BRITISH SHEEP ARRIVE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 134, 7 May 1940, Page 10

BRITISH SHEEP ARRIVE.

A large consignment of British-bred sheep was recently landed by Wright, Stephenson and Co., Ltd., on behalf of New Zealand clients. Most of these sheep were selected by Mr C. E. Robertson, manager of- the bloodstock and stud stock department of the company, who made an extensive tour of the reading studs and shows of Britain last year. The top flocks in England were remarkable for their uniformity and quality, stated Mr Robertson. The owes in these flocks were like peas in a pod. Southdowns were, to a New Zealander’s eye, of special merit. By-elands were also of a high standard. In Scotland ho was attracted by the Cheviot breed and ho was fortunate in securing several outstanding ram 6. Border Leicestcrs had much of the aristocratic appearance of the Cheviots, but they were “higher in the air” than New Zealand sheep of the same breed, and were much different in their wool covering. Mr Robertson only bought one of this breed, but it was the best woollcd ram he could find in the noted flock of T. and M. Templeton (Sandyknowe, Ive'eo). “This ram was much admired while in quarantine in Australia and it will be interesting to -see how he nicks with the New Zealand type,” commented Mr Robertson. He had bought nothing at shows or sales without having previously' carefully' inspected the flocks from which the sires were drawn. He thought it was very necessary to make a personal inspection of the various studs, as he soon found that some flocks that a few years ago were much in evidence in the show rings had slipped badly and others had taken- their place. Some of these flocks lived for a very long while on their reputation, and it was not possible for breeders here, thousands of miles away from Britain, to realise this at once.

According to Mr Robertson, this will probably be the last shipment of stud sheep to New Zealand to be imported into the Dominion during the currency of the war, as the London quarantine station was closed immediately the war broke out. For quite a while these sheep, which would in the ordinary course of events have entered a quarantine station, were held up in England. Eventually the authorities agreed to establish a temporary quarantine station in Scotland, and the sheep were finally shipped from Glasgow.