FATTENING LAMBS.

Southland Times, Issue 19654, 3 October 1922, Page 2

FATTENING LAMBS.

To the Editor. Sir, —A few days ago a letter from Mr Sheat appeared in the Times which i.s a very good one and one that shows what can be done in the way of fattening lambs in a little over three months. The farmer that can turn off 80 per cent, of lambs off their mothers is doing , all right, and if shearing early in December is to stop ewes from going dry then why not do so? My reason for suggesting getting first dratt away before shearing was bocaus? n..; icon farm era out of twenty will r-. .. <u that their lambs were far fatter at snwing time than they are now, that is drafting at the end of January; and no doubt they- had been, as one dropped on fine big lambs that had lost condition, and any lots of ewes that had not been shorn had lambs all right. Quite a number of farmers did not shear till late last year. They waited till they got all their seeds in as they thought there was so little going for wool that it did not matter much whether they shore or not. However things have brightened up considerably, and there is likely to be a fair price for wool and also for lambs. There is to be an exceptionally good lambing, and if farmers get in plenty of feed carb’ to finish off their lambs they are in for a good time. And if the freezing works could be induced to open about the first of January there would lie enough lambs got to keep them in full swing, as all tbe river side lambs, and bush settlers’ lambs, and dairymen’s lambs will be ready by then. I am quite pleased to hear that old farmer’s man did not take that, whisky. The smell of it, and knowing that it was in the house, had the desired effect. I am, etc., J. WELSH. September 30 To the Editor. Sir, —Your correspondent J. Welsh has become a great authority on fattening lambs and when to shear, etc. Surely he has been a long time finding all this out. If Mr Welsh wants to keep his name before the public by writing to the press, I wish he would tell us something new, not a lot of old stuff that our fathers used to do sixty years ago. Rut why fat land*? There were some buyers going around last year drafting as many lean ones as fats, and giving us the same price. 1 am, etc., J. T. CAMPBELL. Otautau, September 30. To the Editor. Sir, —I have read with interest letters from J. Welsh and “Old Farmer.’’ I have had a life experience with stock, and in my opinion whisky is the best for stock, although turpentine may be used as a substitute if whisky is unprocurable. I think Mr Welsh should be commended for his practical advice to farmees, which was kindly meant, and I trust he will give some more advice on the breeding and rearing of stock, which is invaluable to the young farmers. I am, etc., RETIRED FARMER. October 1. To the Editor Sir, —The controversy re above in the columns of your paper has been interesting and instructive. Farmers are indebted to Mr Welsh (in particular) for valuable and sound advice, re the urgent necessity of making provision for early feed etc., thus enabling a large proportion of lambs to be drafted for the export trade prior to the weaning. Farmers at the present time are. having a ven- bad spring. Prices for almost every article of their produce have receded, and many of them are well under the cost of production. Personally, as the result of an experience extending over a period of 40 years, 1 am In a position to give my opinion. The financial position of this Dominion at the present time is in a most hazardous condition, and ultimate recovery depends largely upon huge after-the-war problems which must be solved. Any reform which has for its object a stimulating effect by way of encouragement and assistance to our primary producers, the success (or otherwise) of same will react on our community as a whole. For illustration, I will select one problem out of many. In the pre-war days I sold wool at 1/- per lb. and that same year obtained a suit of clothes from an Invercargill firm for £5 5/-. After the war wool was sold at 4d per lb. and a suit of clothes of inferior quality cost £lO 10/-. Recent reductions of 25 per cent, on above brings the present price at about 50 per cent, above the pre-war level. Another problem. The excessive burden of

taxation in all its branches is passed on to the farmer. Little wonder many farmers are compelled to seek protection from the Bankruptcy Court, and thousands of others are tottering on the verge of a huge precipice. One bright gleam of hope is good prospects for the fat lamb trade. I wish to congratulate Mr F. A. Price, of Waikiwi, for his very able criticism on the management in connection with the Southland frozen meat, industry. Originally this industry was looked upon as a farmer's concern, run upon co-operative lines, leaving a fair margin for profit, keeping all costs down to a minimum, thus enabling farmer-shareholders to obtain reasonable prices for their stock. Had that line of action been adopted it is quite evident farmers would receive over 4/- a head extra for their fat lambs, including higher prices for other stock, etc. This problem, including others, must be solved. Farmers of Southland, waken up! We cannot survive the ordeal for very long on the system of selling our produce at a price under the cost of production. Farmers are equally entitled to a living-wage, even on equal terms with that of the trades and labour unionist, who is protected by law, in so far as the preference to unionist clause and the minimum wage is concerned. I am, etc., • FARMER. Isia Bank, October 2.