BRANDING SHEEP.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVI, Issue 4814, 23 February 1925, Page 1

BRANDING SHEEP.

PRESENT METHOD DOES DAMAGE. BRADFORD SUGGESTIONS. Suggestions for branding sheep with marks which will dissolve in the process of manufacture and contained in a letter which has just been received by the New Zealand Royal Agricultural Society from the -Bradford Chamber of Commerce, the secretary of which writes as follows :—

“As you are probably aware, the Bradford Chamber of Commerce took the opportunity ofi the visit of a number of Dominion woolgrowers to England to discuss matters of mutual interest, This conference was held ait Bradford on September 9 and 10 last, and each visitor wais supplied with the main points to be discussed. The number of woolgrowers visiting Bradford was over 80, and by general consent the occasion was accepted as a notable and at the same time instructive one to all concerned.

“Amongst variouis suggestions made was one to the following effect: ‘That the Bradford Chamber of Commerce circularise the leading pastoral and agricultural societies of New Zealand, pointing out the losses sustained to both the woolgrowers and wool trade generally by the use of brands or marks on sheep which will not thoroughly dissolve in the process of manufacture, and suggesting that those societies circularise each pastoral and agricultural society in the State, requesting that full publicity be given to this important subject.’ It was pointed out by the mover that any endeavour by the Chamber of Commerce to circularise .each woolgrower individually would probably fair, but that there was a chance of a considerable proportion of them realising the position if the pastoral and agricultural society in each State would seriously take the matter in hand.

“It was felt that many- owners, both large and small, allow sheepskins at times, and even wool,'to be marked with a non-soluble isolation, and even at times with paint, and that if the chairman of each pastoral and agricultural society in each State were, supplied by the main society with the full particulars as now sent to you by this chamber, it would ‘surely be the means of achieving a considerable amount of good. However, it is nbt suggested for the present that any use?- can do better than make use of the best marking procurable, hoping that within a reasonable time the interested bodies may find a solution of the difficulty.

"We would suggest that you place the matter before your growers in the suggested manner, or in such a way as may appear to you more likely to achieve the desired object, emphasising the fact that buyerfe are naturally apt to offer less money for any wool noticeably marked with a non-soluble solution even to the extent of not bidding for. such lots. jOne of the growers has arranged with us to collect with the greatest possible care a number of samples of.markings which have been bn the sheep or skin for about a year as used in Australia, that we may make tests arid report bn same as a preparatory measure. Some of the markings we hope to reach us early next year. "The Bradford Chamber of Commerce has been experimenting for some few years with a marking which it is claimed will stand all weather and. in addition, will entirely disappear. when the wool has been scbured in the ordinary process. The preliminary tests have so far been very successful. but in order to be definitely sure before issuing a report the chamber has arranged with one of the members of the committee to mark a considerable number bf his own sheep. This marking has already been applied, and it is proposed to allow same until next shearing in July. The fleeces will then be submitted to the committee, who,. after examination, will submit them to ordinary scouring tests, and a report will then be made ajs to the suitability or otherwise of this particular marking. Tne chamber, however, is not anxious to advertise one special brand of marking. but they are willing to report on any marking that is submitted *d them.

“In order, however, that a complete test might be made, I am to request that any of your growers who care to do so should submit a fleece that has stood the test of the weather from shearing to shearing, when we will report upon same, advising you as to whether the marking has any deleterious substances or not. It is generally denied that tar is used in the marking of sheep, and this chamber is not prepared to state that the substance found is tar, but it is certainly of a deleterious nature. I shall, therefore be obliged if you will kindly co-operate with us in an endeavour to eliminate these deleterious markings.”