Campaign to cut down over-fat lambs

Press, 4 September 1980, Page 11

Campaign to cut down over-fat lambs

PA Wellington The ■ Meat Board is launching a campaign to reduce the number of over-fat lambs ..being presented by farmers. Between 20 and 30 per cent of average-weight lambs carry too much fat for the . vital European market, according to a. board spokesman. Consumer preferences have moved steadily to leaner meat, and the board will hold a series of meetings this month to plan a campaign to cut’down the number of over-fat lambs being produced. It will then launch an education campaign to tell '‘farmers how to deal -with the problems. . Breeding over-fat lambs not only meant a big loss for the farmer, it was -a waste of national resources, said the spokesman. The board will soon hold a meeting with research. scientists, who are looking at the. problem.Scientists are testing a

new device-for measuring fat in lambs. About the size of a pencil, it is held ; against .the animal’s skin and. measures the fat content by sending out ultra-, sonic waves. The new fat probe is more reliable and convenient than previous ones. ■ .. ; . . Researchers are also looking, at the effects of heredity on 'Tests' on other animals, such as cattle have shown' that there is a 30 or 40 per cent .chance that the ; progeny of ah over-fat beast will also be over-fat. While the board hopes the' research' will provide some clues on how to solve the problem, it will also highlight practical steps farmers; can take toreduce' over-fatness. : These include; separating the . faster-growing' ewe lambs and sending- them to the works earlier,-and, omitting the .. standard practice of ,castrating rain lambs — they do not produce so much fat if they are left entire.