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Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 14, 11 October 1927, Page 16

There appears to have been an unusually large proportion of bull calves born in the Poverty Bay district this season (states the “Herald”). In one herd in which 88 calves were born, only 26 were heifers, while of 15 calves on another farm, only four were heifers, la yet another case, where there were 20 calves this season, all but three were bulls. These, it is stated, are not isqlat ed cases, but an indication of the situation generally in the district. When the fat lamb industry first started In South Cnterbury, and for a good many years afterwards, great care was exercised in sending to the freezing works only the best lambs for'export (states, the Timaru “Herald”). Considerable care is still exercised, but in one respect for lamb producers are not now as careful as they formerly were. This is in regard to ram lambs. At one time (he presence in a mob of fats of one ram Jamb was a rare occurenree, but in irecent years the number of such lambs ■which have been sent to the freezing works to bo killed has increased very largely: and tho trouble occasioned jn this way became so acute last year thta the owners of freezing works have decided that in the coming season such lambs will not be accepted on any consideration. To avoid loss, therefore, fat lamb growers will require to get back to the old standard of carefulness In this respect.