lo Aug., 1908.] Meiino Rams. 



Where practicable, one of the most profitable ways of working fair 

 sized estates is in breeding all high class merino ewes to best merino rams, 

 and second class merino ewes to good shaped longwool rams. From 

 the better class of ewes in these flocks will our flock merino rams be pro- 

 duced. In the future, these rams will be required principally by graziers 

 who depend on good seasons and natural pasture for their export lambs, 

 and who must make wool production an equal consideration, especially 

 when breeding from coarse crossbred ewes. A merino breeder must of 

 course still make quantity and quality of wool his chief aim, but there 

 will always be the freezing trade influence through the crossbreds to be 

 considered; this was not so in the past. Most of our merinoes are lean 

 forequartered and do not freeze a good colour, but it is possible to 

 gradually improve the shape of them and not affect wool production. 

 Those of the level shouldered round class thrive the best. 



For early lambing purposes, merinoes and fine comebacks are necessary, 

 and where their lambs are intended for export we must consider shape, 

 not solely because the export trade prefers it, but as lambs (everything 

 else being equal) they come to the required weights in quicker time. This 

 being so the merino rams to be used should be as far removed from the 

 flat sided type as possible. 



The general demand at present is for size, but without constitutional 

 shape — mere size of carcass is not sufficient indication, especially of a sire. 

 One argument used in favour of tall slab sided rams is that, if they had 

 not ability to thrive, they would not have grown to the size The size, 

 however, is due to specially favorable conditions of health and pasture. 

 Keep on with sires of this shape, especially to ewes of the same shape, 

 and see what the end in any district will be ; the more unhealthy and 

 cold the district, the sooner will evil results be seen. This shape is in 

 the wrong direction ; a breeder may at times be obliged to use rams rather 

 weak this way, but in the main our chief breeders are fully alive to the 

 advantages of what they term constitutional shape. To the average sheep 

 breeder, weak forequartered rams in full wool are perhaps not so easih 

 detected, and a few prominent folds behind the forearm mav give the 

 false impression of fullness of girth. Length and bulk of staple give 

 the appearance oi width of frame and level shoulders, but by comparison 

 and handling this can easily be detected. 



In heavy rain, our long stapled merinoes approaching comeback type get 

 beaten down on the back, giving them a le\el appearance, v/hich is often 

 deceiving. For coarse ewes for lamb raising, this class, when level made, 

 produces good lambs. 



When rams are in low condition, thev should handle even, that is, be 

 no higher and sharper on the top of the shoulder than on the hips ; to 

 detect this in poor sheep close observation is necessary. A correct idea 

 as to weak neck and light forequarters can be formed by standing over 

 them. Even covering of fleece is closely dependent on formation, and 

 shortness of leg. Thin and wasty forearms, openness and wastiness on 

 top of shoulders, dry yolky patches, devil's grip, &c., are mainly due to 

 variations in thickness of the flesh overhing the bony portions, or in other 

 words, to the bony portions being, in places, immediately under the skin. 



{To he continued.^ 



