CROSSBRED BREEDING.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 80, 16 January 1936, Page 8

CROSSBRED BREEDING.

RAISING'FAT LAMBS IMPORTANCE OP FEEDING. In an address to the Southern District (N.S.W.) Agricultural Bureau Conference at Junee, Mr B. J. Stocks, of Linden Hills, Cminingai'j one of the most successful fat-lamb raisers in Cootamundra district, attributed the success of his production to the supply of adequate feed to the breeding ewes and the lambs at all times, supplementing the supply with chaff and oats before it became necessary. During the last two seasons, using Southdown rams mated with first-cross Border Leicester or Romney Marsh ewes, he had trucked 110 per centJ. of lambs from 1005 ewes, and 122" per cent, from 1150 ewes respectively. Relying mainly on lucerne supple-' mented with paddocks of subterranean clover and Wimmera rye he had found the best arrangement was to make both lucerne and grass paddocks always available to the sheep by leaving tho gate open between tho paddocks. During the winter months ho had found that a supplementary ration of lib to 21b of green wheaten chaff, with a sprinkling of bran added, fed in troughs each day, was of great value in. giving the sheep resistance to disease and parasite infestation, and was well worth the extra expense and trouble. The secret of success in fat-lamb breeding was to never allow the lambs to suffer a check, and with a plentiful supply of well-balanced fodder, made possible by top-dressed pastures and lucerne, the road to successful fat-lamb breeding was sure. •