MATING MERINOS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 75, Issue 118, 21 May 1932, Page 8 (Supplement)

MATING MERINOS

t FAT LAMB TRIALS. Breeding trials recently made at the Bathurst, New South Wales experiment farm with Merino ewes and Dorset Horn and Ryeland rams have proved definitely that Alerino ewes will mate readily during any month of the yea in that district, and that those two breeds of rams can be used successfully during each month of the year. Owing to tho importance of early mating in certain fat-lamb raising in order to avoid the grass seed nuisance these results arc valuable, although they would not necessarily apply in hotter localities, particularly if the season was unusually hot. The New South Wales Department of Agriculture has carried out some interesting and useful experiments in connection with fat-lamb breeding and ! fattening, and those engaged in the industry have derived much benefit from | | the investigations. Earlincss of ma- ' turity in lambs is of the greatest im portance, not only on account of trouble caused by grass seeds when they became ripe, but also in order that the lambs may reach Great Britain in August and September when the markets are not “swamped” by the produce pf other countries. There is no doubt that Australia possesses an advantage over its rivals in this respect, and it remains for la nib-raisers to make the most of the opportunity. This will entail the u-se of breeds tha: can be mated at the most suitable sea son, the cultivation of fodder crops to provide, abundance of feed for the ewes and their progeny, and the efficient management of the flocks. The most important essential next to breeding is the feeding of lambs, which should he maintained in a. constantly thriving condition from birth to the time they are ready to lift. If they receive a check they never afterwards completely recover and cannot bo satisfactorily fattened. The Bathurst trials throw fresh light on the mating proclivities of the merino ewe, and fat-lamb raisers will gain valuable information from the experiments.