MUTTON PRODUCTION.

Otago Witness, Issue 2087, 22 February 1894, Page 6

MUTTON PRODUCTION.

It has been repeatedly impressed upon the attention of producers in exporting countries that, if nothing but good quality is exported, no market once gained will be lost provided a uniform standard of excellence is maintained, but that a roputation once tarnished is not easily rehabilitated. It took years after the introduction of New Zealand frozen mutton on the^British markets to overcome the public prejudice against the article, but it gradually gained in the estimation of consumers, and has commanded a marked preference over similar exports from other countries which have entered into competition with it» Breeders and feeders of sheep and cattle in the colony are> however, now admonished that the prestige of the production is vulnerable, and likely to be successfully assailed in the Home markets by the imports from the River Plate and Australia, and that if they desire to retain the position attained despite formidable difficulties they must provide supplies of mutton and beef that will suit the tastes of British consumers, whereas in the past year the average quality of the productions was distinctly inferior to the bulk of the exports in 1892. It is further broadly hinted that when that revolutionary country now known as the Argentine Republic settles down in peace and quiet, and its industries are permitted to thrive, its exports of mutton and beef cannot fail to become enormous. The Australian exports will increase in magnitude concurrently, so that the battle of competition must be inevitably fought out on quality lines. It would therefore be better to prepare for such a crisis than be overtaken by it unawares. In the early years of the frozen mutton trade the British demand was for fat sheep weighing from 701b upward ; for some years past ripe, compact carcases of moderate weights have sold at remunerative rates, while over-fatted carcases — " tallow fats " they are termed by the trade — are scarcely saleable. It cannot be denied that farmers are prone to continue in the same groove, and as their early endeavours were to breed and feed sheep for size and condition to suit the prevailing tastes among their British customers at the time, it is not to be wondered at that they are slow to abandon a system of breeding and management by which they profited. Now, however, that the price of wool bas fallen so low, we may anticipate that, as has happened in Great Britain, the sheep industry in this colony will be speedily revolutionised. In an article in the "Live Stock" the revolution in British sheepfarming and the causes are tersely set forth. It is stated that until a few years ago the longwools were in a large .majority in Great Britain, and probably outnumbered the shortwool sheep by fully three to one. The fall in the price of wool and the demand for small, lean mutton has had the effect of causing the Down sheep to come into favour, and at the present time they outnumber the longwools. In reference to the change of type, the writer of the article further states :—: — " We might have heard 35 to 50 years ago of Leicester for the Leicesters, but we do not now, for there is scarcely a flock of Leicesters in the whole of Leicestershire. So it has been throughout the midland counties, and the Downs— principally Shropshirea— have displaced the once favourite Leicester, which has now been driven into Yorkshire, its present stronghold, with a few other northern counties. The Lincolns are pretty well confined to their own county, and the Cotswolds remain the inhabitants of their native hills without any large following elsewhere." Probably in anticipation of coitrnuors over-production of wool and a glut of the staple in the markets, the British farmer is now devoting more attention to what has be n termed "the manufacture of mutton of best quality," and in pursuance of this object— as an authority puts the case — "ho liads it advisable to avoid the loss of mutton, which is incidental to the growth of a heavy fleece." He still expects a profit from bhe two sources, the early maturity of a carcase of high quality, and the quantity and useful properties of the wool. Both must continue to occupy his attention — the first in every case as his grand object, the second as valuable, but more as a subsidiary. To what extent colonial sheepfarmers may be induced to follow the example will be made evident by the increase in the numbers of the prime mutton breeds of sheep. It is not contended that loDgwool breeds should be discarded, but these should be fed so as to be fit for market at a year old, when their weights would not be excessive and their mutton with a due proportion of lean. Possibly farmers may be deterred from embarking in the breeding of sheep noted for the high quality of the mutton because of the mistaken notion that these breeds are slow to mature. Now, early maturity very much depends on treatment from birth, in proof of which there are abundant evidences. Scotch blackfaces are generally considered to be slow in coming to maturity, and in order to

correct this misapprehension a correspondent of the North British Agriculturist published the particulars of the sale of 140 lambs and their subsequent treatment as regards food by their purchaser, a Mr Eerr. The lambs, at a little over three months old, averaged 581b live weight, and were put on clover for six weeks, and then on rape, with out-run on young grass field for six weeks. The lajbter combination suited them uncommonly well, and Mr Kerr was inclined to the opinion that quite two-thirds of their mutton increase was put on during the last six weeks— viz., while on the mixed feed, rape and grass. Fifty of the lambs killed on the 17th November weighed, gross dead weight (heads on), 22791b, an average per head of 46*581b ; or, allowing 41b for the head (a rather ample allowance for seven months' lambs), an average of 41'581b of dressed mutton. Assuming their carcase weight on 28th August, when put on clover, as 50 per cent, of their then live weight (581b), wo have for 81 days, to 17th November, a net gain of 121b of dressed mutton, or rather over lib per head per week. The tallowjtveraged 3£lb each, and the skins were sold at 2s 6d each, and the total net return to Mr Kerr, deducting all expenses, was 23s lid per head. He paid 12s 6d each for them, so he had 10s 5d per head for 81 days' keep. Fifty others killed on the 2nd December weighed gross 23361b, or an average of 46 721b each. Allowing as before 41b per head) we have 42 721b dressed mutton, an average increase of practically lib per head per week of dressed mutton. Thirty of them made 4s 8d per stone of 81b, and 20 of them 4s 6d per stone. The tallow averaged 3^lb each, and sold for 2|d per lb, and the skins brought 2s 7d each. The total net return for the second 50, deduoting all expenses for transit and sale as before was £63 17s 7d, or an average of 25s s£d per head. Deducting from this 12s 6d paid for each leaves all but 13s for 14 weeks' keep. This statement of facts is adduced for several reasons. The lambs were of a breed generally regarded as slow-doers. They were fed at little cost, for rape is easily and cheaply grown, and without cake or corn made a satisfactory gain of flesh of the best possible quality, and finally they paid the feeder well.

Feeders of sheep in the colony make no complaint while the range of prices of frozen mutton is from 3|d to 4-^d per lb, while at the same date Scotch mutton was quoted at 6£d to 7d, and English s£d to 6£d per lb. The reduction of the very considerable margin might be effected by breeding up for quality and certainly at no increased cost of production. At present New Zealand has the command of crossbred mutton and the lead in the Home markets for the frozen article, but in the Argentine Republic, and in Australia there are immense areas suitable for the production of similar sheep, and we shall not have long to await more formidable competition in the foreign meat markets. New Zealand sheepfarmers must direct their efforts towards the production of a higher class of mutton ; and as a sheep's wool must be always produced at the expense of the carcase, we may expect that the sheep of the future will probably be shortwoolled rather than longwoolled, although we shall not go the length some extremists venture whose maxim is " the less wool the better."