SHEEP-BREEDING EXPERIMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 1 November 1930, Page 6

SHEEP-BREEDING EXPERIMENTS.

With the fall in the yalues of wool and mutton, a fall that is not confined to the New Zealand products, there has been inaugurated a series of experiments in regard to sheep. breeding and management. Reference to those being carried out in the Dominion was made recently by Professor Alexander, principal of Lincoln Agricultural College. He pointed out the necessity for selection in breeding for certain results. Mr. Alexander showed that in regard to the fat lamb branch of the industry it had been shown that the use of a certain breed of ram gave the best carcase. but it was necessary to go further. It was found that certain- types of this particular breed gave better results than others, so that selection within the breed chosen to ob-/ tain certain results was essential. It is the work of the experimentalist to study and ascertain the reasons for the differences that have been observed from apparently identical breeding, but to do so he must have the co-operation of the sheep-breeders.. Laboratory results are often upset when deductions from them are applied to ordinary farm conditions and it is essential that sheep-owners and scientists work in closest sympathy if the information desired is to be obtained. In Great Britain similar experiments are being undertaken with the same end in view, namely, to produce lamb and mutton that will suit the changing or changed taste of the British consumer. Side by side with breeding experiments are those in feeding and management.. In this province, where the running of a few sheep is becoming a part of well * conducted dairy farming, the use of root crops for cattle or sheep, at one time thought an essential for winter feeding, is now under, review.' Already there are indications that by improved pasture management and the use of ensilage for sheep as well as for dairy herds it may be possible still further to reduce root cropping in Taranaki with its expense and risk of loss •from plant disease. In the- rougher parts of the. province, the principal sheep farming areas, the elimination of cropping will have much to commend it. If lower - prices for lamb and mutton must be expected during the coming years a reduction in costs is essential. It is more or less waste to produce carcases unsuitable for the London market, and if by research and experiment this can be avoided at least gne method'of bringing down costs will have been demonstrated. I '