LAMBS THAT FREEZERS LIKE.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 707, 5 January 1910, Page 8

LAMBS THAT FREEZERS LIKE.

TESTS OF BREEDS. j What rams shall we uso? This question, no doubt, will be in the minds of v ''piost of the-sheep-owners this month. Soma interesting matter that will help in 'finding the correct answer can be got ' ifroir> tho experiments which Sir. Gillanders earned on for some years at jMoumahalu. His aim was to discover ''tho percentage of lambing from different ' 'sires, tho different weights of the lambs j tit stated periods, and the freezing values of those lambs. In respect to lambing 'averages, the results of four j ears' tests arc here summarised. The results in tho fourth year wero spoilt by misfortune 'with one of the rams, and aro theiefore iiot recoided.— , , Lambs per cent. ; « a \ Mating. SglllgSg g ' B. Leicester ... . 113 122 117 100 113 Border ram, cross I owes 98 116 120 127 115 G Leicester ram, cross eive= 112 U 128 150 118 Shropshire 'lam, ' cross ewes . 113 121 12G 153 120 Southdown ram, cross ewes... . 97 118 130 120 116 1 Thojnext point to be considered is the I'arhness with which the lambs fattened This "is apparent in tho proportions ?ihich were ready for the first and second drafts - „ Bordeilon Cross Ewes. ' i Total First Second i ' Lambs Draft Draft. | 1905 58 , , 31' 26 ' 1906 B3 33 , 31 1907 ..„ 58 49 '9 1909 .. -.. G9 20 15 [ Totals t 248 ( 139 A '71 ! English Leicester on Cross Ewes ' Total ; ttrst Second I' Lambs. Draft. Diaft. 1 1905 08 22 31 i 1900 41 21 13 1907 Gi 52 12 { 1S09; 81 V> 20 ' .Totals '251 140 v 76 Shropshire on Cross' Ewes, i Total First Second - l ' Lambs. Draft. Draft 1905 68 50 16 „ 1906 55 - 23 18 1907 '63 ,47 16 , 1909 ... 83 11 11

J Totals 2C9 ' - 101 ' 61' , r ; Southdown on Cross Ewes. Total i First Second Lambs. Dratt. Draft. 1 1905 ■: 57 37 ' ID ISOG 52 10 8 1907 64 51 13 , 1909, 66 31 10 { -« Totals 239 • 159 50 'In the last year the numbers >weaned and put on rape and got iat for a third 'draft on. March 3 Ticre as follow:—Borders 14, English Leiccstcrs 10, Shropshires 2i>, Southdowns 25. On .March Jl the numbers still not fat uere —Borders 14, English Leicesters 6, Shropshires 6, Southdon ns none. ' the abovo figures it would appear that, whilo'the Shropshue gave the great*e,st number ot lambs in tho four years, the' Southdown gate the greatest proportion of lambs fat lor tho first draft. , The Shropshire, however, regained its aivantage'on tho second draft. Tho age of the lambs at the'time of drafting was , not the*sanie in each year. The age of tlio first 'diaught jeas (in one year) 150, days and'(m anolher year) 160 dajsj'-and 1 of the' second draft 180 days \ days. ■ ' '' - The remaining point of importance is Tihat tho lambs were worth—or would bo ■Korth if the buyers bought on quality. 'Iheso figures armed at by Mr. Gillandets 8 now the Southdown again at, a slight advantage in regard to excess of meat'o\ or offal, etc. The Border Leicesters, the coaisost of all, brought most money. i Border Leicester Crosses./ ' ; Average \ Live, Dead price weight. weight, per head. ■Sear. lbs. lbs. e' d. 11)05 56.2 ,40 V 13' 6 l<lo3 80 0 36 5 12 94 1<137 82 9 39.8 15 3J l<lo9 37.b 12 llj Means ... . 82.1 355 13 1\ ' r English Leicester Crosses. 11105 810 39.1 13 fi 1106 77 0 35 0 12 91 l<lo7 L. .77 3 *■ 3G4' .„14 0\ Jc.o9 74 0 34 8 12j| Ueans ' ... 77.3 36 3 • 13 1J 1 Shropshire Crosses. " l<lo3 81.3 39 0 13 6 1!IO6 .- 75 0 34 7 12 91 l<lo7 816 *38G 14 5 l<lo9 761 36.3 12 2§ Means , 78.5 37.1 13 2J , Southdown Crosses. l<los - 80.7 40 0 13 6 l(K)b 76 6 36 2 12 U l<lo7 77.9 ,37 3 14 02 jilOfj 72.0 '319 13_01 Means 76.8 \ 37.1 13 1 'The crossbred owes used in the e\pennipnts were ot the average North Island liincoln-Koniney character.