Romney Marsh Sheep.

Feilding Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 276, 28 May 1897, Page 2

Romney Marsh Sheep.

Mr W. S. Allen, of Annandale, Piako, bas written to Mr Bradoy in reference tc his recent remarks about Rornney Mars! sheep. Inter alia he says :— " You are quite right in saying that the true ltomneys have almost ceased to exist. This is not only the case in New Zealand, but it is so also in England. ] was at tbo Canterbury show in 1894, and at ' The Royal ' last year, and at the latter show especially it was very cnrious to see how rapidly the characteristics of the old Romney Marsh breed are disappearing. The sheep which are now shown as Rornneys, both here and in England have, of. course, some of the old breed in them ; but in 99 cases out of 100 they are any tiling but purebred sheep, being in point of fact ' improved Rornneys.' I noticed Mr Matthews' remarks, but is is a great mistake to suppose that because a' sheep is imported from the Romney Marsh district he is therefore a. purebred Romuey. Tn point of fact I very much doubt if a purebred old-fashioned Romney Marah sheep ever finds his way into New Zealand now. I have at present a ram who is as near to the old Romney type as it is possible to get one, but at a show a judge would uot look at him, and would cerfcaiuly pass him over in favor of an • improved Romney, 1 in fact, few judges know what a real Romney is."