SHEEP MANAGEMENT.

Waikato Times, Volume XIII, Issue 1168, 20 December 1879, Page 5 (Supplement)

SHEEP MANAGEMENT.

(From tho Belfast Gazette) In former times, before the introduction of long-wooled sheep into the colony, and whon the Merino was the only breed, the business of wool classing to an experienced person was a comparatively easy task, inasmuch a8 he had but the one variety of wool to manipulate. It is far different to what is now; called cross-bred wool. Never did a more difficult task fall to the lot of any nnaa than to class the wool on some establishments, particularly where sheep have been indiscriminately crossed and re-crossed. The wool loses all distinctive character, and in too many instances is neither combing nor clothing. This is becomiusr more general each succeeding year, principally owing to the large increasing number of small sheepowners, many of whom have neither the judgment or experience t6 know how to breed 1 so as to produce uniformity in their flocks and wool. Every year demonstrates the great advantage accruing to the ttoolgrower who has his wool honestly and uniformly classed. The manufacturer purchasing in tlse London market requires a certain number 1 of bales, say of first combing, or clothing wool, to suit his particular manufacturer^; he buys a wellknown brand that has established a reputation, and every fleece is uni. form and to the exact description he want§. This fact atone puts considerably more value on it than on a lot of unclassed wool which may equal in quality the former ; but see jwhat the manufacturer has to do with this latter description. He buys perhaps a 100 bales. These he takes home, selects only what is adapted for his special manufacture, and sells the balance to a manufacturer of another class of goods. This all entails considerable expense, 1o compensate for which he has to purchase at a 2 educed price. The want of a proper knowledge in sheep management leads, in most cases, to the development of wool not only unfit for market, on account of its nondescript character, but tends at the same time to produce unsoundness in the staple. This latter defect is attributable in too many instances to overstocking, and consequent starvation, the herbage being insufficient to produce the necessary amount of yolk to nourish the wool. It not unfrequently happens that, after shearing, the sheep are -put into poor pasturage. This produce a weak ill-conditioned growth of new wool, deficient alike in atrentrth and elasticity. As the autumn ad. vances and feed becomes more abundant, stronger and better conditioned wool is produced j this is ouing to the improved condition of the sheep. At shearing time, when the fleece is taken of, the slightest pull will detach the sound wool from I he unsonad, rendering ifc quite unfit for the comb. The unsoundness in the staple is one of the results of sniall holdings, which have very frequently more sheep upon them than they can properly carry. Having been a very considerable purchaser of fawners' lots of wool for some year past, I found a great deal of it very slovenly got up, pieces, bellies, and in two many instances locks, all rolled up together in the fleece. I do not wish it "to be inferred that I am speaking in a general sense, as may farmers from whom I have purchased have *jofc up their wool in a very creditable manner, bat of others— -well, I will spare their feelings on the subject. This slovenly system is most injurious to the interests of the woolgrower himself, as it does away with all confidence in the buyer. Let a man commence sheep farming on e, ver so small a, scale, rot up hig wool a Vi

in an honest and proper manner, and he will soon establish a reputation for his brand. One great defect which I have noticed as largely on the increase is kempy wool. This is most prevalent in cross-bred sbeop. Kemps are short white hairs, similar to those on the leg of the sheep. These exercise a very deleterious effect on the wool, not only occasioning a large amount of waste to the manufacturer, but they will not receive the dye. Kempy wool is generally the result of careless breeding. Two or three kenipy fleeces packed in a bale of otherwise good wool destroy the character of the lot in the eyes of the purchaser. Light, weak, and unsound wool, in addition to the causes I ha,ve previously mentioned, is too frequently the result ot fluke and worms ; it is impossible for sheep infected with either one or the other to have thoroughly sound wool. At shearing time every unsound fleece should be put into a separate bin, and each bale of such should be distinguished by a separate mark. *.'....