South Island Lambs Taken To. Task

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30152, 8 June 1963, Page 6

South Island Lambs Taken To. Task

The judges who re- < viewed in London the leading pens of lambs sent forward from export iamb competitions throughout the South Island at the end of last year have not spared them in their official report. Speaking of the South Island exhibits, the' judges (Messrs E. Chivers, C. Woodward and G F. Way), say that “many lambs were not of the make and shape expected in this show and did not, in our view, comply with the requirements asked for by the New Zealand Meat Producers' Board.

“The jnain fault was the over-all fatness of the majority of the carcases (maybe to some extent due to favourable climatic conditions) and in the display from MidCanterbury we had great difficulty in selecting any carcases of prize-winning standard. It is undesirable to rely on past records with such a competition. Every attempt must be made to meet present trade requirements." “A bright display of rather uneven lambs containing *a number of over-fat lambs" was how the London judges summed up the exhibit from North Canterbury. Mr A. E. White, a supervising grader for the Meat Board, who ..judged at this competition, said this week that he still believed that the seven pens from this district were one of the most even lots ever sent away from the district. He and the other two judges on that occasion had been thrilled with the seven pens because they were so even, fleshy and full of meat and none of them had been over-fat.

Lean Lambs Indicating that the London judges were looking for the lean lamb, Mr White said that he had noted down in his diary that the pen of lambs placed fourth on hooks at Kaiapoi were three meaty lambs which tended to be too lean. In London these same lambs had been elevated to ’first place. The London judges said that these lambs from E. B. and G. T Glenday (Waikari) were “three commercial carcases with good fat distribution and would percentage well.” The London judges said that it was difficult to understand why the pen placed first at the Kaiapoi works had been selected for this honour. They said that all of the lambs were of only fair conformation and carrying excess fat on the docks.

Mr White recalled this week that when the winning pen at Kaiapoi was regrouped for the London judging with the same exhibitor’s second pen in the competition all three lambs weighed 331 b. Of the Mid-Canterbury lambs the London judges said: “A very disappointing run of lambs making the judges wonder whether their standards had gone astray in comparison with the New Zealand judges as every lamb over-fat. Presentation good and brand-marking fair.” Mr White was also a member of the judging panel at Fairfield. He said that while the London judges’ comments were disappointing, the MidCanterbury lambs were scarcely show lambs but were reasonably good butchers lambs. He was. however, pleased to see that the three top-placed pens at Fairfield still held the first three positions in London, though the order had been changed. Nelson district lambs were placed third in the South Island competition, behind Southland and Eastern Southland, which won the challenge shield. Of the Nelson exhibit the judges said it was “an attractive display of even lambs of good conformation. It was placed third as a few carcases were fat on the docks and fat overall. Well handled and brand marking very good." The judges’ comments on other districts included: — Marlborough: “A freshlooking run of rather uneven carcases but containing carcases of merit. Several carcases carrying over-all fat and some unbalanced. Nevertheless a good exhibit Presentation and brand marking very good.” Of the pen from Mrs E M Stace. which was placed third-best pen in .the South Island, the comment was: “A balanced pen of three very good commercial lambs.” South Canterbury: “A pleasing display of even lambs. Several carcases not of show conformation. Obvious care taken in presentation and brand-marking good.”