LAMBS FOR FREEZING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18635, 29 April 1924, Page 5

LAMBS FOR FREEZING.

BY MOTOR OR DROVING. COMPARATIVE RESULTS. Experiments have recently been conducted by the New Zealand Meat Producers' Board with a vi-ow to determining tho difference in the condition of lambs arriving at freezing works by motor-lorry, as compared with lambs which have been driven. The tests were made on lambs delivered by Mr. Frank Wall, of Martinborough, and the results should be of interest to all farmers. Tho drafts tested were veaned lambs. The board, earlier in the season, made tests on lambs " off their mothers," but as tho season was too far advanced these were not satisfactory. Further tests will be made at the commencement of next season with the first drafts " off their mothers."-

The first line of weaned lambs tested consisted of 88 Down cross and 140 Romneys. These lambs, which were off turnips, were drafted on March 1. After they were drafted they >verc put back on the turnips until 3 p.m. tho following day, when they were placed in a bare* sheep yard and kept until 5 a.m next morning, March 3, when 114 were despatched, by lorry and 114 by drover. In order to get the two lots as even as possible, the lambs were first divided into two —Down cross and Romneys—each lot being afterwards drafted off alternately into the lorry and driven mobs. Mr. Walls' property is 25 miles from the Waingawa works. The lot by motorlorry was killed on the afternoon of the same day as delivered, March 3, with the following results:lo4 primes, 421b. and under, 38161b., at 9Jd, £155 ,03 6d; four primes, 431b. and lover, 1781b. at 9£d, £6 17a 3d; six secondclass, 2071b. at BJd, £7 10s lid; total, _ 114, 42011b., average, 36.81b., £169 8s ' 8d; less £6 17s 9d lorry charges, 25 miles at Is 2£d per lamb, £162 10s lid. It may be noted that if it wore possible to have railed these lambs straight from the drafting yards to the works the railago for 25 miles would work out at approximately 4d per lamb, as against Is per lamb by motor-lorry. The 114 driven lot arrived at Waingawa on March 6, and were killed on the following day. Tho result was:—92 primes, 421b. and under, .52971b.. at 9|d, £133 18s lOd; four primes, 431b. and over, 1771b., at 9,-d, £6 16s sd; 18 second-class, 6171b., at B|d, £22 9s lid: total, 114 , 40911b. (average 35.81b.), £163 5? 2d ; less £1 5s estimated share of droving for the 25 miles, £162 0s 2d. These driven lambs were actually four days on the road and the total cost qf droving was £5. Under ordinary circumstances, however, a small lot of 114 lambs would not bo driven this distance, but would bo linked up with other lots of lambs, and the size of the mob would govern the cost of droving, so in actual practice 25s would be a fair estimate to place against them as a droving cost. During the time tho lambs were being driven to the works the weather was normal, a careful drover had charge of them, and there was a fair picking of feed and plenty of water. As compared with a larger mob a small lot would travel better and would probably arrive in better condition. A further test was mado on lambs from tho same station at the end of March. The results were as follows: — Lorry lot, killed March 31: 109 primes 421b. and under, 38061b. at 9|d, £154 12s 4d; one second-class, 321b. at BJd, £1 3s 4d: total 110, 38381b., £155 15s 8d; less lorry charges, £6 12s lid, £149 2s 9d. Driven lot, killed April 4 : 105 primes, 421b. and under, 35511b at 9ijd, £144 5s 2d; one prime, 451b. it 9|d, £1 14s 8d; four second-class, 1201b. at BJd, £4 7s 6d; total, 110, 37161b., £150 7s 4d; less droving, £1 ss, .£149 2s 4d.