IMPORTED STUD STOCK

Press, Volume LX, Issue 11483, 16 January 1903, Page 3

IMPORTED STUD STOCK

A VISIT TO THE QUARANTINE ISLAND.

A number of sheep breedeis and other paid a visit yesterday, at the invitation o; Mr Jan. E. Davenport, to Quarantine Island, and inspected the stock recently imparted by him from England. The party comprised Messrs Davenport, G. E. Rhodes, F. C. Murray and son, W. Nixon, W. A. Nixon. R. Reld, J. Reid, J. G. Mitchenson, Mr Turner Chief Inspector of Stock), and representatives of the Press. The Island is covered with splendid feed, and stock cannot fail to do well there this season. The first animal seen and greatly admired was the Highland bull brought out for Mr G. H. Rhodes, of Timaru. He is a very handsome dark brindle, rising two years, and was bred by Mr Duncan McDiarmid, of Camusericht. The "Norta British Agriculturist" in referring to the despatch of this bull to New Zealand, says: —" In some respects he was the second best bull that has been seen anywhere thin year. He was broader and tlucker in some ways than the Aberdeen winner, while lit* was every bit as well haired, and had a better hind-quarter; in fact, he could have taken a leading place in any company. Few Highland bulls had a batter mane, while the hair over his boely was very wealthy and close. It took a good price to induce Mr McDiarmid to part with this bull: but he should do well in the hands of his new owner, and prove a lucky purchase." The next to claim attention was a fifteen months old Shorthorn bull, Sir Oswald, bred by Mr Geo. Harrison, of Gainford Hall, and imported by Mr Davenport. He is a beautiful light roan, and though not without a few defects, is an exceptionally nice bull, and handles well. His dam was a great milker, and the strain should be a valuable one. Sir Oswald won two first prizes and two second prizes before leaving England.

The sheep are in excellent order, and the first to be seen were a mob of Shropshire ewes with a few Ryelands among them. These ewes are a very fine lot, and will make valuable additions to stud flocks.

The Shropshire ranis are on the whole a very even lot, and fairly short on the leg, though not quite so much so as New Zea-. landers like to get them. s The ram claiming most attention was one bred by Mt**3 Win. Cooper and Nephews, whioh has a good show record, including the winning' of the Mansell Memorial Cup, and first a-s a shearling at tbe Royal Show at Carlisle. The sheep are all well framed, and well woolled, and show sound constitution.

The Southdowns came in for a lot of admiration, a champion winner bred by the late Colonel McC'almont, and one bred by Mr J. J. Colman, being the pick, of the rams, and opinions were somewhat divided as to which was the better sheep. The ewes were a very pretty lot, though perhaps on the small side, exoept tliosa bred by the Duke of Richmond and the late Colonel McCalmont. The draft from his Majesty the King's ilock were very even, but were' the smallest of the lot.

The English Leicester rams are somewhat disappointing. They are large framed sheep, but rather too long in the leg, and the wool is of a coarse Lincoln type. The ram most liked was the one bred by Mr E. F. Jordan, as he more nearly approaches our own type of sheep. One of the rams bred by Mr Geo. Harrison was the first prize winner at the Royal Show at Carlisle, and at the Great* Yorkshire Show at Leeds, but he was not looking as Well as the others.

Two Byeland rama came in for favourable criticism, one bred by Mr F. E. Gougb, of Bodenham, Herefordsliire, being a very handsome sheep, with a grand stylj and carriage. The Byelands are good carcase sheep, but they are too coarse in the wool to become at all popular. The visitors also inspected three Eomnev Marsh rams and a Southdown ram, imported by Messrs Bealey Bros., of Hororata. Two of the Romneys are very fine rams,' and the Southdown, one of Mr J. J. Colman's breeding, is a good sheep.