ROMNEY RAM.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 984, 26 November 1910, Page 16

ROMNEY RAM.

ascertain ;tiie manner in \yhich characteristics: may be mated for the general ''.up of the animal.". It was .necessary, explained Mr. to have .aJsnowledgo.ofitko genealogical idiosyncrasies of. breeds, . and -.'to . his mind .this could only bo. dono, by''studying one's!own flock.-•; Every 'sire. 1 'had certain characteristics, , -'.to : ;. a ■.certain ■extent ■unknown,,-which developed in .some., way.,or' other, .'iandithe: , ;. breeder ■should know all;about;them. :' .'Breeders of. experience iknew, for; example, ■that, very?often, an especially.-good show (Sheep; has■ eo inany "'strains ; of blood in hmu.that.his.-progeny dovelop an i unreliable type,'. and;; aro therefore less profitable -to';breed■ from if : -ono wishes to ge>t'"an' eycn : typ& of 'sheep'.for ordiiiary ; 'fldck' , piifposes , :'- 'By studying the ancestral lino of his own sheep, a breeder.was enabled to develop his types with certainty, and without undue experimenting. ■ ~ • ~ •. Iα support of his view, Mr. M'Grcgor instanced the case of a. particularly/ rough-looking sheep, which had been awarded a first prize, much, to _ the surprise of a .number of sheep critics. The owner, himself a keen critic,- admitted that the sheep did not' look much at the time, and had he not known the idiosyncrasies of the strains, ho said, ho might have considered that the judge had mado a, mistake. 'From what'ho know, tho. sheep was certain of developing characteristics which next year would earn him a chainpiqn' prize. The owner's prophecy was correct, arid : next year the sheep was awarded first 1 and champion, at ono of the big shows. M'Gregor' Bros.' Liricolns ; 'aro ' a' hardy lot, and not trough fed. At the ram and ewo fairs, noticeably at Wanganui 'and Mastertony,they.' have always.sbld well, at 'prices; which'-have been amongst, the highest averages. On ono occasion at "Wanganui they topped: thb list both for stud and dock rams. A portion of tho flock will probably bo.' disposed of next March, as tho property, comprising .a thonsand acres, will'be subdivided about that time. . .

Romneys. This flock was also -.founded .by Mr, M'Gregor, sour., from purchases from Mr. T. Sj'ko*, whoso ram flock was pno of the-best Mr.-Sykes was.a particu--larly good judgo of Romnoys. Later, Messrs. M'Gregor Bros, bought studs" from Mr.* G. S.- Sykes, who had taken up his brother's f10ck.,.;- One of tho most influential, sircs.'.wliiclr tho M'Grcgors.used was.'a''rn'ni"brcd;by*H. Eglinton, whoso; flocks: wore." descended, from the. famous. ludlariv.. sheep. •j' "The giro referred to -."left:..'particularly ■ good, full nostril, a type,: which ..although'" the*' sheep has been dead for years can' still'bo - seen in "tho" flock'. The .sheep shown in the photograph is of'tlie- strain,''and he himself lias.been a prize-taker" on three or. four occasions. 1 ■ .'' ;'■: M'Gregor Bros, say that tho typo of Romheywool they aim-at is not so mueli-tho. short, dense type, favoured for,.a timo by breeders,, but more of a class which will mate with the Littcolns j of ■■'tHo '■■district,, and produce a good crossbred:fleece, .which will not.pull out in'rough or scrubby country, and which will.:kcep.waterproof.■ ".'ln-this . line the vfirm Jiavc been fairly successful,, and , ;have -produced -a 'heavy-boned sheep." 'No'doubt the'class of country had, something .to,, do; .with_ it,',aiid MyD. M'Gregor, .junr.,; said that-every ■little district-had its own-peculiarities; for different breeds. It had '■■■'been noted, for instance,' that fine-boned and iinc-wooHed sheep, often characterised by fine, narrow heads, would not throw good crossbred stock for station purposes, no matter where- they were used. M'Gregor Bros, have a good name for their Boninoys, and the fact is worth recording that sheep and station-owners who had been ■ using their sheep for a good many .years had kept to them exclusively, and there was no doubt that for utility purposes the -sheep-were thought very 'highly of. M'Gregor Bros, lied with Mr.. J. M'Gregor, senr., for Thomas and Cook's Cup for. tho best -..crossbred sheep, wnol to be taken into consideration. Later, Mr. M'Grogor won the trophy right out, hut tho breed of sheep was all the same. • The flock will probably bo reduced in, March next, when the property will bo subdivided.