Sheep-Management.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 14 May 1913, Page 2

Sheep-Management.

(THE HEALTH ASPECT,

(By C. J. Eeakes, D.^V,Sc, M.R.C.V.S.)

Sheep-Farming is" already a great industry in New Zealand, but it has a still greater future before it. Not only is there yet much land waiting settlement capable of carrying considerable flocks, but the land already in occupation could with improved method of management, quite well carry more sheep than at present and this with out interfering with other branches of rural industry, as dairy farming, etc. One cardinal principle in successful sheep-farming is that the flocks be j maintained in as sound health and condition as possible, in order that the yield of marketable products, whether wool, lamb, or mutton, may return their full share of profit to those engaged in the industry, and this can only be brought about by good management, which in turn is dependent upon the possession of good prac«« iical knowledge on the part of the farmer. New Zealand is free from any serious disease of a contagious nature affecting sheep, and such mortality as does occur year by yeai is due principally to causes which are more or lbss preventable —though unfortunately, in some cases, the preventive measures necessary are such as to be iD a degre6 opposed to the most advanced methods in practice and, ior that matter, necessary for commercial success in sheep-farming— and in this case the sheep-owner is faced by the proposition whether it is not better to take the risk of some possible loss rather than to accept the certain loss of profit which is eniailed by taking the necessary measures to ensure the greatest possible immunity from sickness or mortality. The Question of Environment. New Zealand is, on tho whole, an excellent country for sheep-farming, much of its area constituting ideal country for it from a health point of view, but other portions, particularly in the North Island, have so copious a rainfall, so good a soil, and so plentifull a growth of herbage that sheep, unless carefully managed, are apt to fuffer through life being made to easy for them, The sheep is an animal particulai'Ty well adapted for living on dry hilly and undulating country, with a with a sufficiency but not an excess of food, and when in sxich an environment —in which the principle of the survival of the fittest doubtless played an important part —followed later by careful breoding and selection, various breeds of sheep have been evolved which has become especially adapted to different classes of country, and thus animals have been produced which, given proper management, can be more or less successfully kept on land which in itself is not naturally suitable for sheep. A. notable instance of this is seen in the Iloniney breed, whose original homo was in low-lying marshy, alluvial tract situated iD the southern part of Kent, and known as Eomney Marsh. Not only is the land there low-lying and wet, out the climate is usually more or less moist, and the conditions, as a -whole, are opposed to those usually looked upon as being best adapted for the main • tenance of sound health in sheep. Yet the breed persistpfl, and lins now made i high reputation for itself for its capacity for withstanding soil and weather conditions of a nature detrimental to most other breeds. Certainly tho breeding and roaring of (Continued on page 4.)