RECORD SHIPMENT

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20388, 31 December 1937, Page 19 (Supplement)

RECORD SHIPMENT

SHEEP FOR AMERICA VALUABLE STUD STOCK Next week one of the largest shipments of stud sheep, and undoubtedly one of the most valuable to leave the Dominion, is being sent to South America. These will be distributed to various countries after arrival at Montevideo, where the will be disembarked. Some are for Uruguay,

which is steadily becoming a / bigger customer for New Zealand’s pedigree sheep. Argentine will as usual take a big proportion, and the sheep-breed-ing districts of Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego have also contributed to the orders, while quite a number of sheep are being shipped in fulfilment of orders from fresh customers. It is Interesting to note that the larger proportion ol' the consignment goes to large sheep-breeding companies in South ; America which have been regular customers for New Zealand 'stud sheep over a long period of years. The greater proportion of the consignment comprises specially selected Gorriedalc sheep from North Canterbury and Otago studs but, in addition, there is a consignment of prize-winning Lincoln rams from the Marlborough breeder, Mr W. M. Bishell, of Caythorpe, Blenheim. The twelve Corj riedale stud rams selected from the I Bushey Park Stud at Palmerston South j include several one-shear rams of outj standing merit, while the ram hoggets j are probably the best developed and j most typical sheep of the breed that | have gone from this extensive stud in j recent years. Show Stud Rams Several special stud rams that have j ; figured in this year’s show competi- I : lions are also included. The three} consignments of stud ewe hoggets ' totalling 52 head are also exceptional both fur type and quality and are sure . to prove a splendid advertisement for ( the Dominion's pedigree slock in South j America. Amongst these ewes is a | magnificent lot of thirty which go to i the famous Sociedad Anonima Ganadera Argentine “Menemlez Behety,” one of the biggest sheep-breeding concerns in Soutli America and which has purj chased in New Zealand some of the j highest priced sheep ever exported including last year’s Royal Champion for which a record price was paid. The Estate H. T. Little, Hui llui, Woodgrove, North Canterbury, has contributed 15 stud rams and 5 ewe hoggets. Amongst these is an outstanding one-shear ram of exceptional conformation and beautifully covered i with an even lleeco-showing a beautiI rm crimp. This ram goes to one of 1 America. j Another consignment from Ibis famI nils old shut comprises 7 outstanding 1 hoggels. These mv particularly i fven in l.'p<- and wore sdorled with nits families ... ll.r llui llui stud hut. nevertheless, show -roil similanL in of first-class show standard was als. colonph from the Rakahuri lluek ol

Mr Hugh Ensor, North Canterbury. This ram is not only a short legged, good carcaSed ram but is covered with a remarkably even fleece of high quality wool.

The consignment of Corriedales was completed with 5 special ewe hoggets selected from Mr W. W. Macßae’s flock, Waituna, Waikare, North Canterbury. These are very typical and are also exceptionally even in their covering of high quality wool. They are destined for Uruguay. The three Lincoln rams, bred by Mr Bishell, Marlborough, include two prize-win-ning ram hoggets and the outstanding Lincoln ram which was Reserve Champion at the recent Royal Show at Palmerston North and Champion at the Marlborough and Canterbury Metropolitan Shows. The shipment comprising 93 head of stud sheep is being shipped by Messrs Wright Stephenson and Co., Ltd., the carrying steamer to South America being the Cumberland.

of grasses so as to evolve proved strains is in every way as important as the testing of dairy herds and the

progress* already made in this connection in the Dominion has enabled the farmer to buy seed that he knows that will give his optimum results.

“The standard of wort, therefore, is not beyond criticism,” said Mr Foy, “but with the available facilities the utmost is done to provide reliable services which have, not inaptly, been termed the “backbone” of the seed trade, both export and domestic. During the past year, as the result of the introduction ol necessary short-cut methods, there has been some justifiable criticism of the New Zealand official certifTcates, However, if the proposals now under consideration eventuate successfully, the Station will be in a position to render the services of a standard J usually required of a State institu- | tion. Many Samples -Sandled “The total number of samples represented 28,500 tests, consisting oi 10,824 single- and duplicate purity analyses; i'5,650 triplicate germination tests, and 202 G (8 x 100) examinations of perennial ryegrass under ultra-violet light, an increase of 500 examinations of the number for 1935. “The bulk of the samples represented commercial lines and indicated a high standard of quality. lr this respect is it true that low quality on the New Zealand retail market is unfortunately, rarely sampled foi testing and that much of it is priced in excess of value. This is particularly true of farmers’ dressed lines o: certified ryegrass, of which, ii Hawke’s Bay particularly, there exists I a fairly extensive, and what may In 1 termed ‘an authorised retail trade.’ Special Tests > ••Of I lie total of 2020 ullra-viole light examinations, 570 were mad ' .m samples of certified perennial rye ; grass for the Department's own in V formalimi in rdspeel of Hie produetio i iiroas. 128 lor Ho- oilier ollirial aetivi - lies. 003 as a basis of qualillealion t inn.-hine dressed Mines as ecrlilie.l see "I rll |,-> of lines lor commercial cert lf i ffcation.

Difficulties associated with the seed testing were mentioned by Mr N. R. Foy, seed analyst, while on a recent visit to Hastings. Mr Foy stated that although the New Zealand station was among the leading seed stations of the world, the technical staff employed was, on an average, less than half that of any of the establisned stations elsewhere.