SMALL SHEEP.

Otago Witness, Issue 2811, 26 August 1908, Page 6

SMALL SHEEP.

In conection with the demand of th'ft London market for small mutton, which was the subject of a note in this column/ last week, the point is frequently raised here that the dealers who buy- tat sheep and lambs on the farms invariably take the heavy and leave the light when they are drafting for taking delivery ; and thus the farmer is practically compelled to breed or feed to as heavy a weight (or as large a size) as possible. This is true, but it is also true that in most of these cases the sheep or lambs are of a large breed, and those which the dealer rejects are not perfectly fattened, butk require a few,.weeks more rape or turnips to bring them to the freezing standard. Well-fed small mutton and lamb have their value, and if the dealer will not' give it the farmer — in Canterbury and Otago at any rate — has other means or

disposal open to him by which he can ■oB tain -the full market value. The farmer may' have to accept a lower price for small Ijjian: for, large steep or lambs, even if equally 'well',£ed,f but ne will probably fipii that he is able to fatten three of the small ~ breed "io tvio of ,tne larger, and tHat he derives ; a larger return per acre .from the 1 small than- from, the _ large, ■which, is the true test of -profit. -It is "further true ihab choice ' quality ~is not <toly appreciated by buyers in the J>ominion. The reason . generally is that they do not aim at anything 'better than the regular first quality brand; but there are even now buyers who are prepared to pay an appreciable premium lor an •*' extra prime " line, and who -have a reputation on. the London market which brings to them buyers there for such quality. The demand for small joints is irndoubtedV and the public' will insist upon getting what it wants, and is prepared to pay for it, as- shown by the present London quotations for light and heavy mutton and lamb! A leading authority goes so far as to assert that prime quality is just now of »less importance than smallness of size ; but there is no assurance that this want of discrimination will continue after the current scarcity of meat in the Home markets has been relieved. For really prime small lamb and mutton, however, there will always be a good .demand. The colonial breeder, therefore, will find his most-profitable course in producing what the public wants, and he will find that by $o^ doing he will increase instead of diminish his receipts and profits. .