The Ideal Lamb

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18553, 13 November 1934, Page 10

The Ideal Lamb

pOR 'the Smithlioid trade, the ideal lamb is one .about 321 b. in weight,, according to Mr A. V. White, of the Smithfteid firm of Michie and White. When interviewed in 'Christchurch, he doubted the wisdom of the suggestion that a, smaller 'type of fat lamb should bo cultivated, This drew a reply from the Sheepowuers’ Federa-tion-that I lie proposal, was to lo wer lamb weights to 2811>. or 301 b. in .the event of a restriction on the total weight of lamb being imposed by the United Kingdom, and that this should not have any effect on quality.

.Interviewed in Hawke’s Bay by the Napier Telegraph, Mr White staled that New Zealand lamb .was regarded an decidedly superior to lauib exports from other countries, and while he considered that the present average weight of New Zealand lamb exports —about 301 b.—was * 100 high, lie thought that to bring down the average weight to 231 b. must mean lower quality, with the result that the Dominion’s reputation, would suffer in the eyes of the British consumer. '.Stating that 321 b. was the ideal average lamb weight, Mr White pointed out that although, so far as lie could express an opinion, there was .no likelihood of any actual embargo against. New Zealand lamb, the shipping restrictions on tonnage had to be considered. If, for example, a farmer had 1200 sheep, and had fattened them to .10 or 3Sib. for shipment to England, ft might happen tnat the tonnage restriction might apply, and make it impossible to send more than 1000. It they wore 32’s or thereabouts, he would bo able to send the whole 1200.