SHEEP UNITED STATES, NEW ZEALAND, AUSTEALIA. 19 



The development of the Corriedale started with the crossing of 

 Lincoln and English Leicester rams upon Merino ewes to produce 

 lamb carcasses for export. Finding that ewes of such breeding were 

 profitable in some sections, attempts were made to create flocks that 

 would breed true to the type shown by the half-bred of the first cross. 

 Half-bred rams were mated with half-bred ewes, the ewe progeny 

 very severely culled (sometimes only 25 per cent were retained) and 

 again mated to selected half-bred rams, usually of the same genera- 

 tion and also from the same flock. This continued inbreeding of half- 

 breds, accompanied by careful and strong culling, has produced a 

 class of sheep, which, as has been said, compare favorably with other 

 breeds in respect to uniformity and trueness to type, as shown by 

 evenness in separate flocks or similarity of different flocks. 



The following flock histories printed in the appendix of volume 

 VII of the South Island Flock Book, published by the council of the 

 New Zealand Sheep Breeders' Association, relates the essential fea- 

 tures in connection with three of the 17 Corriedale flocks entered in 

 that volume: 



CORRIEDALE FLOCK. THE PROPERTY OF JAMES LITTLE. 



Mr. Little commenced experimenting with the view of producing inbred half- 

 bred sheep when he was manager for the late Dr. Webster, proprietor of the 

 Corriedale estate, Otago. Romney Marsh and Merinos were first used. The 

 result was entirely satisfactory and would have been continued but for the 

 decease of that gentleman and the sale of the property. On his taking up the 

 Allendale estate, Waikari, Mr. Little continued to experiment. 



In 1879-18S0 he put 4,000 large-framed high-class Merino ewes to Lincoln 

 rams, bred by Mr. Sutton and some of the late Dr. Webster's strain. From 100 

 of the best ram lambs, the progeny of these ewes, a heavy cull was made, when 

 20 of the best were retained for service. These were mated with a pick of the 

 half-bred ewes, the progeny of the Merino ewes and Sutton and Webster rams, 

 the result being a very high-class type of half-bred sheep. In 1S90 two rams 

 bred by Mr. Tanner from Merino ewes and Lincoln rams were used, but the result 

 was not considered satisfactory. About the same time 20 stud Merino ewes were 

 purchased from Mr. D. Rutherford and the same number from the llorsley 

 Downs flock. By this means fresh blood was procured and was kept going on 

 the line breeding until 1902, when a Corriedale ram was procured from Mr. 

 James Stringfellow. In 1!)09 a ram was used bred by the New Zealand and 

 Australian Land Co. (Moeraki estate). The rams used in the flock, with these 

 eptions, have all been descended from "Old Jonathan," bred by Mr. Little 20 

 years ago. 



In 1903 the flock was transferred from Allendale to Dalmeny. 



/>'>h<rns for 1911. 



Lues, four-tooth and upwards, pul to ram nns 



Shearling ewes pui to ram 200 



Total 858 



Lambs i»r'-<i in L910 Rams, 1 1^ 1 ; ewes, 483. 

 Sires used in Kill, bred by owner. 

 Rams sold- -Two-tool h. I.'JI. 



