KERRY HILL SHEEP FOR H.B.

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 84, 26 April 1937, Page 8

KERRY HILL SHEEP FOR H.B.

Importation by Mr John Tait NOTABLE WELSH BREED An importation of considerable interest to sheepmen in Hawke's Bay will be tbe arrival on Wednesday moming of a number of "Kerry Hill" stud sbeep from Wales for Mr. Jobn Tait, a wellknown sbeepfarmer at Waikari. The consignment consists of 10 stud ewes, one stud 1-sh. ram and one stud ram-lamb and are outstanding types of this noted hreed from Montgomeryshire, Wales. This is the first importation of the Kerry Hill sheep to New Zealand and has been carried out by the stud dopartment of Williams and Kettle, Hastings, on behalf of Mr Tait. Prominent pastoralists in New Zealand have expressed the view that tbe introduction of the Kerry Hill sheep would be of considerable benefit, and once established they would have a great future in the Dominion, The consignment was slfrpped to Sydney by the Port Nicholson, and there they were quarantined for the regulation period at the Abbotsford Quarantine. While there they were shorn, giving a splendid yield. The ewes were purehased on the understanding that they had had service and they prove'd so prolific that while in quarantine they ' gave birth to 11 lambs, eight of which are. rarolambs. These are in excellent order and are in addition to the numbers stated above. Arrival on Wednesday. .The selection of the draft was placed In the hands of the secretaries of the Kerry Hill breed at Newtown, Montgomeryshire, Wales. The consignment will arrive in Hastings by the early train at 6.40 a.m. on Wednesday moming and will lie takeo on to Napier by the same train. The Kerry Hill sheep, which have been described by experts as being one of the wonder bfeeds of recent years, was known as a distiffct breed over a century ago whcn it possessed all the eardinal features which dislinguish it • to-day. The breed, which is essentially a hill sheep, e'ombines all the desirable qualities of that type with the most-sought-for qualities of the choicest Down breeds. Its markings are very distinctive, consistiug of black speekles on the face, ears and legs and long has been commonly known as "the. speckled -f aced rent-payei . " Writing to the Hereford Times, Mr. F. C. Herbert, a former New Zealand flock-master in Canterbury, stated that the Kerry Hill breed, . was 'a highland sheep with great eonstitution and would withstand hardships of the severest winters and great snows better than any other breed of which he knew, ' Appearance of Sheep. In appearance the Korry Hill is wicie, long and low, with a strong neck, welldeveloped legs of mutton an*l great strength of doek. Open in the shoulders, wide and strong in the loins and deep in the rib? , it is built very near the ground, is extremely hardy and actlve in its movements, as a hill sheep should be. It is well clothed with a fleece of white wool of a density which niakes it impervious to the wildest weather find of a quality that cominands a high market value. A ^Bradf ord expert recently described representative lleeces as being quite excellent for "length of staple, soundness, good condition and freedom from kemp." Kerry Hill bred lamb and mutton are in the highest repute with butchers and consumers- of choice meat by reason o| their wonderful quality and delicious flavour. The breed is exeeptionally doeile, imprcsrfive and prolific. It readily adapts itself to varying clinjates and systems of farming, being unrivalled as a crosstng proposition. ' \ Hawke's Bay sheepmen will follow with keen interest the xesults of Mr. Tait's importation, and no dOubt efforts will be made to have thein exliibited at the hext spring show. Such a display would command speeial attention and would enable large numbers interested to appreciate the enterprise shown by Mr. Tait.-