6i 3 



The well culled flock is steadily and surely advancing to ;i higher 

 standard of excellence, while the Hock where culling is neglected 

 is almost invariably deteriorating. It is when the stock from these 

 tlocks arc for sale that the advantage of strict culling is seen. 

 There are ready purchasers for the well bred sheep at the highest 

 market value, while purchasers for the badly bred ilock are few, 

 and prices always rule very low. 



When the sheep farmer has attained sufficient knowledge of 

 his business, it is always -better for him to do the culling himself. 

 Having the sheep always under his eye, he has the advantage 

 of a thorough knowledge of the ilock, and if he takes a keen 

 interest in his business he will sotm gain sufficient knowledge 

 to do the work of selecting his breeding Hock. Perhaps, 

 for a year or two, if the flock owner has had no previous ex- 

 perience of sheep husbandry, it might be advisable to secure the 

 services of a thoroughly skilful sheep-classer. This will be a 

 sufficient lesson to any intelligent man who has gone into sheep 

 farming in earnest. When little more than a lad I came into 

 possession of a Hock of sheep in which there were some really good 

 ewes and a considerable number of inferior ones. I culled out the 

 very best for breeding, and though it took me four years to work up 

 the breeding flock to its full size, I was a great gainer in the end by 

 the superiority of the sheep. For years I topped the market in 

 Victoria in the price of wool, and I always got a high price for my 

 fat sheep. 



Directions for classing the wool at shearing time are often 

 given. In my opinion the wool classing should be done when the 

 sheep are bred. The farmer's flock should be of one type, and 

 when I hear of many classes of wool from one small flock I am 

 dubious of the system of breeding. In selecting merino rams and 

 ewes for breeding purposes there is one defect that must be closely 

 watched for, and that is a peculiar growth of the wool known to 

 flock masters as " devil's grip." It consists of a patch of badly 

 grown wool, usually situated on each side of the body just behind 

 the shoulder blade and well up towards the back. Sometimes it 

 runs right across the back. On these spots the wool grows in an 

 unwholesome condition. It is divided into small twisted locks, and 

 the yolk has a different appearance and feel to that on the rest of 

 the body. It gives one the impression that glue has been mixed 

 with the yolk. The cause of this defect I do not know, but sheep 

 showing any indication towards it are avoided by all experienced 

 husbandmen. The general impression among sheep breeders is 

 that " devil's grip " is an indication of weakness of constitution. 

 No matter how good such sheep may be otherwise, they should be 

 promptly cast out of the breeding flock. A ram with " devil's 

 grip " is w r orse than useless, he is harmful. 



The sheep breeder in culling his ewes should always have in 

 his mind a certain standard of excellence which in time he hopes 



