Australian Town and Country Journal at KellyGang 20/8/1870
The Sheep at Jerilderie Show,
Dr. Louis Ducrow, a gentleman of acknowledged experience as a judge and a classer of sheep, has furnished to the Wagga Wagga Express some critical remarks on the prizes taken at the show. They will be read with interest, by all connected with pastoral pursults:
Mr W Hay's sheep:-The sires of these sheep were imported by the Clyde Company, from the royal flock of Andalusia, Spain, to the western districts of Victoria, in the year 1817. The stations to which they were brought now belong to the brothers Cummings, and from the stud flock of Mr R Cummins, some rams were, in the year1866, purchased by Rutherford, of Peechelba, Victoria, and through him Mr Hay became possessed of the blood. In June, a ram of Mr Rutherford's, tested by Dr Ducrow, produced 64,000 fibres of wool to the square inch, and possessed thirty-six points of anatomy. Mr Hay's prize ram possesses thirty-five points of anatomy, and its wool contains 63,000 fibres to the square inch. It is a splendid animal, and is a credit to the breeder, alike for its anatomy and the superior density, quality, and quantity of its wool.
Mr Wilson's sheep:- The sires ot these animals are from the flock of P N Bayly, of Mudgee, which are descendants of the Spanish Hock of the province of Estramadura imported to England by King George III, in the year 1788. In the year 1824 some 500 of the descendants of this flock were imported to Australia by Captain Macarthur, and became the progenitors of the only true merino in the colonies. For quality, quantity, and density of wool those animals can be most strongly recommended for the improvement of the breed of the flocks of Australia. Their wool for the last ten years has realized in the London market from 3s 8d to 4s 6d per pound. In the prize animals the skin is clean and free from any discharge from the roots of the wool, which, from the lustre of its appearance, is certain to be highly appreciated by all wool staplers of experience, both in Great Britain and on the Continent. The fibres number 68,000 to the square inch.
Messrs Peppin and Sons' sheep:.- The sires of these animals were introduced in 1624 by Count D'Istray into the province of Andalusia, Spain, from the Steiger Saxon merino flock, and were crossed by him with pure bred Spanish merino owes. For density and quantity the wool of the prize sheep is excellent, hut it is wanting in quality, and the fibres amount only to 48,200 to the square inch. The anatomy of the animals is also excellent. The hue of the skin is clear, but there is a great discharge from the fibres of the wool, which is of a useful combing und clothing class, but is rather more, however, of the former than of the latter For the last six years it has realized from 2s 4d to 2s 8d per lb in London.
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