EXHIBIT OF FAT LAMB.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20596, 21 June 1930, Page 20

EXHIBIT OF FAT LAMB.

WINNERS AT SMITHFIELD.

AUCKLAND PROVINCE SUCCESS.

TRIBUTE TO THEIR QUALITY

"Distinctly the best butcher's lambs, evenly covered with no waste, and very shapely carcases, with short legs of tho Down-cross type," was the verdict of three practical market butchers in awarding first prize to a pen of lanib3 from tho Auckland Show, which were placed on exhibition in the Smithfield Market, London. Tho lambs, which were the property of Mr. Neil lleid, of Ngahinepouri, were prize-winners at tho last show, in a competition for the best pen of fat lambs in the wool, most suitable for the London market.

Tho show lambs arrived in excellent, order and condition, and were judged and displayed on Smithfield Market on April 30. The judges remarked that there was no difficulty in deciding on the premier award.

The next best pen was also the property /0 f Mr. Reid, and contained two wethers nnd one maiden lamb, averaging nearly 31b. heavier than the first prize-winners. One lainb had a bruise on the back, and was of rather poor colour. These lambs were not quite tho make and shape of tlioso winning the first prize, and although not milky and fresh in the bark, they were a very useful exhibit.

■ The third prize was awarded to a pen from the Tainui Estate. This pen contained a heavier class of lamb, all maiden lambs, and was the only other pen that was 'reasonably well matched for quality, although not well matched for weight. The other five pens were only of medium finish and quality. The lambs looked ns if they had been through a dry period; they had not got the smooth finished nppcaranco of some of the earlier lambs from the district. This is only to be expeeled. The milk lambs invariably show •more bloom and keep their freshness longer. Considering the period of the year when these lambs were killed, the exhibitors have shown very much better appreciation of tho weight requirements of Smithfield Market than some previous exhibitors. Further, the dressing and general get-up of the carcases were all that- could be desired, and attracted favourable comment on this account. They seemed to have had good treatment in transit, and there was very little transit da 111 ago in the way of bruises or broken shanks.

The judges made the comment that the exhibitors appear to know what Smithfield requires, and they were very pleased indeed with pens No. 2 and 1. Some of tho other pens seemed to suggest that the exhibitors were on their second draft of lambs and had not quite got the choicest to select from. Looked at as an exhibit, however, tho lambs did credit to the district and were an advertisement to tho New Zealand lamb trade.

The parcel was shown in tho main avenue of Smithfield Market for some hours, and attracted tho interested attention of a large body of tho trade. They Avero purchased by two large retailers for further display in prominent retailing establishments in the West End of London.