FINE SHOW OF FAT LAMBS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19394, 19 January 1933, Page 4

FINE SHOW OF FAT LAMBS

FARMERS' FIELD DAY AT SMITHFIELD. MEAT BOARDS COMPETITION. Exceptional interest was manifested by South Canterbury farmers in the lat lamb competition, conducted by the Timaru Agricultural and Pastoral Association under the auspices of the New Zealand Meat Producers' Board, which was decided at the Smlthfield Freezing Works yesterday. A large number of breeders was present at the works for the greater part of the day. and the general opinion was that the visit had been most instructive and profitable. The competition should be of great value to breeders in New Zealand, as it will give an indication of the class of lamb which is required on the Smithfield market. The movement is Dominion-wide, similar competitions being conducted by the Board throughout the country. From the carcases displayed yesterday. 45 were selected, and these will be sent Home as South Canterbury's entry in an inter-district competition to be Judged at Smithfield.

Each breeder was permitted to forward two entries of three lambs each, with the stipulation that none was to weigh more than 401 b when killed, and although 53 farmers expressed their intention of exhibiting sheep, only 29 lots were penned. A condition of the competition was that the sheep should be bred by the owner for export.

The Meat Producers’ Board has offered a challenge shield for the district in each Island putting forward the best line of fifteen lots, and also prizes for the best individual lots in each Island. In addition, the Agricultural and Pastoral Association offered prizes for the best lambs in the district. The Meat Board’s trophies will not be allotted until the competition is judged at Home. The sheep which were not included in the line to be exported were pooled, and were taken by the Freezing Company at current market prices.

It is doubtful if such a fine collection of fat lambs has ever been through the works, on one day, as was penned yesterday. The sheep were the pick of the district, and they made an even more impressive display on the hooks. Breeders were able to see the lambs penned, killed, and dressed by the chain system, in which they showed great interest, and the carcases were finally arrayed in one of the cooling rooms where they were judged by Mr M. Hannan, South Island inspector for the Meat Producers’ Board, and Mr D. Irving, chief grader at Smithfield Works.

First prize in the Agricultural and Pastoral Association's competition was awarded to Mr Frank Charles, Kakahu. who exhibited three fine specimens of the Southdown breed, weighing 361 b, 361 b and 371 b. They were a good, even lot and were well finished, being outstanding in the display. Mr Andrew Grant, “Allandale." Fairlie, also put forward three good Southdowns, which took second prize. They turned the scale at 371 b, 381 b and 391 b, but were not as well finished as the winning lot. Third prize went to Mr G. G. Rich, Cave, whose lambs tipped the beam at 331 b. 341 b and 341 b.

Commenting on the condition of the sheep, Mr Hannan said that they were of very good quality, and would make a good display at Smithfield. The drafting was exceptionally good, there being very few lots overweight when they were put on the scales. Taken collectively, the 45 selected carcases were a fine line, the dressing being most satisfactory.

A prominent stock-buyer expressed the opinion that even better lambs would have been exhibited had the competition been staged ten days sooner, as those killed yesterday were, in a large number of cases, second drafts, the first draft having gone through the works earlier. He thought that during the last few days some of the sheep had lost a good deal of bloom but at the same time they made a very creditable show. An interesting point in the competition was that, of the 45 lambs selected for export, only seven were wethers, it being stated that ewes, as a general rule, do better for show purposes.