SHEEP—UNITED STATES, NEW ZEALAND, AUSTRALIA. 17 
BREEDS AND TYPES IN NEW ZEALAND. 
From a total of 15,000,000 sheep in 1886, New Zealand flocks have 
increased steadily to 24,500,000 in 1914. A part of this increase is due 
to breeding for mutton, as well as wool, instead of the almost exclu- 
sive aim to produce wool before the exporting of meat became com- 
mon. While wethers are still kept until 3 or 4 years of age in some 
sections, the number of breeding ewes is now about 12,500,000, an 
increase of 3,250,000 breeding ewes since 1904, during which time the 
total number of sheep increased by 6,000,000. The following para- 
graph from the New Zealand Official Year Book for 1914 explains the 
status of the various breeds: 
The Dominion is eminently suited for sheep breeding, practically every de- 
seription of sheep finding a favorable local habitat. In the hilly and down 
eountry of the South Island the Merino has been bred for very many years, and 
was the original sheep depastured. In fact, the Merino ewe furnished the 
foundation of the cross-bred stock which has made Canterbury mutton famous on 
British meat markets. In the early days of the Canterbury meat trade the 
English Leicester of the original type was the favorite ram for putting to the 
Merino ewe. Of later years the Lincoln has been largely employed to cross 
with the Merino, and black-faced rams have been further employed to put to 
the cross-bred ewes. In the North Island the Romney sheep, which suits the 
rather moist climate of this portion of the Dominion, has become the most popu- 
lar sheep; it is also increasing in numbers in the South Island. The Lincoln 
and Border-Leicester are also favored in both islands, while the Southdown is 
displacing other breeds for fat-lamb production right throughout the Dominion. 
The Leicesters, mainly the English variety, are still the most popular British 
breed in the South. 
With a total of 11,625,000 sheep in the South Island in April, 1914 (lambs are 
dropped mainly in September and October *), there were 85,299 breeding ewes in 
491 registered flocks, distributed as follows: 
Number of | Ewes bred Number of | Ewes bred 
Breed. flocks. in 1914. Breed. flocks. in 1914. 
_ Border Leicester.......-..- 158 19910. || \Corriedales...22 2.222. - 22 11,010 
English Leicester........- 113 W793,/(4) || MICrIM Oe a sees aoe oe ere ay 15 7, 399 
Romney Marsh.........-- 85 PO SUOS | ecimMcolme seve et ee eee 2 14 1, 861 
Southdown...........-.-- 46 4,989 || Ryeland..........--.----- 3 159 
Shropshire..............-- 34 3,620 || Hlalf-bred..2s.-.i.-.2222-- 1 3,399 
THE CORRIEDALE. 
The study of Corriedale sheep and the selection of a trial importa- 
tion were the main objects of the writer’s visit to New Zealand. The 
Corriedale breed was produced and is still most extensively bred.in 
the Province of Canterbury of the South Island of New Zealand. 
The Corriedale sheep, as now bred in New Zealand, is a wool and 
mutton sheep. Its breeders seem to have given special emphasis to 
wool, most of which would grade on our market as three-eighths 
blood and commonly has a length of 6 inches. At the Christchurch 
1 Corresponding to March and April in the Northern Hemisphere. 
6830°—Bull. 313—15——_8 
