UNIFORMITY IN THE FLOCK.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 228, 26 September 1928, Page 21

UNIFORMITY IN THE FLOCK.

As sheep exercise the dual function of wool and mutton producers, close attention should be given by flockmasters to both of these products. Wool has been increasing in price of late years, and as the value of high quality tells every endeavour should be made to produce it as near perfection as possible. Even when low prices rule there is always a better demand and more money paid for the first-class qualities, and thus, when it is realised that this quality costs no more to produce than those of lower degree it is obvious that it pays to produce the better wool.

The most essential points to securf in a fleece are uniformity of length, freedom from kemp hair or coarse wool. To obtain fleeces of this description is a work requiring great care in selection of both rams and ewes, and there is no season of the year better than that when the sheep are in full fleece for selection and examination to be made. During the spring, therefore, it should be the business of every flockowner to go through his entire stock and examine each and every sheep with respect to the quality of the fleece and to draft all that in any degree do not come up to the required standard. This examination, particularly in pedigree flocks, should be even carried further. Should an/ ewe whose fleece has any glaring fault be discovered, not only should she be drafted, but her produce also. Like breeds like, and though the use of a fine-wool ram on a coarse-fleeced ewe may to some extent remedy the evil, it iB perfectly certain that sooner or later the objectionable feature will again assert itself, and thus tell against the reputation of tlic flock from whence it came.

A fine wool mostly commands the best price, and uniformity in the staple is an important matter. Of course, it

is not necessary that all the wool in a fleece should be the same length, but in the different main points, such as neck, back, sides and breast, it should not be very uneven. Sifch uneven growth is caused when the sheep have for a time had insufficient or poor food, which results in the wool being alternately thick and thin and wanting in curl, thus giving trouble in spinning as well as damaging the appearance of the cloth.

One of the most important tests of the reputation of any flock is the appearance of the fleeces. If these are uniform, it can generally be taken a« an accepted fact that careful management and selection are exercised, but when the contrary is the case it shows that the produce of the flock cannot be depended on to produce a uniform result. To many flockmasters this view may appear somewhat out of the ordinary course, but this particular fault has before now been the cause of the loss of trade, especially that from abroad, for if there is one point more essential than another to a large majority of our export buyers, it is to find fleeces uniform throughout.