A ROMNEY BREEDER'S VIEWS.

Waipa Post, Volume I, Issue 37, 22 August 1911, Page 4

A ROMNEY BREEDER'S VIEWS.

One of the oldest Romney breeders in New Zealand, Mr A. Matthews, of Feathereton, in a recent address, stated that* Romneys were continuing to make surprising headway in New Zealand, particularly in the North Island, as the increase in stud flocks entered in the Flock Book proved. In the N.Z.R.M. Flock Book of IQOS, Vol. L, 78 flocks v/ere entered, but in Vol. VI. of 1910 the number has increased to 200. Returns for last year show there were 706,743 stud sheep and flock rams in New Zealand, and

of that number 237,120 were Romneys, presenting 33.57 per cent of the whole number. There was also now a very noticeable improvement in our flocks generally and the Romneys of to-day were much better grown, carried more even fleeces with less kemp, and showed more character than they did a few years back. In some Romney flocks, according to Mr Matthews, it was possible to find about six varieties of wool. That was the greatest fault of the breed. The breed at Home had very much more bone than the colonial sheep. It was important that the jaws should be even and the head of the ram as masculine as possible. The eyes should be prominent and bright, indicating constitution. The ears should be soft and downy, with a good depth between. Between the ears should be perfectly level —it was a bad fault to have a conical shape between the ears. The neck should be set well into the shoulders, giving a good carriage. The shoulders should be flat and level with the back. If they were above the level of the top line they were certain to be bad travellers. Romneys should have a well-rounded barrelshaped body, with a fiat, broad loin. The late Mr J. E. Gearalways emphasised the point that the New Zealand Romney was too short and had a plain leg. This was being overcome. A good space between the forelegs was necessary for constitution. Kemp usually appeared under the throat, on hind legs and forearm, and if it was not there it was not to be feared. He liked a fair length of stable, with a crimp right through, but he placed evenness of fleece before everything.