FARMERS’ COLUMN.

Dunstan Times, Issue 926, 16 January 1880, Page 3

FARMERS’ COLUMN.

THE BEST PAYING- FARMERS SHEEP. The followin'' paper was real at a meetin'! ot a Fanner’s Union lately h»ld in Victoria : —“ I hue been an observer of sheepbreed in-,’ in Endian I, Now Znlind, New South Wales, an;! Victoria for about 40 Years. It has always been my surly to find out what breed of sheep wonl l produce the heaviest carcase, combine 1 with the best quality of mutton an I w ml, in the shortest time. I was amongst sheepbreeilers of note in my early youth, viz., the breeders of the oi l original L Toaster, cale l the Dishlev Leicester breed. bred by Mr Bakewell, of Di-dil y ; also Messrs. Buckley, of Norman ton hills, Leicestershire, who bre.l an.l brought out the improve.! L dc ester, wh oh was considered the gran lost bre 1 an I best p lying sheep of the day, bein': noted for early maturing an-1 giving the tie ivicst carcase an 1 most wool in the shortest ti-ns. The Weight of this latter class of sheep would bo about 801b weight when Id to 14 months o’d, wh-n its mutton would he at its best. In two yea-s the weight con! I he increased to 120 ib or more, but the flavour was rather tallowy, which is a drawback. There was also too much fat in Drop irtiou to the lean to suit the taste of the consumer. The cross with the Lincoln and Leicester was afterwards trie 1, which produced a sheen of a more fleshy nature as well as an improvement in wo,,i, but, still the mutton was tallowy and the !il>r- coarse ; therfore, this quality did not suit because, as in the

Leicester, there was too much waste for the consumer. A cross was tried with the South-down ram and the Leicester ewe with good results, about the same weight of carcase being produced in the same time, viz., 8011). in 12 or Id months, and sold at Id. per lb. more than either the Leicester Lincoln, or Lincoln-Leicester ; the flesh being more equalised with the fat, so that the whole carcase could bo eaten without waste, the fat being sweet and fibre line. This breed was very much sought after, it being the greatest favourite of both the butcher and consumer. The cross between the South-down ram and Leicester ewe gave a heavy percentage of lambs, t win lambs being common, and occasionally three. The constitution of this breed was very strong and healthy, and is well worthy of the farmer’s notice. I have seen the cross between a Leicester ram and Gheviot ewe, which yielded fat lambs, hut it was not a desirable breed to continue 1 have also seen the Roni"ev Marsh, both pure and crossed with the Leicester. This class of sheep is an early maturer, but produces too much tallow for consumption, and is, therefore, best suited for the boiling-down pot, crossed with either a Southdown or Hamshire Down. The merino is the [ting of all sheep for the squatter, who has an unlimited area for it to run. It is hardy in constitution, which enables it to withstand the hardships of bad seasons. It produces a good wool, which is not to be, equalled by any other breed of sheep, but it is a very choice feeder, and has the instinct of roaming for choice herbage, and it often spoils more feed than it consumes through rambling about so much. It does not matter what quantity it may sp n! through roaming, so long as the area of grass is unlimited The following will show that the cross between the Southdown ram and Leicester or Lincoln-Leicester ewe is more profitable than tiie merino for selectors : —Merino hoggets, in wool, usual price, 8s per head. Southdown ram, crossed with a Leicester or Lincoln-Leices-ter ewe, at 12 months old weighs about 801b., and in wool is worth 20s. ; value of quality for mutton, if realised, Id. per lb., fis. Sd. extra, thus leaving a balance in favour of the latter of from 12s. to ISs. per head. 1 have mentioned the merino as being the best sheep for the squatter ; granting that it is so, we are not squatters but farmers with small areas, and want sheep that do not requise much scope of ground, and that will enable us to make the most money in the shortest time. Tuis sheep is to Im found in the produce of the Hampshire Down ram and either the Leicester or Lincoln-Leicester ewe. This breed excels all the sheep 1 ever saw for early maturing, producing the heaviest weight of carcase in the shortest time, the mutton being prime in quality and flavour, prolific increase, and yearly fat lambs. I have killed sheep of this breed when 12 months old, whose careases have weighed over lOOlb. Ido not say that this is the average, nut it shows well for the breed, which, I believe, is heavier than the average of any other class

of sheep that cornu under my notice of that age ; therefore, 1 believe Ibis bivd to Oo the best paying sheep for the farmer. The wool may be worth per sheep less than that of the pure Leicester or Lincoln ; but looking at it in every way it is by far the best paying sleep. This breed of sheep, though it must have plenty of food and water, is not so particular as the merino. It may be place i in a small paddock, as it will not roam, but cat off eve-y thing before it. As before stated, theiemust lie plumy of feed au. 1 wattrl*. Oi* cNtJ rhe re-'.: i; n.iui-i I a.-.

to weight iu a short space of time ea not be obt lined. (1 recii crops, su.-h as rap- 1 , Oiio , eaten off, would bo bcnelicial to omit sheep and hind, as they will fatten the sheep, and there will also be the liquid as well as the solid manure from the sheep on the ground., which would be improve I for cropping. Irrigation would enable us to carry and fatten 10 or more sheep to the acre if they are of the Hampshire Down and Leicester breed, which would give a great impetus to sheep fanning amongst selectors, as they would then, by the aid of the water supply, produce all kinds of feed for sheep as well as grain crowing. The question of irrigation ami railway extension must be spee lily carried out in our dry districts, which have a rich soil, or it will soon revert to its former occupation as a sheepwalk. We farmers of the Wimmera dis trict must therefore he up and doing at the next general election, and help ourselves by returning those men to Parliament who will never rest until railway extension and irrigation are carried into our midst,”