BYGONE DAYS: Sheep from Scottish sales to be imported into Ulster

The News Letter reported: “The sales’ masters conducting these sales have agreed to comply with the conditions laid down the ministry.

“A veterinary inspector of the ministry will be in attendance at each of the sales to issue permits for the importation into Northern Ireland of animals purchased.

“These facilities are intended to benefit only breeders who wish to retain for breeding purposes animals purchased at the sales.

“All animals imported from the sales must moved direct from the Northern Ireland port to the premises to which licensed by the ministry’s inspector, where they are to be isolated and detained for a period of not less than ten days.”

The following are the sales were referred to by the Ministry: Messrs Lawrie and Symington, Lanark, 4th September, Blackface ewe lambs; 10th September, Blackface shearling and ram lambs; 24th September, various breeds of ewes and rams; 1st October, Blackface ewes and Leicester and Down rams; 2nd October, Blackface and Cheviot ewes and gimmers; 15th October, Blackface and Cheviot ewes and gimmers and Leicester and Down rams; 18th October, Blackface rams and ram lambs.

Messrs Macdonald Fraser and Co, Ltd, Perth, 12th September, various breeds of rams; 2nd October, Blackface ewes; 16th October, Blackface rams.

Messrs James Craig, Limited, Ayr, 26th/27th September, Blackface and Cheviot ewes and gimmers; 4th October, Blackface and Cheviot ewes and gimmers; 10th October, various breeds of ewes and rams.

Messrs Watson and Batchelor, 67, Alloway Street, Ayr, 27th September and 3rd October, various breeds of ewes and rams.

Messrs Ayr Ram Society, Ayr, 3rd October, Blackface and Border Leicester rams and ram lambs.

Messrs Livestock Marts, Stirling October, Blackface rams and ram lambs.

Messrs John Hay and Co, Ltd, Perth, Sales corresponding to those of Messrs Macdonald, Fraser and Co, Ltd, and on the same dates.

The News Letter also noted: “Similar facilities will be afforded for the importation of pedigree breeding cattle from certain of the sales be held in Scotland during the autumn. An announcement in this connection will be made at later date.”

It added: “Persons interested should, if possible, communicate with the ministry without delay and before any purchases are made. It should be clearly understood that these arrangements may be modified or cancelled at any time if, in the opinion of the ministry, the disease position Great Britain should warrant such a course.”

IRISH MOILED CATTLE SOCIETY

The registrar’s report of the Irish Moiled Society, presented at a meeting of the society in Belfast, with Mr J E Bailey, Dromara, presiding, stated this week in August 1929 that “it must not be forgotten that the society was formed for the purpose of breeding up the small native moiled cattle of the country, with the object of supplying them to the hill farmers of Ulster”.

The meeting noted that there were, in August 1929, 300 of these animals on the register of the society, about 250 were of the red or grey varieties and that a difficulty had arisen “of getting one colour established for the breed”.

The society it was reported had had some difficulty during the last few years in “explaining to the public that Irish moils were originally different in colour in various parts of the country”.

This difficulty had convinced the committee that they should gradually work towards fixing a colour that was peculiar to Irish cattle only, namely the white stripe down the back.

With this object in view the society had been thought it wise to relax for year or two such points as the correct type of moiled head. Indeed, if a suitable moiled cow had the correct white stripe, then flat heads or rudimentary horns might be overlooked until “they got the colour standardised”.

It was noted that “this difficulty would not have arisen if the Ministry of Agriculture had been able to allow them import pure bred Irish moiled bulls from Finland”.

The report further suggested that at the Balmoral Show in May 1930 that the society should, “have a class for young heifers and bulls, calved between January, 1929, and January, 1930, and only one class for cows instead of two as formerly, and that the treasurer instructed to supply £9 prize money”.

The committee were urged to use their influence with members and try and get them to begin preparing their show exhibits at once.

The committee approved of the report, and it was resolved that Miss Dorothy Robertson, Dogleap, Limavady, be nominated to judge the moiled classes at the May show at Balmoral.