 6

FARM AND DAIRY.

BIG SHEEP AND CATTLE SALE. John O. Bidwill's Romney sheep and Hereford cattle, are to be sold at Pihautea on the 27th and 28th of January, >l9. This flock of Romneys is one of the oldest in New Zealand, having been started over 50 years ago and lias been carefully bred ever since. Mr Bidwill has made a hobby of breeding, and his motto with regard to Romney rams has always been "buy the best, either studs or flocks, regardless of cost." Some of the price's paid in recent years for rams have been £lO5, £B4, £SO, £4O odd, £2l, etc. Rams have been purchased from Messrs A. Matthews, W. Perry, Q. Donald, P. Mungavin. Gray Bros., W. E. Bidwill, —Dorset and C. Pharazyn- Some six years ago Br Bidwill decided that to still further improve the flock, and get the ''deal type for New Zealand, it was advisable to start a special small flock, run on stud lines, to breed rams for the purpose. Two hundred and sixty ewes were carefully selected from 3.000 ewes of the main flock, and four of the best stud rams that could be procured were purchased ,and records were' kept as if they were stud book sheep. This special flock has for the past four years supplied most of the rams for tbe main flock, and tho results have passed expectations. The Pihautea rams always 'bring big prices at the Hastings fair, and a few years ago topped the market with an average price of 19 guineas, and are always among the highest priced sheep sold. These rams .°re nearly hiwars booked up to a year ahead, including the present |Vear), mmstily to regular clients in all parts of New Zealand. Tn fact orders usually have to be turned down representing twice or three Hme as manv rams ns are available. P,ams have also been supplied to clients in the Uruguay. These facts speak for themselves. The Hereford herd was started IS years ago from pure Shorthorns, dating back many yearU. Bulls were purchased from the best breeders:—Messrs James Stuckey. Frank Moore, Lcvett and Gregor McGregor. Always the largest and darkest colored hulls were care'nlly selected, with the result that Pihautea Hereford hulls are sought after as being great beef producers, combining the Hereford constitution and the Shorthorn hindqunjters, the aim to-day of all Hereford men. The colors are good, and all true to type. Mr Bidwill sold and delivered ninety bulls this year out of M kept originally, this demonstrating constitution and hardiness.