CROSSBRED SHEEP

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 291, 28 August 1918, Page 8

CROSSBRED SHEEP

INCREASING IN AUSTRALIA WHAT OF THE MERINO? In his annual address, Mr. James liidd, president of the Shcepb'reeders' Association of New South Wales, dealt with the inoreasing percentage of crossbred wool going ou to the market. He said:—"Thero is, perhaps, just a little too much eagerness to breed crossbred sheep to the detriment of the merino, aid it must not'bo overlooked that for tho length and breadth of 'Australia, the moriuo fills the bill. Wool, and merino wool particularly, must be a big asset when this war is through, and while no one can 'decry the advantage of the British breeds in certain districts, it is to tho merino wa owe tho greater part of our wealth." The gradually increasing percentage of crossbred wool to merino in Australia s is shoini in tho. figures taken from his-- ' address Morino. Crossbred. 1900-1 83 ' 17 '1904-5 88 i 13} 1908-9 81. 19 1912-13 76i 23,} 1916-17 73} '261 Jt will bo seen that the growth is a steadily progressive one. The trueaverage, however, can only be obtained, says tho Heviow," by taking the proportion that the clip of each State bears to the whole season's production, and if this method is follow- ' ed the increase will be found to be a Jnuch greater one. This is borne out by the fact that in Sydney, where, some 40 per cent, of tho clip is handled, tho proportion has' changed from 94 per cent, of merino, and 6 per cent, of crossbred in 1900-1, to 80 per rent, of merino and 20 per cent, of .crossbred in 1916-17, while in Victoria,;tho home of the small grower, the chance is more apparent, as the "Melbourne figures show, viz.:—l9oo-1, merino, 70 per cent.; crossbred, 30 per cent.; 1916-17,. merino, 47 per cent, ; crossbred, 53 per cent. In New Zealand the merino flocks are now in small compass, but the heavy losses of sheep this winter through the snowstorms may have the effect of turning attention to the merino again for high (Tountry, if it is proved they have come through the best.