THE BEST PAYING FARMERS' SHEEP.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1882, 5 March 1880, Page 2

THE BEST PAYING FARMERS' SHEEP.

The “East Charlton Tribune ” says that at a meeting of the Mount Wycheproof Farmers’ Union held at Johnson’s Hotel on November 22nd, Mr Josiah Sice in the chair, the following paper on “Best Paying Sheep for Farmers ” was read by Mr Cooper:— “l have been an observer of sheep-breeding in England, New Zealand, New South Wales, and Victoria for about forty years. It has always been my study to find out what breed of sheep would produce the heaviest carcase, combined with the best quality of mutton and wool, in the shortest time. I was amongst sheep-breeders of note in my early youth, viz , the breeders of the old original Leicester, called the Dishley Leicester breed, bred by Mr Bakewell, of Dishley; also Messrs Buckley, of Normanton Hills, Leicestershire, who bred and brought out the improved Leicester which was considered the grandest breed and beat paying sheep of the day, being noted for early maturing and giving the heaviest carcase and most wool in the shortest time. The weight of this latter class of sheep would be about SOlhs. weight when twelve to fourteen months old, when its mutton would be at its best. In two years the weight could be Increased to 1201bs. or more, but the flavor was rather tallowy, which is a drawback. There was also too much fat in proportion to the lean to suit the taste of the consumers. The cross with the Lincoln and Leicester was afterwards tried, which produced a sheep of a more fleshy nature as well as an improvement in wool, but still the mutton was tallowy and fibre coarse ; therefore, this quality did not suit, because, as in the Leicester, there was too much waste, for the consumer. A cross was tried with the Southdown ram and the Leicester ewe with good results, about the same weight of carcase being produced in the same time, viz., SOlba in twelve or fourteen 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 be eaten without waste, the fat being sweet and fibre fine. This breed was very much sought after, it being the greatest favorite of both the butcher and consumer. The cross between the Southdown ram and Leicester ewe gave a heavy percentage of lambs, twin 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 Cheviot ewe, which yielded fat lambs, but it was not a desirable breed to continue. I have also seen the Eomney 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 Hampshire Down. The merino is the king 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 spoil through roaming, so long as tho area of grass is unlimited. The following will show that tho cross between the Southdown ram and Leicester or Lincoln-Leicester ewe is more profitable than the merino for selectors:— Merino hoggets in wool, usual price 8s per head; Southdown ram, crossed with a Leicester or Lincoln-Leicester ewe, at twelve months old weighs about 801 b, and in wool is worth 20s ; value of quality for mutton if realised, Id per lb, Gs 8d extra, thus leaving a balance in favor of the latter of from 12s to 18a per head. I have mentioned the merino as being tho 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 require much scope of ground, and that will enable us to make the most money in the shortest time. This sheep is to be found in the produce of the Hampshire Down ram and either tho Leicester or Lin-coln-Leicester ewe. The breed excels all the sheep I ever saw for early maturing, producing the heaviest weight of carcase in the shortest time, the mutton being prime in quality and flavor, prolific increase, and yearly fat lambs. I bava killed sheep of this breed when twelve months old whose carcases have weighed over 1001 b. I do not say that this is the average, but it shows well for the breed, which, I believe, is heavier than the average of any other class of sheep ithat has come under my notice of that age ; therefore, I believe this breed to be the beat 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 sheep. This breed of sheep, though it must have plenty of food and water, is not so particular as the merino. •It may be placed in a small paddock, as it will not ream, but eat off everything before it. As before stated, there must be plenty of feed and water, or else the result named as to weight in a short space of tim* cannot be obtained. Green crops, such as rape, Ac., eaten off, would be beneficial to both sheep and land, 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 improved for cropping. Irrigation would enable us to carry and fatten fen or more sheep to the acre if they are of the Hampshire Down and Leicester breed, which would give a great impetus to sheep farming amongst selectors, as they would then, by the aid of the water supply, produce all kinds of feed for sheep as well as grain growing. The question of irrigation and railway extension must be speedily carried out in our dry districts, which have a rich soil, or it will soca revert to its former occupation as a sheepwalk. We farmers of the Wimmera district must therefore be up and doing at the neifc 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.”