Half-bred Hampshire downs.

Manawatu Herald, 21 July 1892, Page 3

Half-bred Hampshire downs.

At the' Addington live stock market, says the Press, a line of magnifieient r half-bred Hampshire Down sheep, in the primest condition, sent forward by Mr M. Friedlander, of " Ashbnriiony attracted considerable attention. When it came to the turn of Mr P; €-.■ Tabarfc to offer them, most of the visitors to the yardg were gathered round the pens- The pick of the lot,; a pen of a dozen, were first put up, and after a spirited

competition among the buyers present they fell to the nod of Mr Jas. Knight, butcher, of High Street, at the handsome figure of 36a per head. For a pen of fat sheep this is the record in prices obtained at the AdcHngton Yards, and must be exceedingly satisfactory to the vendor, while on the other hand, the purchaser has plenty to show for his mon«y. Various estimates were made as to the weight of these sheep, ranging from 1201b to 1501b, but probably the medium between these figures will be somewhere near the mark. The next pen, also a grand lot cf sheep, brought 30s per head, Mr-Berry, of Hashel street being the buyer ; and the following one realised 27s 6d, the bid of Mr H. S. Harris, also of Cashel Street. Three other pen9 of the same sheep hrought respectively 225, 21s 6d, and 20s 6d fcho Hns'averaging 25s Gd per head. A pen of 18 Hampshire Down lambs which were estimated to run well up to 70lb,- were knocked down to Mr W. B; Olarkson at 18s lid per head. Mr Friedlander stated that the fat sheep Were "mostly Q'tooth, with a few older ones among them, out of a mixed lot of half and threequarter bred ewes, and by his pure bred imported Hampshire Down rams. The lambs were dropped in September last. The sheep were all grass fed, and had not seen a tur nip. The price's, Mr Friedlander obtained must be highly satisfactory and encouraging to him as a breeder of this class of sheep.