130 FROZEN MUTTON TRADE OF NEW SOUTH WALES. [Sept. 1895. 



While crosses are regarded as the most suitable for the frozen 

 mutton trade, it is a matter of some concern to Australian 

 breeders to determine how far cross-breeding should be extended 

 beyond what is necessary to satisfy the requirements of the ex- 

 port trade, for while the change from merinos to crosses would 

 be comparatively easy, it would be a tedious and difficult matter 

 to revert to the true merino type after having freely used 

 English rams among the flocks. To arrive at a sound conclusion on 

 this question, Mr. Bruce holds it to be essential to consider, in the 

 first instance, how far other wool-growing countries and colonies 

 are likely to go in for cross-breeding, and, secondly, what are the 

 prospects of an improvement in the returns from merino mutton 

 and merino wool. With respect to the first point, he estimates that 

 the present number of English and cross-bred sheep in the mutton 

 exporting countries of the world is approximately 85,000,000, 

 and that in five years time this number will have increased to 

 100,000,000. These calculations are based upon somewhat 

 defective data, but Mr. Bruce thinks that if the matter is looked 

 into and the available information carefully weighed, the estimate 

 of the probable increase of cross-bred sheep will be found to be 

 rather under than over the mark. This conclusion appears to 

 be justified when the advantages possessed by cross-breds over 

 merinos in the following qualities is taken into account, viz., 

 their earlier maturity, heavier weight, more saleable mutton, 

 higher market value, and the superiority of cross-bred lambs. 

 As regards the prospects of a rise in the price of wool, Mr. 

 Bruce expects that there will be a great increase in the 

 American demand for the finer sorts of merino wool, but, as he 

 points out, the rise in price would need to be very considerable 

 to make up the difference between the return from cross-bred 

 mutton and that from merino mutton, while this difference 

 might be reduced to a greater extent by paying more attention 

 to the shape of the merino, and by adopting a better system of 

 marketing the mutton of the breed. In view of these considera- 

 tions, it is suggested that owners of merinos might put British 

 rams to their old ewes for the last crop of lambs and fatten off" the 

 greater part of the " drop " ewet as well as wethers, reserving 

 a few of the best cross-bred ewes for breeding, until they see 

 how cross-breeding answers. 



Of the English breeds adapted for crossing with merinos, the 

 Lincoln is, it seems, considered the most suitable in districts 

 where the pasture is rich, or where the pasture is fairly good 

 and a supply of cultivated food available. If the land is not of 

 the best description or the grass not very fattening, or if a 

 sufficient supply of cultivated food is not forthcoming, sheep- 

 breeders are recommended to try the Border Leicester, the 

 Shropshire, or the English Leicester, taking them in the order in 

 which they stand, while South Down rams are equally esteemed, 

 more particularly for the production of fat lambs for export. 

 The use of Romney Marsh rams for crossing, is recommended in 

 districts where the land is unsound and where there is a risk of 



