BENEFITS OF PEDIGREE STOCK BREEDING

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 223, 17 June 1936, Page 17

BENEFITS OF PEDIGREE STOCK BREEDING

NEW ZEALAND’S PRE-EMINENCE AS A LAMB-EXPORTING COUNTRY

Excellent Reputation Built Up

STILL A NEED FOR GREATER STUDY OF BREEDING METHODS

(By

Cultivator.)

Supplying about half of the entire importations of lamb into the, United Kingdom, New Zealand holds a position which is pre-eminent among the lamb-exporting countries of the world. This Dominion’s exports of lamb to the Home markets are approximately 100 per cent, ahead of Australia’s numerically, and about 125 per cent, ahead of South America. These are figures which surely speak for themselves, and serve to illustrate in striking manner the predominant position of New Zealand in a market in which the quality of carcase presents strong competition. Prime New Zealand lamb has achieved a justifiable reputation which is a credit to the producers.

IT is only about two decades ago since the slaughtering of older sheep for mutton was in popular favour, and the lamb trade held a more or less insignificant position in this country. But a transitional movement which became really evidence in the 1021-22 season led to a revolutionary change in the production of sheep for the moat markets, and lambs took a prominent position In the sheep industry, which, for meat, had hitherto been dominated by mutton.

Realising that it was more profitable to produce greater quantities of quick-er-maturing high-priced meat in Hie form of lamb, graziers were responsible for a widespread exploitation of the ewe flocks of the Dominion, Once this change was brought about the figures for the slaughtering of young animals for the fat lamb trade began to gradually increase. A reputation was built up at Smithfield and elsewhere, and to-day, not only does New Zealand lamb dominate the market in the number of carcases sent forward, but the article produced is of such quality that it also demands a better price than the lamb produced for export by any of the competitive countries. Dominion’s Sheep Population.

With more than 30,000 flocks, carrying about 30,000,000 sheep, the Dominion represents quite a powerful unit among the principal sheep-producing countries of the world, holding seventh of population, including Maoris, position on a sheep population basis. So far as the utilisation of these flocks for meat production purposes is concerned, it is interesting to note that the annual killings of lamb for food purposes, both for home consumption and export, now hover in the region of 10,000 carcases, by far th larger proportion of which is sent overseas. Sheep slaughtered for mutton, on the other hand, number about 4,000,030 an-

nually, about 60 per cent, of which aro exported. For the live years to the end of the 1934-35 season the total number of lambs killed for all food purposes was 45,470,168 carcases, and for the same period the slaughterings for mutton totalled 21,352,624. Over that quinquennial period the balance between killings and exports, with due allowance for variations in stocks, represented an annual consumption of over 911 b. of mutton and lamb per head

The 1920-21 season saw the peak of mutton exports, the total number of carcases exported in that year being 5,488,976, and in the same season lambs began to show a slight upward movement. Since then mutton exports have

dropped to about half what they were in the peak year, and lamb exports have increased by leaps and bounds, with but one or two minor setbacks. Trend of Exports. Figures showing the trend of the lamb and mutton trades over the past two decades, insofar as the number of carcases exported are concerned, reveal an interesting movement. The following are taken from the Official Year Book:—

. In building up such a fine reputation for the country’s prime lamb on the United Kingdom market, graziers have taken a wise course which is fully justified by the lower cost of production than in the case of mutton and by the definitely better prices. This reputation has not been built up, however, without vast improvements in the quality of article produced. The advance

in lamb quality has been due largely to the care exercised in the choice of rams, and the sheep-farmers owe much to the leading stud breeders of the Dominion, who have spared no expense in building up their studs by the importation of some of the finest blood obtainable in Great Britain. Influence of Fann Management, The advance* in the lamb trade has kept step with Improvements in methods of general farm management. With the increased practice of top-dressing hill country and the greater use of such valuable fodder crops as subterranean clover, large expanses of country which had never before been used for fattening lambs for the meat trade are now productive of heavy drafts of prime lambs off their mothers. It has been proved quite conclusively in recent years that the top-dressing of hill country, coupled with a sound policy of fertilisation of this type of country, the lamb-fattening potentialities.

may be increased materially. By the use of phosphatlc fertilisers in combination with subterranean clover on the lighter areas, some results which are little short of amazing have been obtained.

True, a fine measure of success has already been obtained in building up the reputation of New Zealand lamb on the world’s greatest market; but, while that is a matter for congratulation, it is not a matter for complete satisfaction, and should not be taken as a signal for farmers to sit back and rest on that reputation. There is always room for improvement in .the production of fat lambs, just as in any other line of industry. Breeding Must be .Studied. To achieve the very highest quality, research workers and stud breeders

doubtless will not allow the position to stagnate. Among other things a close study of the business of breeding as distinct from fattening' is called for. There is little doubt that the competitors of New Zealand in Argentina, Australia and South Africa are fully alive to the possibilities of obtaining still bigger returns, and will use every en-

deavour to produce an article as good as, if not better than, New Zealand is responsible for at present. Smallness of bone is of the utmost importance in stock which is bred primarily to mature and fatten at an early age. The reason-for this is that tho bone or skeleton of a growing animal makes

the first and heaviest' drain on all nourishment. It stands to reason that the animal with the small frame and light bone satisfies this demand earliest, and thereafter lays on meat and surplus fat rapidly.

The Leicester-merino cross of Canterbury produces early-maturing lambs of high quality, both the breeds in this cross being small-boned sheep. In the North Island a popular cross for fat lamb production is the Southdown ram on the Romney-Lincoln cross. The Southdown, being a small-boned compact sheep with fine-textured flesh, has a definite influence in this cross, and early and shapely fat lambs are the result. Other useful crosses are the Southdown ram with English Leicester or English Leicester-cross ewes, and the Southdown ram with Ryeland-Rom-ney first-cross ewes.

Lamb Mutton Year. Carcases. Careases 1915-16 .. 3,750,590 2,939,611 1916-17 .. 2,797,290 2,409,899 1917-18 .. 2,048,612 2,150,505 1918-19 .. 916,914 1,300,047 1919-20 .. 3,420,220 2,127,853 1920-21 .. 4,350,964 5,488,976 1921-22 .. 4,8-12,545 3,340,548 1922-23 .. 5,479,780 2.530,232 1923-24 .. 5,076,429 1,719,437

19261927- .. 4,401,142 .. 4,736,519 .. 5,048,186 .. 5,804,901 2,037.953 2,058,083 2.027,216 2,220.972 1928-29 5,869.465 1,919,794 1929-30 6,283.960 1,971,030 1930-31 7,819.980 2,581,477 1931-32 7,574.147 2,343,148 1932-33 9,056,071 2,354,184 1933-34 8,719,301 2,010,084 1934-35 9,383,081 2,088,881