HALFBRED WOOL

Shannon News, 5 April 1927, Page 1

HALFBRED WOOL

QUESTION OF QUALITY. Mr Banks Hollings dealing with the decrease of Merinos in New Zealand in the Pastoral Review writes: It lias frequently been remarked that New Zealand is turning out less and le.s halfbred wool, and Chat is certain to be a decrease in the Merino flocks. I have contended for many years that well-bred Corricdale wool of good 56's quality (Corriedale sheep should grow that quality and no lower) is goin?*- to take the place of halfbred wool from New Zealand. Here, again, we have a big subject looming up both before the wool growers and wool users. What constitutes halfbred wool? What quality should it be, and what are its outstanding characteristics? These questions rise spontaneously as we dictate this article. Every question well deserves a chapter to itself for there is a wealth of real instruction behind every one. To-day we will be content with saying that halfbred wool occupies a very unique position in the markets of the world, and is very highly appreciated. When one speaks of New Zealand halfbreds they can be anything from 50's to 56*s just according to which side of the cross the sheep has taken after. Everybody knows that a halfbred sheep that leans toward the side of the mother i.e. Merino ewe, is going

to produce a nice 56's fleece, but if that halfbred sheep leans toward the side of the male, be it a Lincoln or a Licester cross, the quality, is going to be no more than 50's. We are afraid that during recent years the term quality has not been so much appreciated by New Zealand pastorilists as it ought. It may have lost some of its meaning to sheepl reeders throughout the Dominion, but not to wool buyers. Quality is still the most valuable characteristic of all wool, and it ever will be. Let no reader think that wool that is lacking in this will be in demand like the wool that is full of quality and real good character.