Famous Sheep Breeds. 2. the Corriedale
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Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4 Volume 1 Number 2 February, 1960 Article 7 1-1-1960 Famous sheep breeds. 2. The Corriedale J A. Mallett Follow this and additional works at: https://researchlibrary.agric.wa.gov.au/journal_agriculture4 Part of the Comparative and Evolutionary Physiology Commons, Genetics Commons, and the Sheep and Goat Science Commons Recommended Citation Mallett, J A. (1960) "Famous sheep breeds. 2. The Corriedale," Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4: Vol. 1 : No. 2 , Article 7. Available at: https://researchlibrary.agric.wa.gov.au/journal_agriculture4/vol1/iss2/7 This article is brought to you for free and open access by Research Library. It has been accepted for inclusion in Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4 by an authorized administrator of Research Library. For more information, please contact [email protected]. T. H, Anderson's Champion Corrie- dale ram at the 1959 Perth Royal Show V. P. Pederlck & Co.'s Champion Cor- riedale ewe at the 1959 Perth Boyal Show Journal of Agriculture Vol 1 No 2 1960 ^ramouS S^neepm (A5reedd 2.-THE CORRIEDALE by J. A. MALLETT HE Corriedale sheep is a breed which has achieved widespread popularity through T out the world as a dual-purpose animal. It was evolved by New Zealand breeders who—not fully satisfied with the performance of either the Merino or the British long- wool sheep under their conditions—sought an animal which would combine the super lative wool-producing properties, and outstanding foraging ability of the Merino with the better meat production and better mothering qualities of the British sheep. Despite the multiplicity of sheep breeds HISTORY throughout the world—Great Britain alone The breed originated almost a century has about 30 recognised pedigree breeds— ago—in the 1860's—soon after Mr. James the existing strains are still inadequate to Little arrived in New Zealand from Scot meet the widely-differing requirements of land with a consignment of British long- sheepmen in many countries, and cross wool rams and ewes for Dr. Webster and breeding is widely practised. Mr. Aitken who owned properties in North From time to time, progressive breeders Otago. have attempted to "fix" a cross-bred strain He stayed in New Zealand to manage or in other words have attempted to create a property named "Corriedale" for Dr. a new breed by a fusion of two or more Webster and it was there that he conceived breeds. the idea of establishing an inbred half- Increased knowledge of the science of bred flock which would combine the best genetics—the mechanism of inheritance— qualities of the Merino and the British has greatly simplified this task in recent sheep. years, but most of our existing "pure-bred" There seems to be considerable doubt strains were evolved from miscellaneous as to the precise breed of the British sheep collections of ancestors long before the imported by Dr. Webster. Most writers discoveries of Mendel were publicised. simply refer to them as Longwools, using Breeders bred to an "ideal," mating the the capital letter. Britain has a Devon individuals which most closely approached Longwool breed, so-called to distinguish that ideal, and rigorously culling progeny it from the Devon Closewool but Dr. which failed to achieve the required Webster's sheep may have been Lincolns, standards. Leicesters or any other of the longwoolled, By following these principles, the origin as distinct from the shortwoolled British ators of the Corriedale breed successfully breeds. evolved an "inbred half-bred" which is James Little named his new breed perhaps the world's best example of a truly "Corriedale," after the title of the pro dual-purpose sheep. perty, but on the death of Dr. Webster 129 Journal of Agriculture Vol 1 No 2 1960 Pig. 1.—A typical Corrledale sire the estate was sold and the flock dispersed. progeny of half-bred rams from half-bred Although Little continued the work in 1878 ewes and the result of not less than 15 on a property he acquired in North Canter years of inbreeding, the original stock bury, a large-scale breeding programme being the progeny of Merino and longwool had already been commenced on similar sheep of any pure breed. lines about four years earlier. The Lincoln cross soon swamped all the In 1874, Mr. W. S. Davidson, the man other strains however and has come to be ager of the New Zealand and Australian accepted as the true Corriedale. For many Land Company—the largest pastoral com years the breed had to contend with pre pany in the world—had mated 1,000 stud judices, engendered in many cases by un Merino ewes with selected stud Lincoln scrupulous breeders who sold crossbred rams on "The Levels Estate" in South sheep as Corriedales. As a result of this