WOOL OR MUTTON

Hokitika Guardian, 22 July 1929, Page 1

WOOL OR MUTTON

SHEEP CONTROVERSY IN AUSTRALIA. ! THE CORRIEDALE INVASION. SYDNEY, July 4. New Zealand will find much interest in the controversy which has emerged from the Sydney Sheep Show, as to which type Australia most requires—the dual purpose Corriedale, or the merino, world-famous for its fine wool ? The question was brought to the forefront during the Show, and there lias been a more or less fierce argument. In the fat sheep section there were classes that brought the two types into direct competition—with the honours this year all in favour of the heavier sheep. Classes 132 and 135 proved to be the, bone of • contention. Class 132 was for a “pen of five wethers, any age, any breed, or cross, to be judged for commercial value ” ; and the first prize and the second prize went respectively to a pen of Corriedales, and to a pen of Corriedale cross, while, •with the same pens the same owners were again placed first and second for the “ champion prize for the most valuable pen of sheep and lambs to be judged for commercial value.” A pen of merinos was placed third. Other competitors included Border Leicesters, merino cross, merinos, and come' aeks. In class 135, “pen of five wether and/or ewe lambs, any breed or cross, showing lamb’s teeth only, to be judged for commercial value.” Corriedales were again successful, with Soutlidown-Rom-ney Marsh cross second, and Corriedale cross third.

* Senator J. F. Guthrie, of Victoria, a breeder of Corriedales, was naturally elated with the success of that breed. It was the first time he said, that their merit over other breeds had been so convincingly demonstrated, and he regarded class 132 as the most valuable competition that could be arranged at the show. It emphasised the commercial value of the dual purpose sheep—for wool' and surely, he said, the real test must be tin commercial value. But Senator Gi“ rie, of course, is a Corriedale enthu siast. lde founded in 1913 the Australian Corriedale Sheepbreeders’ Association, of which lie was the first presiI dent and secretary. He established the breed (which originated in New Zealand) in Australia, and claims to have won three times as many champion ribbons as any other breeder in Australia. Though lie, does not believe in the export of stud rams from Australia! and only engages in the trade because others do so, he has sold his rams in South Africa, Kenya, the Argentine, U.S.A., Japan, and even in New Zealand. His viewpoint is natural and easy to understand.

The opposite view has been forcibly expressed by Air W. J. Matthews, of New South Wales, a breeder of merinos. He did not quarrel with the judge’s verdict in favour of Corriedales, he said, seeing that those sheep would yield at least 1401 b of muttoli, while the merinos would not exceed 801 b; but the idea of bringing the two distinct types into direct competition was wrong. It was the fine wool of the merinos, he contended—the product of a long line of purebred ancestors — which had made Australia famous, and had built up its prosperity. r Jo give pre-eminence to a breed because of its greater mutton value would, as a general policy, spell ruin to Australia. The differing contentions of these two studmasters will probably provide subject for many and protracted discussions.