LAMBS ON RAPE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXXIII, Issue 15920, 4 May 1912, Page 5

LAMBS ON RAPE.

(By T. W. LONSDALE, in the "Jour. nal of the Department of Agriculture:")

It is no doubt customary in many districts to shear lambs prior to turning them on to rape to fatten, but there is no authentic evidence to warrant this procedure. In fact, it is questionable whether there is anything gained by it.

In continuation of an experiment carried out by the writer on the Ruakura Farm last year, another trial has recently been conducted on the Mounlv haki Experimental Farm. This demonstration has shown the futility of taking the result of one trial, or even several trials, as conclusive.

In order to clearly enumerate the results of the trials it is necessary to give a resume of last year's experiment, "Forty wether lambs were selociwd tu January 4, 191i.---.All' were weighed after being divided into two lots, an-l twenty were subsequently shorn. The weight of those shorn at that dato was 12051 b, an average of 60.251 b each. Those unshorn weighed 12351 b, an average of 61.751 b each. Tho whole of the I lambs were put on to rape and allowed the run of a grass paddock adjoin u£. 'On March 28, exactly twelve weeke from shearing, the lambs were again weighed, the result being as follows:Shorn lot gave a total weight of 14731 b, an average of 73.651 b each; the unshorn lot weighed 15401 b, an average of 771 b each. As the lambs were weighed prior to shearing, an average of 2.61 b of-wool being taken from each, the a©tual weight of the shorn lot at the com* moncement of the trial was 57.651 b each, or 4.101 b each lighter than the unshorn. At the end of the trial, therefore, the shorn showed a gain of 161 b each, and the unshorn a gain of 15.251 b each. There was thus a gain in favour of the shorn lot of 0.751 b each." This season forty lambs were selected on January 8, and twenty were subsequently shorn. The two lots were then weighed and turned on to rape, having also access to an adjoining grass- run. The total weight of the shorn lot was 12221 b, an average of 61.11 b each; the unshorn lot Weighed 11481 b, an. average of 57.41 b each. On February 19. just six weeks from the commencement of the test, the lambs were again weighed, with the following results.:— .Shorn lot, total weight 14901 b, an average of 74.51 b, each thus showing for the six weeks a gain of 13.41 b each. The unshorn lot gave a total weight of 15741 b, an average of 75.71 b each, being 'a gain of 21.31 b for the period. The results, therefore, show a gain in favour of the unshorn lot of 7.91 b each. This result is the reverse of the 1911 test, when the gain was 0.751 b each in favour of the shorn lot. The climatic conditions under which tho two tests were conducted were entirely different: dry and hot weather was experienced throughout the 1911 test, while this season the weather has been cold, fre» quent and heavy rains occurring during the trial. Judging by the results of the two demonstrations, it is evident that tho question " Dees it pay to shear lambs F" still remains an open one. Taken over a series of years, it is probable that the result would not be a financial suo cess.