QUALITY LAMBS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 120, 7 February 1940, Page 7

QUALITY LAMBS

INTERVIEW WITH CHAIRMAN OF MEAT BOARD GOOD SIRES, GOOD FEEDING

In an interview yesterday, Mr T. A. Duncan, Chairman of the New Zealand Meat Producers' Board, said he would like to again stress to the farmers of the Dominion the vital importance of further • improving the quality of our lamb. As the mating season is at hand,

it is opportune to impress upon farmers the necessity for using the best rams procurable, thereby maintaining and improving the quality of lamb and mutton exports.

Mr Duncan points out that this lias particular reference to the selection of Soutlulowns. In the sale of our lamb to the British Government, Down carcases in the North Island obtain a premium .over ordinary Crossbrcds. All Down Cross lambs are not, however, eligible for the Down grade, on account of poor conformation and breeding.

"The selection of good Down sires" said Mr Duncan, "crosscd with good types of ewes, is in my opinion, the best way to ensure getting the greatest percentage possible into the Down grade. This, of course, should be coupled with food feeding." "The premium which this Dominion has always secured in the United Kingdom over that obtained by other exporting countries, is due to quality, and every endeavour must be made to see that this premium is maintained or increased," concluded the Chairman of the Meat Board.