PASTURES IN JAPAN

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 19941, 27 October 1934, Page 21

PASTURES IN JAPAN

PRODUCTION OF WOOL STATEMENTS DISCOUNTED Statements that Japan might, in the course of a few years, produce a major portion of the wool needed for her own requirements are not supported by the observations of Mr H. C. Pennefather, one of the best known pastoralists and stud sheep classers in Australia, who returned there recently from a visit to Japan.

In an article published in the quarterly review of the Australian Estates and Mortgage Company Limited, Mr. Pennefather, who inspected sheep on both Government and private farms in Japan, says that he emphatically differs from such statements. Japan proper, he mentions, is approximately twice the size of Victoria, but 75 per cent, of the country consists of steep, rough and stony hills and mountains, while the remaining 25 per cent, is closely cultivated. “The northern half of the country experiences bitterly cold winters, with deep snow, and all stock are housed,” states Mr Pennefather. “Inferior land—not including stony hills and mountains —sells at about £3OO an acre, and good land, well situated, at up to £3,000 an acre. Speaking generally, all animals are kept in yards and fed on the least valuable produce of the farm —even the roughage from tobacco plants. There are 30.000 sheep in Japan, and every year the Government buys about 500 ewes and 50 rams in Australia. Merinoes were found quite unsuitable, and Romneys were discarded. For the last few years Corriedales have been tried, and they are considered satisfactory.” After examining the Australian-bred sheep which he saw in Japan, Mr Pennefather says that they would have cut 25 per cent, more wool on average Australian pasture. The distribution of imported Australian sheep among the farmers he regards as an excellent advertisement for Australian wool. It is clear, he states, that Japan cannot protably carry a large number of sheep, and that the sheepbreeding industry there will not seriously disturb Japan’s valued competition at Australian sales.