WELL-BRED SHEEP

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLV, Issue 21180, 29 October 1938, Page 18

WELL-BRED SHEEP

STANDARD WELL MAINTAINED South Canterbury is noted for the high quality of its sheep, and although the pens yesterday were not so full as in previous years,.Hie general standard, in spite of a severe winter, was well maintained. The way the sheep had withstood the winter, was a matter for comment by most of the judges, and wool quality was really the only part affected, and that slightly. There were 422 entries, compared with 466 last year. Perhaps that was accounted for by the winter, but nevertheless several well known breeders did not put in an appearance. The large increase in the fat lamb secton was an encouraging feature. Merino Several well known exhibitors were this year absent from the Merino section, but the sheep exhibited were true to type and maintained the high reputation they had established for the South Canterbury hinterland. Mr Donald Grant showed both the fine and strong combing champions. He also took the reserve championship for the fine combing ram, and the strong combing reserve was taken by Mr R. C. Todhunter who bred the ram. MiGrant’s rams were imported from G. H. Bowhay and Sons. New South Wales. Miss L. B. Wills, Lake Tekapo Station, exhibited the champion ewe, and also the reserve champion. In commenting on the Merino section, the judge (Mr D. G. Wright, Windermere) said he was pleased with the type of sheep exhibited, and even though the winter had been severe, considrable care had obviously been taken of all the entries. It was just a question whether the committee should consider putting in a medium combing section. That would of course, depend on whether sufficient entries would be forthcoming, but several of the exhibits that day could have been put in a medium class. The champion ewe had an outstanding fleece, and he was of the opinion that the champion ewe in the fine combing section would be heard of again. English Leicesters In former years, the numerical strength of the English Leicester was a feature of the show, but even though there was a rise to 79 in entries last year, they dropped to 33 this year, the worst figure for a long time. Weather conditions were partly responsible for the small number, but several well known breeders, including Messrs Kelland, Elworthy and Reid, did not show. If it had not been for the first appearance of Canterbury Agricultural College as an exhibitor in the section, the entries would have been poor indeed.

The judge (Mr S. Evans of Longbush) considered that in view of the winter, the condition of the sheep was pretty fair. The champion ram, which was exhibited by College, deserved special mention, and

so did the 4-tooth ram. In some of the classes, the wool was inclined to be fuzzy. The champion ewe was also bred by the College, and was a particularly good specimen. The best woolled sheep in the show was the 4-tooth ram which took the reserve championship.

Bo’f’er Leicesters

In numerical strength, there were five more Border Leicesters than English Leicesters, but the number, 38, did not compare with last year’s 76. Mr Donald Grant with 25 exhibits, competed with marked success, taking the two championships and the reserves. He has been prominent in the section for many years, and bred the champions South Canterbury is one of the New Zealand homes of the Borders. and t! <,y always feature in the district’s fat lamb production . In his remarks, the judge (Mr S. Douthwaite of Hampden) said the entries were good both for carcase and wool. The effects of the weather were apparent. The champion ram was an exceptionally good sheep and was true to type with the style characterising the Borders. The specimens of the breed were as good as could be found anywhere.

Southdowns

Southdowns were one of the few; sheep sections to show an increase in entries, the number being 64 as compared with 52 last year. Mr Alan Grant was a prominent prize winner, and annexed the championship for a ram, while the ewe championship went to Canterbury Agricultural College. For fat lamb production, Southdowns have established an important place in South Canterbury, and the, standard of the entries yesterday, ’ showed that their reputation in that I connection is being well maintained. . The champions possessed the type of . carcase so much desired for New Zealand’s export trade. A previous prominent exhibitor, Mr A. S. Elworthy of Holme Station, did not have any entries this year. Corriedale A feature of the Corriedale section, according to the judge (Mr H. Sidey of Hawarden) was the fact that in spite of a severe winter, the wool of practic- i ally all the sheep was in very good order. The wool moreover, was typ- i ically Corriedale. Quality was equally i good amongst the natural and the clothed sheep, and all the prizewinners would be able to hold their ! own at a metropolitan show. The president of the Association (Mr , C. H. S. Johnston) annexed the ribbon I for the best ewe, and the reserve championship went to a daughter of the same sheep. Mr James Reid of Darfield, entered the champion ram, and the reserve championship went to Canterbury Agricultural College. Wool more than fat lamb production, belongs to Corriedales, and in that connection, yesterday’s exhibits maintained the fine quality with a noteworthy evenness of staple. Romney Marsh Mr Alan Grant, last year’s winner, | again took the championship for the | Romney ram, and the reserve went to Mr H. B. L. Johnstone. Canterbury Agricultural College entered the cham- i pion ewe. The reserve champion ! ewe was entered by Mr W. H. ! Orbell. 'Hie section attracted 49 , entries, and awards were fairly even. The Romney has been bred extensively in the district as a dual purpose sheep, and both for wool and carcase, showed that distinction yesterday. Mr A. Murray of Mosgiel, the judge,

said that in view of the winter con- | ditions, the condition of the sheep was generally good, but quite a number of I the uncovered entries show’ed the effect ;in their wool. Some entries were weak 1 in the neck, and also showed a droop over the tail head. The aged sheep were not a strong class; their wool was not heavy and was somewhat weak along the water line of the fleece. The champion ram had a good head, heavy bones and carried a good quality I even fleece. The prize-winning ram ’ under 16 months, was well-bodied, but could have been a little heavier in the I wool. There was one outstanding : entry in the pair of ram hoggets, carry- • ing heavy good quality wool; it lacked i sufficient ear covering however. The | reserve champion stood well with heavy j bones, it was firmly bodied, and had . nice even wool. The champion ewe ' had an outstanding head and a heavy even fleece. In her carcase, she perI haps lacked a little over the tail, head ' and thighs. The reserve champion, i if it had been covered, might have . faired better.

Ryeland ! There were 47 exhibits in the RyeI land section, two less than last year. , Mr J. F. Hayhurst of Teinuka took the championship for a ram, and the reI serve went to Messrs L. J. and S. W. ■ Galletly of Ashburton. Mr H. C. B. 1 Withell of Ealing, exhibited the champion ewe. The Ryeland is essentially a fat lamb producing sheep, and that was indicated by the entries. The judge (Mr S. Andrew, of Ashburton) said the effect of the winter was only apparent in an odd sheep. The types varied in different classes, showing that breeders had not adopted 1 a standard. The champion ram was i an ideal sheep for fat lamb production, I being low set with a good carcase. A ■ few of the entries showed a bit too 1 much leg, but competition throughout had been very keen. The champion ewe was a similar sheep to the ram, although she belonged to another breeder. The reserve ewe had a larger carcase, and of its type, was a very fine sheep indeed. Fat Lambs Competition in the fat lamb section , showed a considerable improvement, | the entries being 43 compared with 1 two last year. Messrs H. T. Brosnai han (Seadown), J. J. Brosnan (Kerrytown), J. D. Galpin (Southbridge) and | Hill Brothers (Pareora West) shared I the first awards. In the fat sheep ' section, Mr J. D. Galpin obtained | eight first awards. , The judge (Mr A. F. Webb of Christj church) said the lambs were particularly good. Throughout, the section must have contained a better class of fat sheep than had been seen in Timaru for many years. As far as the season was concerned, he could see no ill effects; the sheep were as far forward as in other years.