EXPORT OF LAMBS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19727, 29 August 1927, Page 15

EXPORT OF LAMBS.

{SHIPMENTS FROM AUCKLAND. - / complimentary reports. good quality and prices. BY GORDON UOLMES. ' The statement made by the jnanaeer of the New Zealand Meat. Board in London that the best lambs from New Zealand came from the Wellington Province has caused a great deal of discussion. One •well-known Canterbury paper, which devotes much of # its space to stock in general, in discussing this statement, has headed an article " North Island v. Canterbury Lamb." No doubt Canterbury, in the past, has enjoyed the reputation of producing the best lambs, and doubtless the remark made has given a shock to the producers of the Southern province. Not only has Canterbury lamb been noted for quality but also for obtaining ; 8 better price. So much so that fat Jambs from provinces further South in the South Island are railed to Canterbury j and so obtain'the benefit in price attached to Canterbury's name when shipped from there. Auckland Province as a fat lamb producer, both as to quality and price, until the last .-year or so, has hardly been recognised, but where Auckland farmers are top-dressing and using the Southdown yam the quality has improved to such an extent that, ; tht- prime lamb sent away from Auckland to-day is equal to Canterbury and when sold in London brings 8S much per lb. A great- quantity of Southern lamb is from ewes sent from the North Island. These same ewes, providing they are crossed with the right , type of ram, must produce as good a lamb in the North as in the South. In fact, better, for a fai greater proportion are milk-fatted here than are ever fattened in the South, the majority of the South- / era lambs being .finished off on rape. Lambs so fattened are not so good as the lambs eff the mother. Praise lor AucMand. Lambs. Auckland, with its mild climate and abundant rainfall, could have the greater part of its early lamb in the works in December. The benefits of getting the larubs away eariv and to market when there is not/much lamb to be had can easily be seen. The writer Shipped some 550 lambs in the first of December last and these were sold in London in February. Up to lid per lb. was obtained not only for prime 36's and under but for lambs of 401b. as well. The Farmers' Federation " oi London, report was as follows: • " They were an exceptionally fine parcel and consisted of lambs just at the Weight required by Smithfield traders. For shapeliness and compactness one could not desire any improvement. In comparison with the Wellington down cross, it was noticeable that they lacked the j wasteful internal fat and yet were prime in condition. "We consider that every encouragement should be given to breeders in the Auckland district of lambs such as these and perseverence with this type will considerably extend the present demand for Auckland lambs. Provided a continuity of supply is assured, we are convinced many*will sign on to this brand for their summer trade/' Eeporfc From a London Firm. Not only was this report very favourable but a well-known London meat firm, Messrs. . Kimbell and Whitney, independently sent the following:— " We "are very interested during this week to see a display in Smithfield of Auckland Farmers' Freezing Company's lambs and understand that these were & special consignment; however, they ■were certainly the best that Smithfield has seen out of that district, in fact they were as good a quality Down lamb as one qould wish to see. This brand has not been very favourably received in the past, although at the lDeginning of last year they shipped quite a fair product iiere. If," however, they continue to ship the class of lamb that we saw this week on Smithfield, they will very soon make & name for themselves." Both these reports are very favourable as to 'the quality. This consignment reported on was only one of many equally as good sent from the Auckland Province this year. The lambs exhibited at the Jtoval Show in Auckland and afterwards sent to Smithfield were, according to the Meat Board's report, considered by judges at Home to be one of the finest displays of lamb seen at Smithfield. All these lambs, with the exception of _ one -'lot, came from' the Auckland Province. The above extremely good report from the London judges shows that lamb from the Auckland Province is as good as has ' ever been exhibited. Meat Board's Reports. In the lleat Board's report of this year quotations are given of top prices current from week to week in Smithfield. The highest price quoted for 36's and under is and for 37/42, 10 3 d. It has been shown above that lid P er I®was obtained for these weights. Yet the Meat Board's quotations overlook this price and quote as the highest, is possible that the board may " a y e thought this consignment too small to notice, but there may be others whos,e lambs brought as high a price or more. In any case 'surely a small consignment, if bringing a high price, should not be ignored as it makes the figures in the board's report misleading. Neither from tHe Meat Board flor&ny ether source does the Auckland zaiTner get any idea of the best price obtained for prime lambs from this province. Operators take advantage of this lack o. knowledge and offer at least one penny per lb. lower# than Canterbury. It seems absurd that, although lambs from the Auckland Province bring a * higher price than quoted by the boar yet the Auckland farmer must accept a lower price than the Canterbury farmer. Had the writer accepted the opera or s pffer for the past season based on repor then at hand he would have lost 5s per head on his shipment. . , Every vear there will be a number of' lambs fattened in Auckland. It does not tnke much stretch of imagination to see that in the near future more lambs will be fattened h«>re than in any other province in New Zealand. Auc land has the area, climate, etc., and pro- , vidin? the . land is ton-dre"ed early lambs can he readilv produced and easily fattened. So it behoves the farmer to ; Stir nnd sr** that full and cor j rect reports nro .issued