SHEEP—-UNITED STATES, NEW ZEALAND, AUSTRALIA. 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 1879-1880 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 1890 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 Horsley 
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 1909 a ram was used bred by the New Zealand and 
Australian Land Co. (Moeraki estate). The rams used in the flock, with these 
exceptions, have all been descended from ‘‘ Old Jonathan,” bred by Mr. Little 20 
years ago. 
In 1903 the flock was transferred from Allendale to Dalmeny. 
Returns for 1911. 
wes, Lourtooth and upwards, put to ram _-2 U3. 2 598 
Pea He WES, Ut LOPaAmMien (2 tL i ie ie OMe er 260 
CRO Me Ee ac al el Al UE NO Ma eel acy palo reBON MMR URN eS EE PTO EIU, SO Soy Me cmueg 858 
Lambs bred in 1910—Rams, 421; ewes, 483. 
‘Sires used in 1911, bred by owner. 
Rams sold—Two-tooth, 131. 
