THE "FAKING" OF SHEEP.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1073, 11 March 1911, Page 8

THE "FAKING" OF SHEEP.

■ BREEDERS' OPINIONS. ■ Mr. F. Meenken, in a letter to tho Carterton "Nows," on tho subject of sheep "faking," holds that Mr. H. G. Williams is quite right. Ho says: "I have been agitating against doctoring sheep for that purpose years ago, and I. am glad that there aro thoso that seo tho mischief of-it now. If any •breeder likes to treat his sheep artificially let him do so, but, do not let him compete against the breeder who brings sheep to tho show as nature produces them. Let them have a class of their own, and let them bs known as artificial saoep. . ." . As a rule I have found tho best 'faked',sheep carries off the prize. There aro any number.of breeders who have first-class stock, but they lose all interost in exhibiting them because they will not lend themselves, .to deceiving tho public. As it is at present, in my opinion the shows do very little good, because it is not a true representation of stock. . . ." ■ "Brcedor," who also has written to ..'the Carterton .paper on tho subject, says that '.'anyone who knows anything about the shows, knows-that Mr. 'Williams is quite right." Ho believes | 'with Mr. Strang, ono _ of the best judges of stock wo havo in tho district, that sheep should be put in tho show pens in the best possible show condi- / tion, .but it should bo natural condition." He declares: "If a breeder has a flock with wool tending to hairiness lie naturally looks-'out for rams without this defect to improve his wool. If tho rams ha 'buys h(ivo been so skilfully trimmed that he is deocived in this essential point, I consider he has been 'had' and seriously injured."