FAT LAMB TRADE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, 21 February 1935, Page 4

FAT LAMB TRADE.

The importance of the fat sheep and lamb trade to the Wairarapa is now generally recognised, though it has taken a long series of lessons before the majority of the sheep farmers learned what was obvious to those men who kept their finger on the pulse of the fat stock market. In pre-war days it was generally considered that any sort of fat sheep or lamb would do to send to tlie Home market. As long as the sheep came under the heading fat, it was all that was required, was the view taken by most of our farmers. The Home market continually pointed out the type of animal that the consumer in England desired, but little heed was given to this advice until it was found that prices were not what they should be on the whole, and that certain types of a particular weight were sought after and brought the highest prices. The breeders of the Wairarapa then turned their serious attention to producing a Southdown that would meet the London market requirements, and bringing their fat lambs generally up to the Smithfield standard. The stock exhibitions in Masterton during the past few years have demonstrated how completely successful the local breeders have been in turning out the ideal market fat lamb, while the success of Wairarapa sheep in the London competitions is evidence that the district can breed fat lambs and sheep superior even to “prime Canterbury,” under which name, too often, is to be found Waira-rapa-bred sheep.