Canterbury. The original parents were there was often a wide variation in wool bred from each year for some years, the types among sheep which were all classed female progeny being heavily culled again as Corriedales. and again. Today, thanks to some excellent work Eventually they were mated to the pick by the breed societies, the Corriedale has of the half-bred rams and continued to overcome all the early prejudices and has be inbred for generation after generation. made tremendous progress during the last Other flock owners followed suit using 20 or 30 years. Large consignments English Leicester, Border Leicester and have been exported to North and South Lincolns but "The Levels" flock is the America, Japan, South Africa and many oldest in New Zealand. other countries. There are two Corriedale Eventually Corriedales were admitted to breed societies in the U.S.A., where this the New Zealand flock book, the regula splendid sheep has many adherents. tions governing entry at that time not Incidentally, it interesting to note that specifying any particular longwool breed, U.S. breeders made a parallel attempt to but merely that the sheep were the evolve a new breed by crossing Cotswold 130 Journal of Agriculture Vol 1 No 2 1960 Fig. 2.—The Corrledale's meaty conformation is well Illustrated In this photograph of shorn rams and Lincoln rams with Merino ewes of the Head.—Hornless, broad, strong, well- Rambouillet strain, and inbreeding and woolled, but free from wool blindness. culling the progeny. The idea was to Blue or black spots on ears are no defect evolve a sheep better suited to range con but black or brown spots on hair or wool ditions in the north-western states. The are defects. Wide-open nostrils, black Americans called their new breed the preferable. Columbia and it is reported to be gaining Neck.—Broad and strong, forming a good rapidly in popular favour. scrag. The Australian Corriedale Association Back.—From neck to rump, long, level was formed in Melbourne in 1914 and has and broad. done some splendid work on behalf of the Brisket.—Deep and wide. breed in this country. Ribs.—Well sprung and deep. Hindquarters.—Well apart, deep and POINTS broad, and well let down towards hocks. The following standards of type are Legs.—Moderate length, with good bone, recognised by the Australian Corriedale set straight and well apart. Black mark Association:— ings on wool or hair are defects. Brown General Appearance.—The Corriedale markings on wool or hair are to be con should at once give the impression of being sidered serious defects. Hoofs of fair size, a well-woolled and evenly-balanced sheep, well formed, and black in colour preferred. with a remarkably hardy constitution, the Wool.—The Corriedale should carry a ram being of distinctive character and heavy, even fleece of good length, dense bold outlook. Being a dual-purpose sheep, staple, pronounced crimp and even tip. consideration should be given to both wool The object quality is a long-stapled, dense, and carcass. bulky 50's to 56's, but a somewhat lower 131 Journal of Agriculture Vol 1 No 2 1960 Fig. 3.—Corriedale ewes and lambs at the Esperance Plains Research Station spinning grade, especially in a ram, is not with both weight and quality, on a carcass to be discriminated against. A charac which meets the needs of the butchers and teristic of the pure Corriedale sheep is the consumers. Pure Corriedale lambs have remarkable evenness in the length, density commanded good prices and when Cor and quality of the fleece throughout. In riedale ewes are mated to Downs rams a the males the purse should be covered with good export lamb may be obtained. wool not too coarse or hairy in texture. The Corriedale crosses well with other longwool breeds and is widely used on DUAL-PURPOSE Merino ewes to produce a good type of From the foregoing it will be seen that comeback wool of 58/60 quality. Corriedale the breeders' aims have been to produce ewes produce a high percentage of twins a sheep that will grow a valuable fleece, and are good milkers and mothers: •••••••••••<•»•»•••»••»•••••••••••••••••••••••»••»•••••••••»••••••••»• * FARMERS % This is YOUR Journal, and it has been written, edited and presented ! in a sincere endeavour to give you helpful information in an interesting • manner. * We would like to have your views on the Journal—to know whether I % you like it or whether you don't. Drop a line to the editor and tell him the * features you like and don't like in this issue—or the features you hope to • I see in future issues. • MMMMMO >»•>>•«»•«•»•••> #»••»»•••••»•»#••••••••••••••>•»•••••••»•• 132 Journal of Agriculture Vol 1 No 2 1960 and NOW the NEW Sunbeam Cooper SHEAR POWER Yet another first scored by Sun beam! Now Sunbeam Cooper has positively taken the "bounce" out of shearing with the first com pletely new overhead gear in 27 years.