PRIZE LAMBS

Evening Post, Volume CXVII, Issue 106, 7 May 1934, Page 16

PRIZE LAMBS

A SMITHFIELD DISPLAY

JUDGES' COMPLIMENTS

The Meat Board's annual district competition for export lambs provides two special displays in Smithfield Market. At the end of March 270 lambs were entered for the South Island competition and created a great deal of interest in the trade. They were shown by Messrs. H. S. Fitter arid Sons, one of the only two stalls in the market sufficiently large for that purpose. Southland district again had the distinction of winning the South Island Challenge Shield, with East Southland second, and South Canterbury third. The:judging took four hours, and was done by Messrs. D. C. Messent, W. T. Johnson, and Erie Fitter. They furnished a valuable report on the entries. There was a very large attendance of meat trade representatives at the exhibit, and trade papers gave prominence to the very attractive display which was arranged by Fitters. Several retail buyers also made special displays^ : ••■•'■■'

. The judges, co_mnienting on the winning Southland district display, stated: 'Tor. size and general shape and make-, this exhibit could scarcely be surpassed. They ■were ideal lambs from every point of view for the Smithfield trade, and were remarkable for general evenness of quality. The lambs were full of meat and not too" fat, with short legs, good backs; and thick shoulders. In short, well nigh' perfect lambs of the Downcross, which are so popular'in this market." -East Southland, stated the judges, sent a splendid line of lambs falling very littlo short of the Southland district exhibit. Some pens, however, were somewhat' heavier than Southland, with a tendency to be a trifle fatter. Generally speaking, they add, this was an exhibit of which any district might well be proud. South Canterbury' sent a very fine run of lambs, very even in size, but somewhat heavier than the two preceding districts, with a: few lambs inclined to be fat, especially in. the'loin. "Mid-Canterbury: A very good run of lambs. Most commendable for shape and make with an absence of internal waste. This exhibit contained a number of individual lambs of the highest merit*. , . :

Tho judges add that in selecting the three best individual pens from tho whole of the district exhibits, they had a more .difficult job, because each district included individual pens of excellent well-bred lambs. Finally, they made their award as follows:—First prize, £15, Southland: second prize, £10, East Southland; third prize,: £5, South- Canterbury. The pen winning the first prize was described lay the judges as containing three ideal ;lambs. from, every point of view and representative of the type of carcass that is most desirable for the British market. The second prize-winning pen-contained two perfect lambs, but.the pen only lost first place on account of the legs of one lamb being inclined'to plainness. The lambs in the third prize-winning pen were described as three exceptionally fine lambs. A highly-commended award was made to the Mid-Canterbury pen No. 22 comprising three excellent lambs -with a marked Down strain, the judges commenting that they were admirably suited for the London trade.