Farmers warned: more weight may not mean more money

Press, 31 January 1986, Page 13

Farmers warned: more weight may not mean more money

By

DR GERALD SCALES,

M.A.F., Rangiora

Most farmers are taking advantage of the current good feed to grow lambs out to heavier weights but increased weight does not necessarily mean more dollars. Unlike the Meat Board schedule the meat exporters’ schedule is changing frequently and farmers need to study this together with various premiums and Incentives offered by individual companies. For instance, fanners should seriously consider whether it is worth while taking PM lambs on to the heavier PX and PH grades. Prices for these grades have been substantially reduced as the demand for heavy carcases with GRs of over 9mm has decreased. Reference

to the accompanying graph shows that a 16kg PM is worth $l3 free of pelt. To achieve the same

dollar value a PX lamb would have to be grown to 19.6 kg and a PH lamb to 22.6 kg. This means that in the absence of premiums (e.g. Wx schedule) PM lambs should not be taken over 16kg and that the feed would be better used forr other proposes.

The schedule favours the production of lean lambs (all the Y grades) and while the YX grade gives the highest dollar returns it must be appreciated that a 16.5 kg carcase of a GR of 9mm or less is not easy to produce. The GR must be carefully monitored because if over 9mm the lambs fall into the PX or

PH grades dropping in value by at least $B. Unless the drafter is confident the lamb has YX potential it would be best to draft it at the top of the YM grade. If, however, the farmer is able to secure a premium for the PX/PH grades then it will obviously pay to take lambs into these grades.

Farmers have expressed concern that frequent changing of the schedule precludes long term planning. However, according to a meat industry spokesman, Mr Tim Ritchie, it is essential that production is related to market demand.

To achieve the right mix of grades is difficult but indications are that the market could satisfactorily absorb 20 to 25 per cent of YM carcases with a further 25 per cent of the YL carcases.

Over the past two years the proportion of YM carcases has been about 15 per cent of total production. The new YX grade is expected to make up about 3.5 per cent of carcases, an amount which is expected to expand as cutting facilities increase.

Although PM lambs continue to be in good demand it is not envisaged that the proportion required will exceed 30 per cent with PL lambs approaching 6 per cent, a substantial reduction from previous years. The consistent demand for lean lambs should enable farmers to develop long term breeding strategies to reduce over fatness.

A problem some farmers are experiencing with the current good season is overfat lambs. In an attempt to grow lambs as heavy as possible some mobs have not been drafted.

Ewe lambs, especially those over 12kg carcase

fatness and should be checked by a drafter to ensure they are drafted before becoming overfat

Penalties for overfat lambs range from $5 to $8 per lamb. Although many overfat lambs aare being purchased on the place the benefits are short term and contrary to the long term interests of the industry. Starving lambs to remove fat is not very successful. If the restriction is too severe animals will be fevered and be downgraded at the works with negligible financial return.

Although the effect of growth pathways on body composition are currently being researched it would appear that shearing followed by mild feed restriction is the most reliable method of removing fat.

Many fanners find success by drafting ewe lambs early and more regularly thus avoiding overfatness. Following the ram lamb mob with the ewe lamb mob will also help.

Farmers should take the opportunity to discuss their drafting strategy and the ramifications of the schedule with their drafter. A good drafting strategy is money in the bank.

A clear feature of the recent schedules is the need to produce lambs which are lean. For optimum efficiency lambs should grow as rapidly as possible hence rate of lean gain has become the most important criteria of profitable lamb production. Although it is difficult to manipulate body composition by nutrition there is considerable scope for increasing leanness by breeding and selection.

A trial conducted by the M.A.F. on a North Canterbury farm in 1984 showed marked differences in fatness when lean and fat Corriedale sires were meted over randomly selected Corriedale ewes.

Progeny from lean sires had a 3mm lower GR than progeny from the fat sires. Under less extreme selection pressure the farmers could expect reductions of 2mm to 3mm GR over 10 years without penalising carcase weight. Although the progress is slow it is positive and permanent and provides an effective way of producing the type of meat required by today’s consumer.

The Canterbury Lamb

’B6 competition will provide an opportunity for farmers to compare the performance of their lambs with other groups of lambs.

A farm at Leeston has been chosen for the venue and competitors’ lambs will be run together under optimum conditions of feed and management.

Some lambs will be killed at the beginning of the competition and the remainder at the end of the competition to provide information on the rate of lean gain. A good number of entries have been received for the competition which starts on February 18 and continues for 12 weeks until May 14. A field day will be held at the Islington works of Waitaki N.Z. Refrigerating, Ltd, on May 15 to discuss the results.

Prizes will be given for groups of lambs with the highest amount of lean gain over the trial period and for the carcase best suited to processing. The competition offers the opportunity for farmers and those involved'in the Industry to get together and discuss problems and opportunities for mutual benefit.