LAMBS ON RAPE.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1215, 25 August 1911, Page 8

LAMBS ON RAPE.

SHORN W UJ'SHORN. At Hit present time it is a matter for controversy' whether it is profitable or otherwise to shear lambs..- Many farmers contend- that shorn lambs fatten much fju'ickor on. rune' than . those that have not been shorn. In response to requests that a demonstration should bo conctneted by 'the' Agricultural Department, a trial . ha l ; recently . been carried out on tho Kuakura Experimental Farm. Referring to the trial, Mr. T. W. Lonsdale says •10 wether lambs were selected on January I. All were weighed after being divided- into two lots, and 20 were subsequently shorn. The weight of those shorn at that date was 12031b., an average of 60.251b. each. Those unshorn weighed 12331b.', an average of 61.7'i1b. each. The whole of the lambs were then put on to rape, and. allowed tho run of a grass paddock adjoining. On March 25, exactly 12 weeks from shearing, the lambs were again weighed, the results being as un-der.-—-Tho shorn lot gave a total weight of 14731b., an average of 73.651b. each, and the unshorn lot weighed 15101b., an average of 751b. each. As the lambs were weighed prior to shearing, and an average of 2.61b. of wool being taken from each, the actual weight of the shorn lot at the commencement of the , trial was 57.G511). each, or -I.lolb. each lighter than the unshorn. At the end of the trial, therefore, the shorn show a gain of lClb. each, and the unshorn a gain of 13.251b. each. There is, therefore, a gain in favour of tho shorn lot of 2.751b.- Tho result of one. trial, says Mr. Lonsdalc, should not be taken as conclusive, as in this instance the gain in favour of shearing is very slight. Hs thinks it would be advisable to conduct several trials in separate districts. Climatic conditions vary considerably, and in some districts it may not be advisable, to eaear.