BEST FAT LAMBS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 444, 1 March 1909, Page 5

BEST FAT LAMBS.

SOME BREED TESTS. 'AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND CONCLUSIONS; At Wagga, orie of the experiment farms of New South Wales, extensive tests have been carried out .to ascertain what breeding produces the best fat lambs. The conclusion come to is that the best fat lambs to raise in that part of the country is the Shropshirc-Lincoln-Merino. This .cross, however, is almost equalled —and in spine individual cases surpassed—by the- Dorset-Loicester-Merino, and some others. The markctablo ages and weights are thus summarised:— ' ~ : Average , ■ ■ Age Weight. ' Breed.,' " .Weeks, lbs. Hampshire-Lincoln-Merino • ... 10 51 Border Leicester-Merino ... 11 50 Border' Leicester-Lincoln-Mer-ino i ... '... 11 56 Lincoln-Merind ... ... 11 52 Dorset-Lincoln-Merino ...,,12 < 65 Shropshire-Merino- ... 12 ' 49 Shropshire-Lincoln-Merino ... 12 62 . Shropshire-Border 1 , LeicesterMerino ... . _ ... 12 , 59 Dorsot-Leicester-Merino ... 12 , 60 Dorset-Merino ..; 12 57 Suffolk-Lincoln-Merino ' ... 13 59 Suffolk-Merino ... /... 13 ! 53.' Hampshirc-Lincoln-Merino ... 16 86}' Border Leicester-Merino ... 17 83 LincolnrMerino ... ... 17 79} Border Leicester-Lincoln-Mer-ino ... _ ... ... 17 90j Dorset-Lincoln-Merino ... 18 96 Shropshirc-Lincoln-Merino ... 18 96J Shropshire-Border LeicesterMerino .... ... ... 18 95 Doset-Leicester-Merino ... 18 97$ Dfirsot-Merin'o 18' . 89 Shropshire-Merino ... ... 18 . 78} Suffolk-Merino ... ... 19 87 Suffolk-Lincoln-Merino ... 19 .. 90J Experiments on. similar' lines are being', conducted by the New Zealand Government ivt Moumahaki. The New Zealand annual report for 1908 states: —"The , crossbred-lamb breeding experiment which we have been conducting for some years back was resumed last March. (1907). Again 52 crossbred ewes were mated to a ram of each of; the. following breads, viz.: Border Leicester, English Leicester, Shropshire, and Southdown. Owing to . one of the; rams proving not a" successful lamb-getter, the experiment was spoilt ' for last year, and it was decided not to record the results as they , would have a misleading effect on the data already produced. This was disappointing, but it is one of .the many things which crop, up and interfere with experimental work. The experiment is to be continued for the coming season: One ram each of the breeds' already . mentioned and one Cheviot ram have been mated to 56 ewes each, ./with the intention of recording later on their adaptability for the fat lamb trade." . ' > . Previous experiments'had given the following results:— . " ' LAMBING PERCENTAGES. ' Border Leicesters (A) ... ... ' ... 117 Border Leicesters (B) ... ... ... 75 Border-Leicester on crossbreds ... 120 English Leicester on crossbreds 1 ' ' , ■ ... '128 . Shropshire on crossbreds ... ..; 126 Southdown on crossbreds... ... ... 130 . SELLING VALUES. The' lambs were finished off on rape and gold to. the Wellington Meat Export Company, who'reported as follows :— "Southdown Crossbred.—A rare line of. freezing lambs/ excellent in colour and con- . formation. • "Border "Leicester Crossbred.—A rather coarse type of lamb ; heavy carcasses of talJowy appearance,'.and will cut fat. ;"Eiiglish. : Leicester Crossbred;—A", good class.of: freezing "lamb, .but not. of the'same bright quality as the. Southdown. . 'Shropshire Crossbred.—A class of freezing lamb; will cut well, but a shade coarser .than the Southdown,.and does not exhibit the same quality." An £ s. d. Contrast. In spite of its inferiority- in quality, the Border Leicester paid best. The percentage of first quality's lambs, obtained in 'the different groups and the values per, carcass, were as follow: — - First quality. Price per Percent, carcass. . .. ' ' S. • d. ;'•■ Border Leicester ... 93 15 3J Shropshire, 89 LI 5 • Southdown . ... ... 96 14 0| English Leicester ... .86 14 ;,0| These results will/ no doubt, be of interest to New . Zealand farmers at this season of ram buying. Apparently it is not always quality that pays. . . •