AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND MUTT N.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13456, 5 June 1907, Page 8

AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND MUTT N.

j : SIR WILLIAM LYNE'S COM- , PLAINT. ."V j. '■■■'"■ ;- ... '. • - - ".' '-% i Mr. W. A. Benn, writing to the Sydney \ Morning Herald,, says:—l jiotice that our : old friend, fair William Lyne,. has visited iSmithfield, and has been "much struck with I the different appearance of New Zealand and Australian mutton. It is also reported that he proposes on his return to v investigate the causes which make Australian mutton appear inferior to New Zealand, presumably with a ; view to making •our negligent exporters adopt some method jof making tne, carcases appear more attractive. I venture to recommend Sir William Lyne to commence" his reformation with the sheep-breeders instead of with those who handle the carcases. New Zealand breeds primarily for carcase Australia • neglects carcase.: and - breeds - r for wool. i Though there are certain flocks where the j Murray type predominates, ; and the cari cases are, therefore, better adapted for export purposes, yet the vast majority of merino flocks very unmistakably • show that the symmetry and colour of the carcases (from a frozen meat export point of view) has not been the main consideration. It is admitted that the frozen mutton exports from New Zealand consist almost entirely of crossbred sheep, and that the exports. from Australia of mutton consist almost exclusively of merinos. . It must also be admitted that it -is simply impossible to make a frozen carcase of merino mutton appear as attractive in shape and colour as that of,a crossbred. I have, however, always contended that the very wide dif-< ference in appearance, and, what is more essential, in value, .between . merino and crossbred mutton can be to a certain extent bridged by breeding more on the Murray type than on the more fashionable strains. Radical .improvement in Australian mutton is simply impossible unless the' breeders find it to their advantage to breed for export as mutton. It is a question simply of ' what will pay them best, and this again may be dependent on locality, "access to markets, and other reasons. I consider that most of those engaged in the meat export trade have done their, best with the material they have to deal with The question of whether a more suitable export carcase will pay the breeders and graziers better is one for them to decide. I I freely admit that the method of handling carcases before freezing > and subsequent I handling on shipment in ■ Sydney s, leaves j much to be desired as. compared with New- | Zealand. ... Some of these difficulties are.

capable of amendment, but the, main point is that at present" we have not the right quality of- sheep to compete in appearance: with New Zealand mutton. ' Merino mutton belongs to a different class from crossbred, and must always, remain so. • In considering the . question of. the -most profitable sheep for ' graziers, the points in favour 'of the crossbred . (lialfbred). type are asunder: • 1.. New Zealand pickled pelts sell at up to 48s,' i.e., 4s each, against Australian merino pelts at 10s to 18s,'says, lOd to Is 6d, and many pelts, are almost ! useless. ' , '• • 2. Runners from New Zealand .-crossbreds sell at about 20s to 2os per 100 sheep. . They are practically valueless here. 3. Halfbred wool - sells at fully equal to merino price. • • • ■ , 4. The crossbred, lamb for export is worth fully 2s 6d per head more than merino lamb of equal weight. • ' ' 5. Australia, with her millions of merino ewes, need not go beyond the first cross, except for lambs for export. 6. First cross or half-bred mutton is worth more than the deeper bred mutton now commands in New Zealand, owing to the scarcity of merino ewes in that colony. > Halfbred mutton is the true " Canterbury " type which has always commanded top price. . It remains to be argued what corresponding advantages the pure merino type offers to graziers, especially graziers on properties in settled districts and with good rail communication.