SHEEP IN GREAT BRITAIN

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 418, 1 September 1928, Page 29

SHEEP IN GREAT BRITAIN

BIG INCREASE SHOWN Returns have recently been Issued showing the number of sheep in Great Britain and Ireland. The totals below show the numbers pastured at the end of the years mentioned: — 1922 23.655.63 S J r, 23 2i.0T9.647 1924 24,964,366 132 26,390,743 1926 27,594,373 1927 28,328,753 The increase shown can be attributed to the attractive figures secured for wool of late years. At the British wool fairs, which opened in mid-June, highly satisfactory prices were secured. The rates reflected the advanced values obtained for crossbred wools in Australia over the past year. The results showed a rise of 5d to 7d a lb on the figures ruling in June, 1927. At Bury St. Edmonds the Marquis of Bristol’s Southdown washed wool made 28gd. In Colchester, Southdown ewe washed sold to 27Hd, and unwashed 22Jd to 24d. Suffolk and Hampshire fleece realised to 25sd, compared with 20fd a year previously. To those accustomed to the stockcarrying capacity of Australian land, the total of the flocks In the British Isles is surprising. As a matter of fact, New South Wales Is the only State in Australia the sheep numbers of which exceed those of the British Isles, the tally being 49,000,000. New Zealand’s flocks closely approximate those of Great Britain, viz., 27,001,236 at latest returns.