THE WOOL TO GROW

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVII, 19 November 1927, Page 12

THE WOOL TO GROW

WHICH IS MOST WANTED?

WHICH PAYS THE GROWER BEST?

By “Sundowner" (Written for the Tribune. All Rights Reserved.)

TN view of the probability that “fine” wool will be in keen demand this year owing to shortage in supply from Australia and elsewhere, and that therefore some sheep-farmers may be induced to alter the type of ram which they put to their flock, it seems an opportune time to discuss the class of wool which it is most profitable to produce. While a great number of sheepfarmers select the type of sheep they consider the most valuable and adhere to this through thick and thin, there are, unfortunately, many who are swayed by the popularity of this or that breed from year to year, and by the introduction of new breed crosses attempt to cater for the present or probable future demands of buyers.

THE MOST PROFITABLE SHEEP.

The question that first arises is —What is the most profitable sheep J This can only be satisfactorily answered by each individual farmer. Not by reviewing the merits of each breed as he has ■ seen them in the show pens, or i read the description of their [ merits in some article or book I dealing with the subject, but from his practical experience in dealing with a flock on his own farm, or observing the flocks of other breeders in his immediate neighbourhood. THEORY PLUS PRACTICE. By this it is not meant that a farmer should not read everything that may give him a knowledge of the charactertistics of the breeds most likely to thrive on his land. Such knowledge is essential and can most conveniently be learned from authoritative books dealing with stock. What is meant is that however productive of wool, mutton, fat lambs, etc., a Ibreed may have proved to be, that breed will be valueless unless it is adapted to thrive on the class of country in which the farmer is interested. “FINE” WOOL MOST VALUABLE. Generally speaking the finer the wool is, or in other words the more nearly it approaches the Merino, the more valuable it is. This is so because fine wool only can be used in the manufacture of fine, soft fabrics, while it can, should the demand arise, be used to mix with coarser wools in the manufacture of rough materials should these be fashionable, it thus has a universal demand where coarses wools have a limited. THE MERINO’S FAULTS. The Merino sheep do not, however, suit every locality. While producing valuable fleeces of great weight, they require wide spaces in which to graze, do not remain healthy fin rich lowland pastures, have, from a mutton point of view, small and badlyshaped carcases, come to maturity slowly, and are very subject to foot-rot. Crosses between the Merino and the various British longwools inherit many of these weaknesses, and, excepting in a few localities, have consequently fallen into disfavour in the North Island. OUR NORTH ISLAND MIXTURE. Here, of recent years, we have found the Romney, the Lincoln, the Ryeland, the English Leicester and the Southdown adapt themselves better to the climate and pasture conditions, and in an endeavour to simultaneously attain an improved mutton carcase, heavier clips of more valuable wool, earlier maturity of lambs, etc., wq have mixed the blood of these various breeds in our flocks to such «n extent that in many instances we have no true breed or type left. This does not necessarily mean that the hulk of the sheep are not improved on the old pure breeds from which they originated in so far as their productive value and adaptab lity to their surroundings are concerned. As a general rule,

bad seasons and the intelligence of the farmer have combined to weed out the sheep most unsuited to the farm, but there remain many which are far from being the most profitable sheep he could carry.

THE MOST PROFITABLE WOOL. Among the flock of breeding ewes will be found some which are outstandingly better than the average. Some of these will be no doubt fairly coarse in the wool, others fine, owing to the fact that the constitution of each individual sheep enters so largely into the matter of condition and growth. It will be found, however, that the bulk of these better sheep are notable for growing a particular quality of class of wool, and that throughout the flock few sheep carrying such wool will clip cotted or otherwise faulty fleeces. These are the sheep which the country can carry to perfection and which, as a rule, produce the most valuable fleeces in the flock.

It is useless to try and produce a finer or a coarser quality, for a swing in either direction would be accompanied by faults in the wool which w’ould more than counterbalance the extra price or weight secured. It must be remembered that in the British breeds of sheep finer wool is usually accompanied by a lighter clip per sheep, and the extra price obtained for this fine wool may not make up for the loss in weight between the fleece of that sheep and a coarser woolled type which the country might safely carry. A SAFE PRINCIPLE. Fashions in wool come and go, and though it is admitted that fine wool usually commands the higher price, that man will make most profit from his wool who consistently carries that type of sheep which will clip the heaviest fleece of sound wool which his country is capable of producing. When the type of ewe that thrives on even country and produces the heaviest clip has been selected, use only such rams as will maintain that class of wool, and at the same time improve the constitution and form of the sheep while, if possible, adding to the length of staple and soundness of fibre. Breeding, as so many farmers do, back and forwards to fine and coarse wool will never produce a product of maximum value. CULTIVATE SOUNDNESS. Soundness in wool is the most valuable asset of all, for thereon largely depends its spinning quality. Lustre, softness, elasticity, length, all accompany sound wool—and these are the valuable characteristics in a fleecfe. Strive therefore to grow only that class of wool which your country is capable of producing to perfection. Eliminate, by culling, the sheep which vary from this type, and year in, year out you will make the biggest wool cheque your country is capable of producing whether your wool may be coarse or fine.