STUD SHEEP

Waipa Post, Volume 51, Issue 3694, 6 December 1935, Page 7

STUD SHEEP

RECORD SHIPMENT TO SOUTH AMERICA. CORRIEDALE RAM SOLD FOR 400 GUINEAS. Probably the most valuable shipment of stud sheep that has left New Zealand for South America is being shipped from Napier next week by Messrs Wright Stephenson & Co., Ltd. The shipment comprises 52 Corriedale rams and 22 Corriedale owes, 6 Romney rams, 11 Lincoln rams, and 2 Merino rams and 2 Merino ewes. Included in the shipment is the four-tooth Corriedale ram which won the championship for the trustees of the Bushey Park Estate, Palmerston South, at the recent Canterbury A. & P. Association’s Metropolitan Show. This ram has been purchased by a representative in New Zealand of the Sociedad Anonima Ganadera Argentina “ Menendez Behety,” Rio Grande, Argentine, which company has been one of the biggest buy - ers of Corriedale sheep from New Zealand. They are to be congratulated on getting such a high class sheep as this year’s champion, which has had a very notable career since first being exhibited as a hogget. Among his successes last year was first in a strong class of ram hoggets at the New Zealand Royal Show. It is worthing noting that his sire was also a Royal Champion and that the this year defeated at Christchurch no less than three previous Royal Champion rams. This year’s champion is a model in type, and carries a marvellous fleece of high quality wool. He should be of great interest and prove of exceptional value in the Argentine. The shipment of Corriedales comprises 22 rams and 20 ewes bred in the Bushey Park stud at Palmerston South; 27 isne and two-year stud rams from the foundation flock of estate of H. T. Little, liui Hui, Hawarden, North Canterbury—these latter include a number of the prize-winners which contributed toward the winning of the points prize by this flock at the recent Canterbury Show; and 3 oneshear rams from the old established flock of Mr Jas. R'eid, Riverslea, Darfield, Canterbury, which include the winning pair of rams at the Timaru and Ashburton Shows of the present season. It is very interesting to note that the Merino rams shipped from Canterbury during the past eighteen months to South America have given every satisfaction ami there is a possibility of further development in the export of this breed to South America. The present consignment comprising two outstanding stud rams and two specially selected stud ewes are repeat orders as the result of previous selections from the noted prize-winning Waratah flock of Mr F. H. Smith, Albury, South Canterbury. This is the flock that won the Grand Championship in the Merino Section at* the Canterbury Show this year for the second successive year. The 6 high class one-shear Romney rams were bred in Southland in the W;aitoru flock of Sir William Hunt and Mr W. E. Hunt, W’allacetown. Six of the one-shear Lincoln rams including. a number of leading prize-winners were selected from the Rangitumau stud of Mr Eric T. Wilton, Masterton. This flock has won most of the major prizes of the year and for the fourth successive year bred the New Zealand Royal Champion ram of this breed. An additional 5 one-shear Lincoln rams are included from the Gisborne district, having been bred in the well-known flock of Mr G. V. Smith, Waitaria. This consignment is not only one of the largest that has ever left New Zealand for South America, comprising 92 head, but it is undoubtedly one cf the most valuable shipments of stud sheep that has yet been sent from the Dominion overseas and is thus a certain indication of the continued widespread interest among overseas countries in the stud stoex of New 7 Zealand. When this consignment reaches South Agnerica it will be distributed to breeders in Uruquav, Argentine and Chile. A considerable portion of the present extensive consignment will be transhipped after arrival at Monte Video to Magallanes right in the South of-the American Continent so that, despite the lack of direct shipping, the South American breeders are importing these sheep almost regardless of cost as they will prove very expensive animals per head when landed at their final tinations. A direct shipment of stud sheep has also been made to the Falkland Islands by Messrs Wright Stephenson & Co., Ltd. Consignments have been made to the Falkland Islands off and on for the past half century so that the Dominion’s breeds of sheen are proving very suitable for requirements there. The present shipment comprises 64 head and includes 10 Corriedale rams and 37 ewes of this breed, and 11 Merino rams and G ewes similarly. The Merino sheep were supplied by Mr Frank Smith, Waratah, Mr Hector Gibson, Tarras and Mr Robert Jopp, Chatto Creek, both of the latter studs being situated in Central Otago. The Cornedales were supplied by the Hui Hui and Bushey Park studs previously referred to.