FAT LAMB JUDGING.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1837, 25 August 1913, Page 10

FAT LAMB JUDGING.

AN INTERESTING X'ONTKOVEKSY

Somo days ago sofne remarks were published in The Dominion in connection with tho fat lamb classes at agricultural shows, together with comments that had been made respecting tho disparity between local and Homo judging results. Tho opinion has been expressed by many interested, that tho object for which these competitions have been instituted—namely, to educate tho farmer as to the best - class of lamb to breed, and how to finish it off so that the highest market prico will be returned is not being realised. Somo critics have gone so far as to say that tho competitions as now conducted aro injurious to the industry, and that local judging should be done away with entirely, leaving tho judge at tho London end to bo the only assessor of.tho valuo.of the lamb, as it is the opinion of the English expert^that counts. Ho should know best because lie has an intimate knowledge of the market requirements. _ Discussing this . matter with a prominent sheep-farmer last week a Dominion reporter inquired whether' ho it wiso to do away with local judging, and whether ho had any suggestion to make regarding possible improvements on tho existing conditions. Tho reply to the first part of the question was an emphatic "No!" If that were done) ho said, the show from a breeders' viewpoint would looso its main attraction, and he was doubtful whether tho breeder would exhibit under. those conditions. In addition, tho educative factor would be decidedly lessened. Referring to the disparity between tho local and Home awards, it was pointed out that the two judges were working under entirely different conditions. One had to fix his awards from tho external appearances of the sheep after handling it, whereas' the judge in England had the dressed carcass before him. Therefore, it woiild be remarkablo if the two awards were the same. He believed in local judging, but thought' that tho purposo of the competition would be hetter served if the sheep, were judged twice locally; first iu the show-pens, and again, by tho same man, at the works after the animals had been dressed. Owners and others interested would be able to mako comparisons if this were done, and would possibly learn a great deal by noting 1 tho condition of tho carcass at the .works. Tho judge, too, would see how liis decisions worked out between' the live and dressed awards. Ho would also be working on more even terms with tile Home judge and tho probability would bo that tho wide divergence 0? their awards, which is at present confusing, would bo removed to a voir large extent,

A well-known judge of fat sheen and a buyer of note, on being questioned, said that lie agreed with.much of the foregoing, particularly with respect to judging at the works. He was not at all surprised at the difference between the local and English awards. If tho suggestion for' judging at tho local, works was adopted tlio judge would probably reverse liis former decision made dn tho pens of live sheep, but his ,knowledgo of the requirements of the English trado woiild enablo him to nick the lambs or sheep most suitable. Even linder those conditions ho thought that a devergonco of opinion on tho merits of tho carcasses would bo found. Tho Homo awards v.ero made by men in the trade, and tlieir awards were made to'conform with tho market of tho day. If heavy sheet) were in favour at the moment in tho market, tho awards would be made accordingly, and vico versa. That would account for the inconsistency which is often found in' tlio English awards covering the results of several years. Ho was decidedly averse to abandoning the local decisions, but would like to see them extended in tho direction indicated.