Even Higher Standard Seen At Hooks Judging

Northern Advocate, 25 November 1947, Page 2

Even Higher Standard Seen At Hooks Judging

1947 FAT LAMB CHAMPS...

MOEREVVA, Tue. (Sp.).—“We have every reason to be confident that Northland will retain the North Island Shield in the Dominion Meat Board’s London competition for export lambs.” This view, expressed at a gathering of 70 Bay of Islands, Hokianga and Whangarei farmers after the fat lamb championship field day at Moerewa freezing works yesterday afternoon, was endorsed by all speakers and by hearty applause from all present. The speaker, Mr 11. Kneebone, of Auckland, who judged the lamb carcases on the hooks at Moerewa, added that so far as evenness was concerned he had never had anything to do with a better selection of lambs.

The four principal placegetters in the hooks judging were as follows (individual carcase weights given also): —E. A. Cook (Okaihau), 331 b., 331 b. 341 b.. 1; C. F. Jones (Pakaraka),' 32, 33. 35, 2; W. Alison (Purua), 32, 33, 33, 3; Native Department Base Farm, Tautoro (Kaikohe), manager. V. Duniop, 33, 35, 36, 4. While remaining in fourth place for the Northland Fat Lamb Championship, the Native Department entry was removed from the list of entries going forward for export to SmithHeld as North Island Shield contestants. This unfortunate circumstance was caused by the discovery of a deepseated bruise on the hindquarters ol one lamb, caused possibly during transportation. Remainder of the seven pens to be exported were decided as follows: — N. Broughton (Purua), 34, 36. 36; C. H. Nixon (Okaihau). 34, 32. 33; C. H. Finlayson (Purua), 35, 34, 36; A. J. Comrie (Ruatangata West). 35. 35, 36. It marked Mr Cook's victory for the third year in succession, giving him outright ownership of the Fletcher Cup. This trophy was presented at afternoon tea by Mr H. McCarroll, ol Taipuha. who had judged the lambs on the hoof at the show.

Both hoof and hooks judging were remarkable this year and lasi. On both occasion the hooks winner was unplaced on the hoof. On both occasions, Mr Jones was winner at the show and was well placed in the hooks judging. This year, he was lirsl and "third respectively. Last year his entries were so good that two of the seven selected pens were in his name. Second place-getter at the show, G. E. Dixon (Okaihau) was ruled out on the hooks through overweight of one lamb. His pen ran out at 33. 35. 38. Fourth on the hooks was C. A. Lovell (Purua). his pen showing 33, 35. 38 on the hooks. A second pen by C. H. Finlayson (Purua). which was fifth on show day. weighed in, when killed. at 36, 36. 37. And 361 b. is the limit weight for the competition. TWO JUDGES GRATIFIED

This year’s quality had been about the same as last year’s, said Mr Kneebone, when speaking at afternoon tea in the works dining room. However, lie was definite that the type was a great deal better. Last year, the entries had more or less sorted out themselves. By the time overweights and others had been defaulted, there were only about the required number left, seven, out cl' the 23 pens submitted from the show at Waimate North.

This year, had 15 pens been wanted no difficulty would have been met in filling them with first-class lambs. The two or three leaders were outstanding and the next dozen had so little between them that it was hardly possible to say why some were selected and others not.

To illustrate the point, he instanced the entry of Mrs L. Morfettc, cf Kaikohe, who was one of the shield-win-ning six last year. With only about 40 lambs to choose from against the 1200 or more other competitors, she had produced what he considered an even better pen cf lambs than she had last year, when she had helped to win the coveted shield.

Yet Mrs Morfette’s lambs would not go overseas. There were so many good entries that judging had become impossibly hard.

Mr Kneebone added that he was convinced that the winning pen had reached the absolute maximum as to finish. He hoped the London judges would think the same. PRESENTATION OF CUPS

Presenting Mr Cook with the Fletcher Cup. Mr McCarroll said he had

been associated with the competition for a great many years and he would say now that the improvement he could see in the type ol lamb grown in the North was beyond description. “When the fat lamb championship was started years ago I saw a mixed group of lambs of no definite type, but in 1947 you have the most outstanding group I have ever seen," Mr McCarroll said.

"My difficulty in arriving at decisions in the judging on the hoof was fully borne out on the hooks. Every pen was a good one. It has proved most gratifying to those who have watched and hoped for the progress of the industry in Northland." Presenting Mr Jones with his trophy for having won on the hoof, he paid a special tribute to his part in the bringing of the shield to Northland for the first time last year. "I feel sure yoi.r lambs and the others will go a long way towards holding the shield," he said. ' Indeed, it will have to be an exceptional group of lambs that is going to beat them." He gave high praise to the works staff for their care and skill in killing and dressing. The winner, Mr Cook, told the, gathering that he had particular satisfaction in bis victory inasmuch ns he was farming on rough, cold country, with fern and scrub among the feed. He dairied 70 cows and. naturally, had to give his sheep second place. In spite of these circumstances, however, he had given the preparation of his lambs a great deal of time and thought, not having just run them out of the paddock the day before the show.

NEW SHEEP THEORY STATED Mr Jones, after a warm tribute to ihe man who had beaten him at the post each time, said he had concluded i hat this matter of breeding export lambs successfully was 40 per cent on the ewes, 20 per cent on the rams, and 40 per cent on the feed given the lambs.

He knew that experts would differ from him strongly, particularly those who believed that the ram was the controlling factor. However, his view;, had been built up on experience and. to him. appeared sound. His own ewes had been straight-bred Romneys for about 30 generations. With them a good eight-guinea or 10guinea ram would reward the farmer all he wanted; there was no need to threw away huge sums on expensive rams.

Finally, the North, with its agglomeration of ryes, paspalum. danthonia, crested dog’s tail, browntop and virtually every grass that grows, provided a hardy and varied diet that was without the fat-formiftg propensities of the richer and sweeter pastures in the south.

It proved that the more, balajiced grasses and pastures of the North could provide a more desirable export lamb. He had seen only this season many overfat lambs on the hooks at Westfield. They had come off higherproducing pastures—and were far from ideal.

The works manager (Mr W. G. Griffiths) said the staff would be pleased at the opinions of farmers on the dressing. “Our workmanship is our pride," he declared. He congratulated the show organisation in the increase in the number of fat lamb championship pens from 23 last year to 68 this year. Attending the demonstration was a group of 20 boys from the agricultural classes of Northland College, under the charge of Mr R. B. Steele. They followed up practical work at the Kaikohe and Waimate North shows, where they had tried their hands at stockjudging.