Family Planning For Sheep

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31041, 22 April 1966, Page 14

Family Planning For Sheep

(Special Correspondent N.Z.P.A.) LONDON, April 21. A dramatic success has been claimed for birth control tests on 5000 ewes from 18 breeds of sheep.

The product is a small sponge impregnated with a hormone. It is primarily designed to produce more offspring. Its main advantage is family planning for a whole flock of sheep. All the ewes can be persuaded to mate and lamb at the same time. For the first time shepherds can plan the breeding of their flocks with precision

and also bring forward the breeding season. Several hundred orders I have already been placed by’ farmers and shepherds who took part in the trials. Season Advanced The veterinary surgeon j with the firm which produces 1 the hormone said that the product advanced the breeding season by six to eight weeks, which meant more lambs could be marketed in April and May. He said: “Lambs marketed then can command up to £3 more each in some years than a similar quality lamb marketed from June onwards.” He said that the long lambing period could be cut from six weeks to seven days. The shepherd also had more control over the mating period. A veterinary sales manager estimated that for a flock of 100 breeding ewes farmers could increase their tota) profit by as much as £617, or more than £6 a ewe, by synchronisation of the breeding programme.

DECIMAL CONVERSIONS Decimal currency will be introduced in New Zealand in July, 1967. Recommended conversion rates from Is to 5s are as follows:

luiiuws;-— Is 10c Is 8d 17c Is Id lie Is 9d 18c Is 2d 12c Is lOd 18c Is 3d 12c Is lid 19c Is 4d 13c 2s 20c Is 5d 14c 3s 30c Is 6d 15c 4s 40c Is 7d 16c 5s 50c