STUD STOCK

Wairarapa Times-Age, 11 March 1939, Page 4

STUD STOCK

IMPROVING THE VARIOUS BREEDS AUSTRALIAN DEMAND FOR N.Z. SOUTHDOWNS. OVER 900 SHEEP SOLD RECENTLY. With the concerted efforts which Australia is making to capture portion of the New Zealand fat lamb market particular attention is being paid to the quality of the sires used. This in turn necessitates improvement in the various breeds, and stud breeders in Australia are looking mor’e and more to New Zealand for top quality sheep both rams and ewes. In this respect Wright, stephenson and Co Ltd advise sales of over 900 stud sheep to Australia in the past few weeks. The main demand has been for Southdowns, and sheep have been supplied by the following well known studs: R- M. Perry, Kohatu, Masterton; H. J. Andrew, Maheno; James Knight, Feilding, A. Burgess, Rongotea; E. M. Hare, Feilding; Massey Agricultural College; Estate late Quentin Donald, Featherston; R. Dysart and Son, Seddon; C. F. McLaughlan, Blenheim; W. Price. Feilding; G. Allen, Masterton; Estate late W. Buick, Masterton; Mrs England,. Cheltenham; J.A Mitchell and J. A. Russell, Palmerston North. AUSTRALIAN LAMBS. Speaking regarding the quality o£ Australian lamb, Mr W. S. Murray, the noted' South- Australian Merino breeder, stated that he had inspected the famous Canterbury lambs on the hooks of two freezing works in Canterbury. Having been closely associated with the Australian fat lamb industry, Mr Murray was definitely of the opinion that Australian lambs bred from crossbred ewes were equal to anything he saw in New Zealand, and in addition were produced fully three months earlier. There was one thing, however, in which New Zealand could, teach Australia a lesson, and that was their intense cultivation of the land' and their pasture management. By these methods Mr Murray said the number of sheep carried per acre was phenomenal.

INTEREST IN ROMNEYS. Because of the demand for crossbred ewes for fat lamb breeding in Australia more interest is beihg shown in the< Romney Marsh breed. As the New Zealand, or modern type Romney, is much superior to the English type, Australian breeders are looking to New Zealand for new blood. Prominent recent purchases are 15 specially selected ewes from the well known Kamano Stud of Mr H. B. Johnston, Cheltenham, 25 stud ewes and a prizewinning stud ram from the Leedstown flock of Mr A. L. Wheeler, Marton, a two-shear stud ram from the Waiorongomai Stud of Mr R. W. Matthews, and two shearling s'tud rams from the Alloa Stud of the late Quentin Donald. Mr G. N. Magill, of Molong, one of the oldest and best known breeders in New South Wales secured ten outstanding ewes and an especially high quality ram from the Waiorongomai Stud. Mr W. R. Glasson, a neighbour of Mr Magill’s in Molong also secured approximately 50 ewes from the same stud and a ram of very high quality.

BRANCEPETH SOUTHDOWNS SOLD The noted “Brancepeth” Southdown stud owned by Mr R. F. R. Beetham, Masterton, which is number two in the New Zealand Southdown Breeders’. Flock Book, has just been completely dispersed by the sale to a New South Wales and a Western Australia buyer, of the whole flock. Not only was this stud one of the oldest in New Zealand, but it was also one of the largest, and it must be with considerable regret that Mr R. F. R. Beetham retires from the ranks of Southdown breeders. DORSET HORN SHEEP.

New Zealand breeders have shown a decided interest in the Australian Dorset Horn sheep. This is easily the most popular sheep for breeding fat lambs in the Commonwealth, it being an exceptional early maturer, both the rams and ewes mating the whole year round. During the past twelve months well over 250 rams and ewes of this breed have been imported from Australia, and the results of the first mating in this country have been most