LARGEST FLOCK OF SHROPSHIRES IN NEW ZEALAND.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 10175, 24 October 1898, Page 2

LARGEST FLOCK OF SHROPSHIRES IN NEW ZEALAND.

«• Weekly Preae ami Referee."

(By Orn Agriccltchai. Reporter.)

The Shropshire hae a world-wide reputation for hardiness of constitution, earlymaturity, and quality of its meat, and of late years since more attention has been paid to the production of mutton, it has come into more general use in various countries, such as Canada, the United States, South America, Jamaica, South Africa, Germany, Sweden, Denmark, &c, as well as the Australian colonies and New Zealand. These countries differ greatly in soil and climate; and thus it is shovni how the Shropshire vrill adapt itself to almost any conditions. On the drought-stricken plains of Australia it is rapidly coming to the front for crossing with the merino to produce a better class of fat lamb' and mutton sheep, not only for local consumption but for the export trade. In New Zealand, and especially in the province of Canterbury, we have seen how great the increase has been during the past few years in the number of Shropshire rams used both by large and small sheep farmers. It is a noticeable fact thai/ this spring there arc more than tho usual number of lines of halfbred Shropshire hoggets in the market, which will form later on shipments of frozen mutton; and it is equally noticeable that there is a larger proportion of the popular blackfaces among the present season's crop of lambs, both on the plains and in the northern districts" of the province.

On the very lightest lands of the plains the Shropshire is said to do better than anything else; and farmers north of Waikari and at Cheviot assure mc that tho Shropshire lambs come out ready for the factory fully a fortnight ahead of anything else. This is also borne out by Mr A. W. Rutherford, of Mendip Hills, in his article on sheep breeding in the Amuri, published last week. The bulk of the early lambs that are being brought into the Aldington Salcyards this season are of the Shropshire cross.

Mr G. G. Stead was one of the first to recognise the important part the Shropshire wa3 destined to play in the frozen lamb and mutton trade of the colony: and on the property known as Brown's Farm, at Dromore, owned by Mr Stead and the Hon. J. T. Peacock, there is now being raised the largest flock of pure bred Snropshires in tho colony. It will be remembered, too, that when Mr Stead owned the Coringa farm at Yaldhurst, his early lambs used to top the market week after week at Addington, and real plums they were. The Shropshire flock at Brown's Farm consists of about 800 breeding ewes, 350 ewe hoggests, 100 ram hoggets, 90 wether ho# gets, and several stud rams,, and it is Mr Stead's intention to increase the flock to .2000.

The flock was started about ten years ago, some of the first breeding ewes being obtained from Mr T. E. Upton, Sherwood, Ashburton, while rams were purchased from. Mr J. Grigg, Longbeach, and Messrs Rowley and Hamilton, Invercargill. Two rams were afterwards imported from Mr J. Beach's flock, The ilattons, Wolverhampton, Staffordshire, and the annual drafts of rams from Mr Stead's flock during the last few years were by these imported rams. When Mr Stead was at Home last year he visited the Royal Show at Manchester, and bought two ram lambs .from Mr Philo L. MMs, of Ruddington Hall, Nottingham. These lambs were by the celebrated ram Ruddington Eclipse (8718), ■old for 370 guineas, and they formed part of the pen of three ram lambs, which in a class of nineteen entries at the Royal Show, were highly commended and .reserved for second prizev [ Since their «fmd in this colony these Wo young nubiOiiwe thriven and sot magnificent sheep. They have been nained> Gold Medallist and Conqueror, titles ■.theyXwill no doubt fully justify in the price ring. The two rams, though shown together as lambs, at which time they must have been uniform in appearance, differ very considerably now that they are developed. Whereas Gold Medallist has an open fleece unusually long in the staple, Conqueror has the shorter, dense wool characteristic of the breed, and will probably be judged by many as the purer of sheep. There is no Setting away, however, from the character and- style of the* bigger cheep; his'ferriage is magnificent and his marking .true'V and it has been said of him by a-good judge that he is the finest sheep of any breed that .has been brought to the colony. The sheep are now carrying about twenty months' wool, .and wiU clip, it is exiwcto I, from 19 to 20Ib each, and there will probably be little difference in tno weight of the twn fleeces, density in one case making up for length of staple in the other. These two rams when shown are sure to arouse a gveat deal of interest. There will be a nice draft of sheorlingrams this coming season from Brown's Fariu. With the exception of one or two that Lava not matured well, but have come out narrow • and leggy, they are a capital lot, being low; eet and compact—just what are required f--r producing" lambs and sheep for the export trade. Their development is all the inci»> Satisfactory seeing that they have corn? through a very trying summer and autumn. The ewe flock contains » capital lot of good specimens of the breed, hud rheie *»• a very "promising lot of ewe hoggets. -.One hundred of the best ewes ,were selecte-l. Jnv>» the flock und.put to the two newly-imported rains, and the lambs from them are 'laming put most regards size, *liapfc; nnd marking. The only ram lambs to be kept , this season'will bs those by Gold Mcd illufc and Cdnqueror. • fi The wether hoggets are a well-grown )p> • and it is intended a pen of thsst. A large line of '*$£% evenly made sheep could not fail to command the atten'.ini of export buyers. : . '.. '• .■ ..'jv...; Complaint is frequently made that Down sheep clip so it. will 'be found St&i&W- fcthropshires do not come far shor.fc crossbreds in this respect, , if theydti iot "exceed them. Ihe ewes average about 741b, and the i.opeets from 10 to 111b: Ten wether hoggets suorn a few days ago with jtt view to their being shown; averaged 101b of wool each. As I have out the Shropshires do wonderfully well on the light land of the Canterbury Plains; and at Brown's Farm, where the soil, is chiefly of this description, it is found that '■' three black faces can bo kept for two crossbreds, and especially -has this been noticeable during the two dry seasons just experienced. A flock of halfbrcd ewes (English Leicester-merino) is kept on the farm, and these ore bred to Sliropsliire rams, the lambs being exported. So well do the lambs come on, that tae season before lost 50 per cent of them were got away by New Year's Day, and they averaged 361b. The extreme dryness of the summer last year, and consequent shortness of feed, was against such a successful result being accomplished.

The are noted for their prolificness; and whether ■ purebreds or half* breds a good percentage of lambs can be relied upon. In Mr Stead's flock the purabreds have given as high as 130 per cent, and they are never below 96 or 97 per cent. Last year, which was a very bad 97 per cent of lambs were marked. In Mr J. W. Rogers, Mr Stead has » capital farm manager, and one who is enthusiastic in the management of the Sbropsliires, a breed of sheep ne has been identified with ftbm his youth; tor though not born in the county, he lived for many, years in Shropshire. The success of the flock is largely due to Mr Rogers's intimate knowledge of the breed, and to his careful management. To him and to Mr W. G. Stead I am indebted for a very pleasant day spent on the farm.