THE RIGHT BREED OF SHEEP.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIX, Issue 3126, 28 July 1892, Page 2

THE RIGHT BREED OF SHEEP.

TO THE HDCTOR. Sis, —Having read the correspondence which has appeared in your paper relativo to the above subject with great interest, with your permission I will add a few facts bearing on the question from a freezing point of view. 1. London advicus state positively that a payable price cannot be obtained for other than prime Canterbury mutton. 2. Messrs John Grigg and Waymouth state that prime Canterbury mutton is either halfbred Down or half-bred Leicester-Merino, the Down cross giving the beat results. 3. London advices further atate that aecond-clasb New Zealand mutton (via., any other than quoted above) has to compete with Australian and River Plate consignments. 4. London salesmen have warned shippers that tlid supply of second-class mutton is in excess of demand, with every indication of an increased supply, the forecast for prices next season being 2id per lb, should the present heavy shipments Continue. 5. Unless, therefore, first-class mutton is produced, it will probably pay farmers better to boil down their tat sluiep in preference to freezing for export. The above facts can all be verified, and as the supply of fat sheep must very shortly greatly exceed the local demaud, unless suitable mutton is grown for export, farmers will be iu a worse position than they wore previous to the starting of the freezing industry, when tallow was some £10 per ton higher. The arguments ueed by the Lincoln champions that wool is the all-important question for farmers to consider, may be all very well, no long as the local market can absorb the whole of the fat stock ; but when there is a surplus to be exported, farmers must choose whether that surplus is to be exported in the form of tallow or mutton, or, to put it plainly, whether they use Lincoln it Down rams. The latter facts will very soon be verified, and the sooner they are recognised the better. Perhaps the vexed question can be decided by settlers breeding specially for freezing, but from last season's experience I have no hesitation in saying that ii is very doubtful whether it will pay to export the class of mutton now generally grown in Waikato, unless a considerable improvement in prices should obtain in the Home market. Trusting my letter will be read us written in thn interests of all, — Vours faithfully, Wμ. J. Caverhill. Auckland, 25th July, 1892.