EXPORT LAMB TRADE

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19247, 12 February 1937, Page 9

EXPORT LAMB TRADE

AUSTRALIA AS RIVAL PURCHASE OF STOCK NEW ZEALAND STUD SHEEP "If Australia sets out to secure big lines, of large-framed ewes the country will undoubtedly rival New Zealand. They raise a tastier lamb, and have the sunshine, the climate and 'the feed to breed better lambs. At present they are handicapped by a lack of crossbred ewes, freezing facilities and hy pasture management." These observations were made in Wellington by Mr. G. M. Blyth, manager of the stud stock department of Bennett and Fisher, Limited, ■Adelaide. His remarks were addressed more particularly to South Australian conditions.

South Australian conditions more closely recembled New Zealand than any other' State in the Commonwealth, said Mr. Blyth, but there was a big difference between the fat lambs. The farmer iii • South Australia had not been a specialist in any way. Up until some 12 months ago the general practice had been to attempt to raise export lambs with ordinary Merino ewes, but these ewes were totally unsuitable. \Vhat was needed in Australia were big-framed sheep as was given by the Border Leicester-Merino first cross and the modern Romuey Marsh crossbred ewes. There existed* at the present time across the Tasman a growing realisation by breeders that they had not the right type of ewes and they were endeavouring to raise bigger-framed animals. Breeders, however, found it difficult to retain lambs for breeding purposes when they were offered £1 to 25s for them. Even stores brought similar prices. It seemed that the only way of overcoming this problem was by securing from the bigger station owners Merino ewes to mate with big-framed modern Romney Marsh or Border Leicester rams.

As an'indication of the prices being obtained in South Australia, Mr. Blyth related the case of one man with 12,000 medium stores. He divided these and disposed of the wether lambs at 15s and marketed the ewe lambs inTbe abattoirs at Adelaide at 21s 6d. That showed the demand lor ewe lambs. POOR PASTURE MANAGEMENT? Referring to a lack of understanding in pasture management in South Australia which provided a handicap to the development of the export lamb business, ..Mr. Myth said that in that State supplementary fodder crops as understood in New Zealand were not known. The only one they recognised was the pea. Until 12 months ago the possibilities of the modern Romney Marsh were not realised, but sheepmen were at last aware of these. Twelve months ago not more than 40 Romney Marsh lambs of the modern type were sold in South Australia, but this season for mating there were well in advance of 400. Next season this figure would probably be double or even treble. Mr. Blyth has come to, New Zealand with instructions from the South Australian Government to secure a tounti:. tion Romney Marsh stud of 50 ewes anil two rums, unrelated, for its Kybyolite' experimental farm in the southeast at which pasture management and fat lamb production are largely specialised in. This in itself demonstrates the trend toward the modern Romney Marsh, lie also has orders for a further 150 stud ewes for approximately 12 breeders who are starting studs, and in addition intends securing foundation slock for Southdown and Corriedale studs, and a number of flock Border Leicester anil Southdown ram lambs for use next season. ,

Mr. C. R. Rundle, one of the foremost Romney breeders in Australia, is also visiting the Dominion just now for the purpose of purchasing iO of the really top stud two-tooth ewes.