Frozen Mutton Trade

Manawatu Standard, Volume XL, Issue 7792, 17 March 1904, Page 8

Frozen Mutton Trade

The Crossbred for Profit.

•In view of the interest .naturally attaching to the evolution of any special breed of sheep—or any systematic crossing with tTie object of fixing a distinct type—it will be instructive to read the history of a crossbred flock which is claimed to contain the ideal general-purpose sheep for the more moist districts of the North Island. The flock in question is that of Mr . Fitzherbert, "whose manager., Mr J. Gibson, is responsible for its development. Mr Gibson, by the.way, is one _fa family of -brothers who for many years were regarded in the K-ai-koui-a district as .among the best merino breeders in the colony When Mr Gibson first assumed vontrol o-f the Tau-Rimu flock in _89l it consisted o_ 1900 fair -average Lincolns—lsoo -breeding ewes 300 ewe hoggets, and 100 maiden ewes all the lambs, with the exception of top ewe lambs, being sold at the time owing to the difficulty in rearing -f'h'G hoggets on grass. Tho death-rate was then .3.V per cent among breeding ewes, 6. per cent lambs and 2 per cent, among hoggets, although only 300 of the latter had .been retained from 3200 lambs. j n wool the sheep avenged Sib doz and the lambs :21b Ooz, t,h c total weight of wool being 17,9051b. Lincolns wore bred until 1894' when lit was .ound that booh the death-rate and the loss of wool had increased to an alarming extent The percentage of lambs had fallen Irom 100 to 7 p C r cent., the wool average to 71b Tor gheop and lib ooz lor lambs, and the death rate to -5 per cent, for ewes, 12 per cent for lambs, and 41 p e r cent, for hoggets (attor culling out 50 per cent, and selling them as lambs). This was the result alter every care and attention had been -given to the flock-.

It was then decided to use Border Leicester rams, with tile View of strengthening tlie,constitution of tho flock and improving the wool and carcase.. Mr Gibson ha-d been Very successful with this cross iv tho South Island, and ho had also seen the Border Leicesters crossed with South Australian strong combing merino ewes with splendid results. In those days, however, wool was the main consideration, the carcase being of only secondary consideration. Many sheep men, therefore, preferred, the Lincoln-Merino, a cross which Mr Gibson never considered a success, as it resulted in three distinct types of sheep, the contrast -be.wee(._ the two types being too great, while the tendency of the progeny to throw back to both typos caused too lh_avy culling for their success as a wool sheep, while they could not compare with the Leicester cross for mutton. Tho Border Leicester rams wore used until 1900. The lambs used were selected from the flock of the "New Zealand, and Australian Land Company and Little Bros., of Napara, Oamaru, -both being noted for their Border Leicester blood. At that time the death-rate had fallen to 2_ per cent, for ewes,. 6 per cent, lambs, and 19 per cent, for hoggets (all the lambs being wintered, none «-oM) all surplus sheep being sol-d to t>i._r freezing company as fat, while the average weigfat ol' wool had risen to Olb Gioz for sheep and 21b l2oz for lambs. Tho net weight of the wool from the flock of 205;j sheep and 5_G lambs was 20,9751b. In 1900 the Leicester ewes were crossed with half-bred merino rams, -elected from the flock of Mr Chas. Gouiter, MarLborough, who posses r ses, one of tue -best merino flocks in the colony. This was with -a view to further improve the wool and mutton, and to get a sheep that would thrive on old hill country- as well as -give a good saleable fleece oi wool, at the same time having a well-shaped carcase, flat on tile wither, with a broad, level back and well-sprung ribs.

At the present time Ih-ce-qua-to. bred rams are -being used with three-quarter bred ewes, ami tin result, so far, is all that <o.ild he desired, -being in all ways suitable for Rangitikei country, as the _-.suUs this year have fully r, r0 ,- c j } a ,]_ though it -has been one of t.iie ;»*r rst seasons for many years owing to so much rain and soft gratis. The threc-quater bred ifour-tboth maiden ewes gave a return of over J.-lib per sheep, and tho six-tooth ewes (with lambs at foot) an average o£ lllb. Those ewes lambed in June a_n_a ■duly, giving 102 per cent, of lambs. The inbred lambs averaged 4lb lioz and the foui-toot-h Border Leicester (mai-den-). ewes I2_b Boz. All these sheep have similar treatment, -being run on the same ground together The flock of 2137 sheep ,(old sheep, ewes, wethers, bog-gets, and rams) averaged 9lb 13.0z, and the 890 lambs 31b 2oz.

From the above experience Mr Gibson considers that _j_ tlire*■quarter bred Leicester-Merino is the most profitable sheep for the west coast district of the North Island, as they 'do well -on heavy, clay land; they do not scour, -and they work the country better than long wool sheep ; they tramp about more and do not suffer from fatty liv C r, when there is a rush of spring grass,, besides being a better-shaped sheep for freezing. They breed more even in type, -and do not require such heavy culling to keep ti'.em up to a paying standard. It . must be borne in mind, however, says Mr Gibson, that the Leicester blood must predominate, or else it is impossible to keep those most suitable to Use. They give a sheep well adapted for rough bush country, having a long, strong, close wool, capable of resisting charcoal and log stain, and a wool, that will command a fair price on the London market. The lambs are well shaped, fatten readily, and hold their condition, while tbe quality oi! the LeicesterMerino mutton or lamb is wellknown ana appreciated.