Sheep Breeding for Export. 333 



support Persians, bastards, other nondescripts and their crosses, all 

 of which are not worried by grass seeds. This country is mostly 

 situated in the drier parts, and is already being used more or less for 

 these breeds ; in many cases considering the amount of care and 

 attention given them, they repay their owners, but they are not the 

 class of sheep that will command the respect of the European con- 

 sumers, for they are not evenly balanced mutton. They have too 

 much fat on the rump and too little meat on the shoulder. For 

 constitution, hardiness, resistance to disease, and fattening ciualities 

 they are, when well managed, all that can be desired ; and as female 

 stock, used as a foundation tor cross-breeding for the export trade, 

 they are invaluable. When crossed judiciously, their progeny retain 

 all of their dams' good qualities, and have in addition the improved 

 frame and evenly balanced fat and lean that is so essential in sheep 

 for the European markets. These cross-breds mature earlier, and 

 are in this respect a great improvement on their dams. 



Excellent results have been obtained by crossing Suffolk rams 

 with Blackhead Persian ewes. With cross-bred Persian and bastards, 

 the ram also exercises a marked influence on the progeny in pi'oducing 

 a very evenly balanced carcass, the fat is evenly distributed, a good 

 shoulder, and, even in first crosses, a much improved leg of mutton. 

 This is improved even more and more as further grades from Suffolk 

 rams are obtained. 



First crosses carry a light fleece of black wool averaging about 1| 

 to 2 lb. at a year's growth. Second crosses are a bigger improve- 

 ment, both in frame and wool. They are comparatively bare-bellied, 

 with no wool on the head or points, and they will thrive and keep 

 fat w^here Merinos or other heavily-wooUed sheep only keep alive. 

 Grass seeds are the principal cause of these latter sheep not doing 

 well, as they penetrate the skin and flesh and iiritate the sheep foi' 

 months, which results in general unthriftiness. 



The resistance of the cross-bred to the evil effects of the bont- 

 legged tick is also a A^ery valuable point. One must not think that 

 the ticks will not attack them, but these crosses appear to resist the 

 poisonous effect of their bite better than any Merino or other woolled 

 sheep, and consequently they can be used on tick-infested veld as an 

 agent for picking up these parasites and so cleaning the land. They 

 will stand very frequent dipping and, like cattle, appear to thrive 

 all the better for it. In fact, they can be dipped at intervals of three 

 weeks during the whole time the tick is troublesome, with good 

 results, and, even the wool, although discoloured, is in no other way 

 injured. 



IVKPEUIMENTS TK CrOSS-BRKEDING . 



Experimental work has been carried on for some years past at 

 Potchefstroom, and the results to date have been so satisfactory as to 

 warrant the recommendation of this cross to the farmer as a good 

 paying proposition. In this respect readers are referred to the follow- 

 ing articles appearing in the Department's Journal, viz.: — "Lamb 

 Fattening," August, 1920: "Breeding Sheep for the Export Trade," 

 December, 1920. 



The experimental work carried on with the Suffolk-Persian 

 crosses during September, 1920, to April, 1921, was on different lines 

 from that carried out in previous years, but not quite on the most 

 rigid lines possible, as will be seen later on. The ewes used consisted 



