Page 18 Advertisements Column 1

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20499, 18 March 1932, Page 18

AUCTIONS. H. MATSON AND 00. THE SELECTION OP A RAM. POINTS TO BE CONSIDERED. CORRECT MATING ESSENTIAL FOR STUD-MASTER AND FLOCK-OWNER. THE production of liigli-class rains is not just a simple. matter of mating a well-bred ram with a ,lot of equally wellbred ewes without taking the trouble to examine the 'different points of strength and weakness on both sides. Skilful mating dopepda ou a careful study ot these difteront points, so that the sire makes up for any deficiency in tho owes, or vice versa. In pedigree flocks broed points count on both sides, and due regard must be paid to pedigree, for unless tho breeding of the siro is studied it is a very easy matter to lose type and very difficult to regain it once it is lost. Ram breeding represents tho highest form of art as applied to sheep-breeding, and it is not every, breeder by any means who is a perfect master of tho art. The most successful breeders have always been those who have had a perfect knowledge of the individual propensities of the different members of the flock, keen to recognise tho breeding powers of the ewes, and able to select their rams with tho skill necessary to bring out the best results in tho progeny. It often happens that a somewhat mean-looking ewe properly mated proves a great breeder, producing a winner every rear, but, on the other hand, if unskilfully mated, her progeny is of no outside value. SKILFUL MATING NECESSARY. Everything, therefore, depends on skilful mating in a ram-breeding flock, and a man must be a master of the art of breeding to be a success as a ram-breeder. The same principle in regard to tho selection of a sire should be applied to all commercial flocks, crossbred or otherwise. Skilful mating makes all the difference in the type and quality of the lambs, and careful note should be taken of tho strong and weak points of the ewe flock before purchasing rams to mate with it. Indiscriminate mating results In lack of type and uniformity of appearance, which are both important factors in obtaining a good price for tho lambs when sold. Cross-breeding in sheep is now very extensively employed, and in cross-breeding rams should be selected not solely for - good points, but also on account of tho suitability of the breed to which they belong to cross with the broed to which the ewes belong. Some breeds cross well with each other; others do not, and just as trhcro is really no best breed so there is no best cross, as that breed or <ross is always best which is most adapted to the conditions under which it has to exist. REMEMBER: Old Mother Hubbard v who Went to tho Cupboard. Your stock will not find tho cupboard bare if you supply Lixit in every paddoek. It keeps the animals in good health, the sulphur increases the shearing propensities of the sheep, and no Flock Master should be without it. Obtainable from all Stock Firms. TYPE OF COUNTRY MUST BE STUDIED. Then again regard must be bad to the demand in. the district in which the sheep are bred. In some parts of the country there is • demand for lambs from a particular class of ewe, provided they are sired by rams of a certain breed, whereas lambs from the same class of ewe by rams of another broed meet no demand at all, though perhaps the one cross may be just as good as the other, only local prejudice has to be studied in sheep-breeding. , . Further, much depends upon tlje needs of the distriot to which lambs eventually find their way to be fattened either on roots or grain, and as dealers have to study the wants of their customers' flock-masters must do The points that constitute a good ram are equally applicable to all breeds, and no matter for what purpose,# ram is required, whether it be for pure or cross-breeding, he should be pure-bred, and'show that true type and character that a,re only to be found in highly-fcred animals. , Reliance can only be placed in. rajas Irom flocks that are skilfully- and carefully bred. A good sheep may come by chance from a carelessly-bred flock, but. he cannot be depended -upon as a sire, and in selecting a ram fro# a flock in such for generations every eWe and ram has been carefully chosen and mated it is difficult to go far wrong. THE BETTER SIRE SCORES. Breed always tells, and the better bred the sires are and the moye skilfully mated, so much th©-more level, breedy-looking, and saleable will be the produce. . To whatever breed a ram may .belong, Jie should have a stroi}f f masculine head, well set on agood scrag, a broad brisket with a good back Mid loin, top'line and under line parallel, tall set on In a straight line With the hack, which, should handle- firm and level', right along, the'backbone being well covered with flesh. Tho .legs should b® sbJ on squarely with good hocks. The skin should be pink,, and tho fleece ot wool well up to, the standard of the breed to wfyich tho ram belongs. ", ■ " ■ • Some' breeders make a point of choosing a ram that is a twin, the Idea .being that a twin is more, likely" to , begat twins, but a high percentage of twipa Is probably more dependent on the breed and .the condition 'of the ewes at > mating time. Some herds are more prolific thaj» others, and it Is doubtful If th* mere fact of a ram being' a twin has any influenqevon the percentage of twin lambs born. There is always a distinction between what are known ; as.'' 'breeders' " sheep and "farmers' " sheep. A r»m that is suitable for heading a high-class flock is 'also bound to be suitable for 'commercial purposes, But the so-called farmers' shew is not as a rule by any mean; fitted for service in a ,ran»-breeding flock. MOLASSES—A really wonderful pro: ; ductlon sold under the name of "MOOKI SOLIDIFIED MOLASSES" strongly encased in steel . v',. containers,:;,./. Every. Farm should have it, and as you move the stock, move . the containers* ' ■ ; ' Obtainable from H. MATSON and CO. USEFUL QUALITIES SHOULD BE PRE- : SERVED. ' • At the sinie time, breeders must be careful in the class ot ram they put on the market for ' commercial, purposes. Many breeds have lost the support of farmers simply because mora attention has been paid to fancy points than the more useful qualities that help to pay for the reat. The use ot well-bred and carefully-selected rams makes ■ all the difference when it comef to selling ti\p Jaijibs, whether thay are. sold as "stores'' or fed off to the butcher,ou roots or as fat. lambs. It may be thought in the l«tt«r case th(4 a* the lambs will be killed off at an early age any sort of ram will do, but for fat lamb production a suitable sire is a point of the greatest importance. EAR£Y MATURITY AN ESSENTIAL. It is essential for fat lambs to mature early and fatten, quickly, so that rams must be chosen that are the most likely to bring about these results. A good sire is half the fleck, just as a good bull is half the herd, and it is equally as bad golicy to use * »°ngr®l-bred or "scTub" ram as a "scrub" bull, About which we hear so much nowadays. At the satne time,, -no sire is all powerful, however good ha may be, and in order to breed lambs of top quality, that will mature early and give the most profitable return, whether sold as stores or as mutton, it i# most important to exercise the greatest care and judgment in the culling and drafting of the ewes. , In all pedigree flocks the ewe flock is gone over most cvrefiiUy every year, and only those that are true to type and proved good breeders retained. In commercial flocks things • are done in a more rough and ready way* and perhaps leas attention is paid to individual mferit, but it is always advisable to draft out three-cornered specimens and those that are lacking in uniformity of appearance. Mixed flocks of all sorts and sises are never satisfactory. THE IMPORTANCE OF DIPPING STOCK. Dipping becomes more or a science every day. It rids ,tho, sheep of peats, so that the stock fan thrive. The annoyance of sheep rubbing against fences, gates, and sand banks is fctrgoly the result of Inefficient dipping, I. . UDIP—A Powder Dip has come as a I Wfl aid a blessing to the sheep men. J The proprietors are meeting the condij "«o#a of the flock-master by marketing i ,th«lr cpmmodity below th? rates of t others. The satisfactory analysis of ijlliiott Uros., the largest chemical people in Australia and New Zealand,- in respect to this dip, and the criticisms of.those who have already used the dip this loj> the market with the utmost confidence. H/MATSON and CO.