LAMB-FATTENING.

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume VI, Issue 6, 16 June 1913, Page 586

LAMB-FATTENING.

EXPERIENCE AT MOUMAHAKI.

T. W. Lonsdale.

In recent years many changes have taken place in agricultural practice. One. of . the most . noteworthy has been that of reducing the age at which lambs are ready for marketing, and it is generally admitted that the earlier these can be brought to maturity the better they pay. To achieve this desired economy in production, rich, easily digested food is necessary, and hence the reason for the various forage crops now grown in this country for lamb-fattening. As 'to which variety of forage excels, this will probably for many years remain an open question. Climatic conditions vary considerably, and though in one season some particular forage may rank above others, the same variety may during the following season prove an absolute failure. . .

In the year 1912 an experiment designed to solve, this problem was carried out at the Moumahaki Experimental Farm. The results of that trial could not be regarded as conclusive, and it was considered advisable to - continue the experiment. In the tests conducted this season maize, which was tested the previous year, was not used, but other varieties of forage were tried, six crops being tested, as against four in 1912.

lii 1912 the forage tested comprised - silver-beet, rape, maize, and Buda kale. This year’s trials included silver-beet, rape, chon moellier, Thousand-headed kale, Buda kale, and lucerne.

In 1912 the lambs remained on the forage eighteen days, and were weighed at the commencement and termination of the test. In this season’s experiment fourteen days were.allowed; the lambs being weighed three times during that i period.. dil: -sH-fdr ::i:; .jn:. in: l.: : :: :hi .. s• .1 On the 13th March an even line of long-woolled lambs were selected, and divided into six lots of nineteen each. ’ Each lot. was weighed and marked with a distinguishing brand, so that, should .the lambs accidentally get mixed, the straying ones could be immediately returned to their respective plots.

The results obtained from the Buda kale are in accordance with the 1912 trial, but the positions of silver-beet and rape have been, reversed. Thousand-headed kale and chon moellier are practically, equal, while lucerne, which had never been tested for feeding-value at this farm, ranks . foremost.

In carrying out experiments of this description it must be recognized that good judgment is essential. The selection of suitable animals requires the aid of an experienced judge of. live-stock, and, assuming that selection . has been all that could be desired, so many things may occur which discount all previous calculations that it is only by the most careful supervision we may expect to arrive at. any approach to accuracy. ,

■’ ■■ -i—, ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ - . Silverbeet. Rape. Chou Moellier. Thousandheaded Kale. Buda Kale. Lucerne. 1913. ■ Weight of 19 lambslb. lb. lb. lb. lb. lb. March 13 .. • 1,092 1,022 1,071 1,051 1,120 1,108 March 26 1,258 1,171 1,190 1,177 ] ,190 1,286 Total increased weight 166 149 119 126 70 178 Average individual increase 8-73 7-84 6-26 6-63 3-68 9-36 1912. Average individual increase lb. 1,092 1,258 166 8-73 6-40 lb. 1,022 1,171 149 7-84 7-30 lb. 1,071 1,190 119 6-26 lb. 1,051 1,177 126 6-63 lb. . ’ 1,120 1,190 70 3-68 2-40 lb. 1,108 1,286 178 9-36

Following are the results of the 1912 and 1913 experiments:—