SHEEP AND WOOL

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 155, 26 March 1919, Page 10

SHEEP AND WOOL

.RESEARCH IN ENGLAND. • Particulars arc given of some prospective investigations on sheep and wool, in connection with the Leeds University, in "Yorkshire Observer" of January 2 last, as follow— "The problem of the Wensleydale 'black sheep' is beinij slowly worked out in. both its purely Meiidolian aspect and also on the more difficult lines of biological chemistry' The University of Leeds has been fortunate, in." receiving an endowment for.such research as this from the late.Mr.'J. E. Ackroyd, of .Bradford, and it is hoped shortly to'elect the first "fellow" to'investigate such problems as this and certain others here outlined, within the stimulating: influence of the 6everal university departments involved. That this, problem will lead on. to ono of

oven deeper importance, tcjho wool trade is already evident. The breeders 01 black-faced sheep know that the blacker the face and legs the greater is the liability to grey hair in the fleece, and as a result, although it would be quite possible to breed all black-faced sheop towards patchless black head and legs, this has not been done, In the case of the Sussex Down.breed, however, the pure black hend and logs have boen attained, with the result that in certain districts the wool 'is becoming the despair of the wool t buyers as this sheop advances in popularity.

The Soay Breed. "As'a second task, the university has set itself to preserve the most primitive breed of, sheep of the British Isles—the Soay. In the opinion of Professor Ewart, of lldinbu'rgh- University,, the. time will conic when the fancy sheep breeder will have to return to the primitive breeds of sheep '.or stamina, and it would be n dire misfortune if these breeds were not available.. Some time ago a small flock of Sony:; was purchased by the university. • Unfortunately, sheep which can take a ten foot fence,, as well as creep and climb, are more than difficult to retain within .bounds, and the university is still in.need of safe pasturage for this small tlock. . '"Die crossbreeding results already attained by Professor Ewart on the .Edinburgh University farm under the auspices of the Scottish Board of Agriculture, are of more-than ordinary interest, in view of the possibilities of inducing the sheep farmer in this country to pay more attention to the quality of wool produced, j Already some extraordinary interesting crosses have been worked out, wools spun and woven at Leeds,. I.'ln\ Agricultural arid Textile Departments, ot the university, are arranging for-a conioint meeting of wool-growers and wool consumers. Major' Dent will preside,' and Professors Ewart and Barker will give the results'of their; investigations. The recently-formed Bcsearch Association for the woollen and worsted industries has also been asked to co-operate, and it i? -hoped that, as a result, the. professors of.the universities of Edinburgh Leeds may be encouraged to carry these researches still further, and especially, to ii.auEjurate one or two large scale experiments which the results already achieved seem to justify.

Australian Assistance. .' ! "That few fields offer such possibilities! in research is mors, than evident. The useful services, of Sir Timothy Coghlnn, ex-Agont-General for -New South. AVaies. mid certain' Australian - sheepbreeders, have already been offered to Leeds University, should experiments, with merino wool be deemed advisable., Alreadv the advisability, of a hill, and n lowland sheep farm being linked "up with the Department of Textile Industries is under consideration by the Agricultural mid Textile Committees and-it is ■■hoped that a satisfactory scheme may be evolved whereby the textile student may follow the wool from the sheep's back to the finished fabric. When the breeding-re-search possibilities of such farms as those suggested are also considered, the necessity for this extension seems beyond question. ... "Professor Bnteson r few weeks ago, when confronted with the black sheep problem of the AVensleydale breeders, expressed astonishment lh.it such a simple breeding problem as Ihe elimination of the recessive black had not already been solved. Cambridge' University' has already carried out inspiring Mendelian< investigations on sheep;■landowners, such as Mr. 11. J. I'lhve'sJ of Cheltenham, have n'so been attracted by the interest inherent' in .such investigations; but it rests with the West Hiding of Yorkshire seriously to face • breeding problems- winchnav have .such a potent, influence, upon both the agricultural and textile interests. 'It is hoped that' those interested / in the proposed researches, if not already 1 connected with the universities or the Ee--1 f?!>tcli Association, will support the movement through one or other; of those bodies.':' ' ._■:.■''<■