Judges Comment On Some Poor Features Of Lamb Carcases

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 15, Issue 77, 2 August 1950, Page 7

Judges Comment On Some Poor Features Of Lamb Carcases

Pens of fat lambs sent forward from New Zealand from the district lamb competitions have been reported on very favourably on the whole by the London judges, but there is strong criticism of the proportion of entries with a heavy scrag (putting weight where it is not wanted), muscular forequarters and coarser-textured flesh. The judges suggest that the cause of these unsatisfactory features of New Zealand lamb carcases may be the greater use of the rubber-ring method of castration.

The Department of Agriculture proposes during the coming season to conduct a carefully organised trial, in conjunction with the Meat Producers’ Board, to ascertain to what extent the coarseness is in fact caused by any one method of castration.

In the meantime the Department draws the attention of all fat-lamb farmers to this criticism from the principal customer and suggests that those who use the rubber-ring method should be careful that the operation is carried out in accordance with the instructions issued with the instruments. In particular, it is regarded as essential that the ring be placed completely clear of the testicles- if the ring is placed too low, or if one testicle is higher than the other, sufficient active testicular tissue may be left to cause the development of male characteristics.