THE SUFFOLK BREED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23488, 27 October 1939, Page 15

THE SUFFOLK BREED

HIGH LAMBING FIGURES EXPERIENCE IN BRITAIN One of the big advantages claimed for the Suffolk breed of sheep, which has become very popular in Great Britain for the production of fat lambs, is its fecundity. Returns of lambing percentages for England, Scotland and Ireland this year show 131.7 per cent lambs reared, <1.2 per cent ewes lost and 3.21 per cent ewes barren. While the conditions under which sheep fanning is carried on at Homo and in New Zealand might account for the comparatively low death rato of owes, and perhaps also for the low percentago of barren ewes, wo could not, under any system of management now practised, hope to approach the high percentage of lambs reared, from our Romneycross ewes. With most breeds of sheep anything over 100 per cent of lambs dropped in New Zealand is looked upon as exceptionally good, and it is probable that the average of lambs reared throughout the Dominion does not exceed So per cent. A difference of approximately onethird more lambs roared is a most important factor where these are to bo fattened for slaughter as. lambs, and this remarkable fecundity of the Suffolk breed is no doubt one of tho reasons why Sonthland farmers have recently shown a great interest in tho breed, and have imported animals from England to establish studs. The Suffolk, of which there have been a few studs in the North Island for some years, is credited with being an exceptional mother, and its big supply of milk available to the lamb ensures remarkably rapid growth and fattening. The experimental importations to the South will be watcher! with considerable interest by fat lamb producers throughout the Dominion.