THE RIGHT KIND OF SHEEP.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIX, Issue 3124, 23 July 1892, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE RIGHT KIND OF SHEEP.

Aiiosfi the things which have to be I settled is the question of tho most proI fitiible all-round sheep of the New Zealand former. On high and poor land_ the merino will hold its own, but on richer and warmer soils other breeds, more suitable for freezing, must be bred. If the question were confined to the most profitable sheep for wool, or to the moat profitable for carcase, it would bo more .easilv fettled. But what is wanted is a breed, or cross, which taken altogether, both for wool and carcase, and fit all ages, will net the largest return. A few men here and there have settled the question to their own satisfaction. Most sheepfarmers, however, believe they could -ret a bettor type of animal, but they are afraid to experiment lest the resub be a deterioration, instead of an improvement, in their flocks. In Haw ke's Bay cvossbreds leaning to the Lincoln side am the rule, and for wool they are unquestionably the most profitable. But they are slow in maturing, the mutton is not of the best quality, and the carouse runs large for freezing. Iu Canterbury many other crosses, chiefly with Leicester* and the various Down breeds, have been tried, and each hiis its advocates. Probably in the end it will be recognised that a cross whi-jh answers best on one class of country will not do so well on other country, and, as in England, particular districts will be found bust adapted to particular breeds or cro.-scs. Mr Fricdlander is an enthusiastic friend of the Hampshire Down sheep, and recently some cf his broeling brought remarkable prices at iho Aldington sale yards. They were mostly cross-bred H.impshiros, but with what breed the cross wjs made is not stated in the newspaper report beforo us. Fiist a dozen picked sheep were offered, and they were brought by a local butcher at 36s per head, which is stated to be the record for fat sheep at Addinartou. They were estimated to weigh from 1201b to luOlb. This weight would apparently disqualify them from lioiug frozen as fust-class. Other pens brought up to 30s per bond, the lowest pti-o being- 20s G.I, and the average 2">.< (id. A number of Hamp-ihire Dowu Limbs, estimated to weigh up to 701b, wore knocked down at lSa'lld per head The sheep were mostly two tooth, by Hampshire rams out of a'mixed lot of Half and throequarter bred ewes, the lambs, which were similarly bred, having boon dropped in Soptomber last. All were grass fed, not having seen a turuip. The Hampshire cross no doubt gives an inferior wool, and when full μ-rown the carcase in too lurye. But for early maturity, and excellent quality of jnutUn when young, it. can hold its own with any sross. While it

would prob.-ibly prove an iuferior sheep for flock purposes, it might pay our sheepfarmers to try the Hamnshire cross to get shoop for freezing and tho local butchers. Certainly, if prices such as Mr Friedlandcr's sheep brought could be relied on, the woo! question mitrht be put on one side. Tea months' oM lambs worth within a penny of 19s would pay to breed even if they produced hair instead of woool, and twotootha at an average of 25s Gd are enough to make a ehcopfarmoi e mouth water. Hawke'nßay Herald.