BLEMISHED RAMS

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 18, 5 February 1937, Page 6

BLEMISHED RAMS

Offerings at Fairs Should be Supervised H B. SOCIETY OPINIONS "Tliis is a pretty serious tbing," commented Mr J. H. Absolum, cbairman of Ihe Hawke's Bay A. and P. Society executive, when a letter was read at today 's ineeting from the New Zealand Romney Marsb Sheep-Breeders' Association drawing attention to tbe fact that at a recent stud-sbeep sale one of tbe Romney rams offered was blemisbed i» tbat it bad a black leg. "Our couneil considers tbat sucn sbeep sbould not be offered for sale, and we wuuid suggest tbat supervision sbould be adopted by tbose conducting tbe sale," continued tbe letter, wbicb asked that the society sbould give the matter consideration. Mr W. A. Tod said tbat tbe sbeep .eferred to was offered at a ram fair in tbe Wairarapa. "It went tbrougb tbe rmg, and nobody bid on it," he remarked. "If a man puts sbeep like that througli a sale, is be fit to breed Romneys?" "Blemisbes are bard to see on a muddy day," commented Mr Absolom. He suggested tbat some way should be devised of preventing sucb sheep from being offered. "Tbey should not be entered in the stud-book," said another member. "Tbey are never inspected by tbe Breed Society," replied Mr Tod. After further discussion it was decided to write and suggest tbat tbe matter was one for the Romney Marsb Sll^'.ep-Breedefs, Association to take up, involving either the inspection or tbe certifying of tbe sheep before sale , . Exhibitors and Judges- . Mr J. Lyons said ' be would like to hear-' members' opinions as to the advisability or otherwise of informing exbibitors who tbe judges would be at .-tbe sbow. . ; ■ '■* * ' . • . ."If exhibitprs '.can 't trust . the society to pick . the best judges— well — ! " rem arked Mr J. H. MaeNiven.. l't was pointed-' out tbat exbibitors could find. out in any case by' writing ftnd /askjnig-tb.e..secx.etury'.- f ■ • - " Av sh.Qw.!. is - pot ptit-bmtiug,."- said Mr Absol9'm. " Stoek: are brougbt to a

•sbow to see wbicb are the best. It should not deter people from exhibiting if tbey are bea,ten. I know I can quite see the bad points in 'my sneep if thoy are beaten. "It doesn't matter a bang if you win a prize," Mr Absolom continued. "You waiit to see the best stock. ' ' Tbe secretary, Mr A. M. Retemeyer. said tbat there were quite a number of exbibitors who wrote and asked wbo the judge was, ■ and tbat wa9 all be ' beard from them. * . Fine aud Coarse-Woolled. "Is there a possibility of having classes for fine and coarse-woolled sbeep in tbe sheep sections — particularly Romneys?" continued Mr C. Douglas. ' ' I don 't think we sbould do any tbing about that witbout consulting the New Zealand Romney Breeders ' Association, 5 ' gaid Mr W. A. Tod. "If you are going to start that, you 're going to double your classes and y.our prizemoney, and you are not going to increase your entries. As a Romney breeder I tbink it is wrong to encourage tWo types. " Mr MaeNiven said that there was apparently a feeling that judges went on wool alo'ne. "You must have constitution and frame," he commented. ' ' Mpst judges go on carcase and constitution, tlien wool, ' ' remarked anotber. speaker. "There should be no sueh tbing as a judge of fine or coarsawool." "A judge sbould go on type, and throw out sheep tbat are too fine or too coarse," said Mr Absolom, who pointed out tbat to-day there was a swing-ovar for ouali-ty in wool. "The Romney Breeders' Association is now endeavouring to fix a standard type, but they're baving n lot ot difficulty," said Mr Tod. It was decided to consider these matters further at a future meetine