FAT SHEEP AWARDS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 309, 23 September 1908, Page 8

FAT SHEEP AWARDS.

A COMPARISON. NEW ZEALAND'JUDGES V. LONDON MARKET. - - Tho secretary of the Masterton A. and P. Association (writes our Wairarapa correspondent), has just received from the Wellington Meat Export Company the London mar.ket returns of tho sheep and lambs killed and judged at the,Masterton Show and then judged and sold on tho Loudon market. There were in all fivo classes, namely, five wethers or maiden ewes; fivo lambs, down or down cross; live lambs, longwool or longwool cross, and five lambs, by purebred rams. The New Zealand judge at the show was Mr. L. C. Gardiner, of Riccarton, and it is noticeable that in no instance was his first award sustained by the 'London market report. In fact, lie was, with cno or two exceptions, clean out of tho running. This may at. first sight be considered a reflection upon his judgment, but that tho London market judges cannot themselves claim infallibility is proved by the fact that the top prices for five lambs by purebred rains was obtained by Mr. J. M'Gregor, who was not awarded a prize cither at Masterton or in London. Mr. M'Gregor's two exhibits of ten lambs averaged in weight 52 3-51b., and their net return to him was £1 Is. Bd. per head. Tho breed was Southdown ram from a Romney-Lincoln ewe. It will he noted that Mr. M'Gregor's lambs were 61b. a' head lighter than Mr. Morrison's' first-prizo longwool wethers or ewes, and yot brought 4s. Oid. per head more in price. Apparently fat lambs pay better than anything else in the sheep line. Of tho breeders, Messrs. Morrison Bros., of Blairlogib, were tho most successful, with three first and two seconds;Mr. W. Perry, of Penrose, was next with a first, a second, and a third, while Mr.' John Strang, of .Gladstone, recorded a .first and a third. Messrs. Morrison's sheep were selected by Mr. A. Reside, who is considered to be one of the best judges of . fat sheep in New Zealand. Messrs. Strang and W. Perry have also big New Zealand reputations in tho same line. Appended aro particulars of'the awards, with the weight and prices obtained by tho first-prize takers, and comments by-tho Londcn judges:— Five Wethers, or Maiden Ewes, sixitooth and under ; Longwool or Longwool Cross. Aver. M'stn. London W'ght. Award. Price. London award. lbs. 1. Morrison Bros. 58 2-5 — . 17s. ljd. 2. Morrison Bros. — —• — 3. J. Perry —, — — —' J. Strang — . A-. '■ — — J. Strang — 2 \ — —J. Strang —■ . 3 — Remarks.—(l) Fine quality, very; meaty, well covered, (2) Good,quality, very meaty, fairly well covored. (3) Good quality, short legs, well covered, rather fat. (4) Fair quality, very well covered, rather fat. (5) Fair quality, fairly meaty. (6) Fair quality, fairly well covered, ono fat. " " Five Fat Wethers, or Fat Maiden Ewes, six-tooth and une'er: Down or Down Cross. Aver. M'stn. London ' / •• W'ght. Award: Price, lbs. 1. W. Perry - 51 4-5 3 16s. sd. 2. W. and H. Bcetham — 2 ' — 3. W. and H. Beetham — — • ' —■ —W. andH. Beetham. — 1 — Remarks,—(l) Very fine quality, short legs, nice size, well covered. (2) Very fino quality, well covered, useful size. (3) Very giiod quality, short legs, well covered. (4) Good quality, short legs, one rather fat. FiVe Lambs: Down or Down Cross. Aver. M'stn. London W'ght. Award. Price, lbs. 1. J. Strang 38 2-5 •— 16s. 7d. 2. Morrison Bros. — - : —: 3. J. Strang — ' 2 — — \V. Perry' . — 1 —: —W. and H. Beetham — 3 . — Remarks. —(1) Fino quality, well covered, short legs. (2) Fine quality, short legs, .useful size. (3) Fine quality, well covered, short legs. (4) Very good quality, well covered. (5) Good quality, fairly well covered. ■ Five-Lambs: Longv.„j| or Longwool Cross. ■ . . Aver'. M'stn. London W'ght. Award. Price. . lbs. 1. Morrison Bros. 40 4-5 — , 14s. lid. 2. W. and H. Beetham — — — 3. F. Dorset — — — —W. Perry , —• 1 — —W. and H. beetham — '2 ■ — — R. Coopor , — 3 — Remarks. —(1) Good quality, - short legs, fairly well covered, but rather large. (2) Good quality, short legs, fairly well covered, au'd all .ewes rather largo .(3) Fairly good quality, useful size. (4) Fair qualitj, plain legs. (5) Fair, quality, large irames. (6; Fair quality, plain legs. Five Lambs, by Pure-brsd Rams. Aver. M'stn. London \ .W'ght. Award. Price, lbs. 1. Morrison Bros. . ram, Romney-Lincoln ewes) 34 4-5 — 14s. lOd, 2. W. Perry (Southdown ram, English LeicesterLincoln ewes) — — ' — 3. W. and H. Beetham — — — — Morrison Bros. • (Southdown ram; Romney-Lincoln •owes) — ■ 2 — — Morrison Bros. • (Southdown ram, Romney-Lincoln ewes) . — 1 — Remarks. —(1) Very good quality, short legs (2) Very good quality, fairly well covered, useful size. (3) Good quality,' well covered. (4) Very good quality, short legs. (5) Very fair quality, fairly well covered.