NELSON LAMBS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXII, 26 November 1938, Page 11

NELSON LAMBS

DISTRICT COMPETITION IMPORTANT FORTHCOMING EVENT AT NELSON FREEZING WORKS It is notified by advertisement in this issue that the district lamb competition in conjunction with the New Zealand Meat Producers’ Board and the Nelson A. and P. Association, will be held at the Nelson Freezing Company’s works at Stoke on Wednesday, 7tll December. Judging on the hoof will commence at 9 a.m. i.d luncheon will be provided by the A. and P. Association. This, as is well known, is an event of great importance to the district, and last year was attended by about 150 farmers from all parts of the district, including Motueka and Takaka. FAVOURABLE CONDITIONS N ’ i district is suited to the fattening of this class of lamb and opportunities present themselves to every farSpeaking at a former competition, Mr Geo. Manson (chairman of Directors of the Freezing Co.) said that improved

cultural methods on the farms had been largely responsible for the splendid results. With lucerne and other crops some farmers had been able to run up to seven ewes per acre. “NELSON FARMERS COULD GO A LONG WAY" “With their good country and climate Nelson farmers could go a long way in fat lamb growing, said Mr J. Drysdale, supervising grader and inspector for the New Zealand Meat Producers’ Board “There was no reason why the district should not turn out twice the number of fat lambs. The output had about doubled in the past five or six years (in the ’thirties), all probably due to topdressing. Mr Drysdale added that he knew that in this district they were handicapped in not having a wide selection of ewes, such as in larger districts, but if the demand continued, it was only a matter of time when it would be met. It was by topdressing and improving the land they could increase output. It would be possible on good land properly treated to carry a greater number of lambs. Of course, the human element entered into all these calculations, but a good farmer would run up to five or six ewes per acre. Nothing he knew of save pigs would give a better return. NELSONIAN’S SUCCESS LAST YEAR It is to be hoped that this year all previous records will be broken in all respects. That, however, will be a fairly tall order for last year Mr W. D. Dron’s pen came second in the South Island competition which is a big win over several of the larger sheep-growing districts, and the Nelson display was fourth out of some nine competitions at the various freezing works.