EXPORT LAMB COMPETITION

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 79, 27 December 1937, Page 10

EXPORT LAMB COMPETITION

Entries Shipped To London Lamb8 entered for the North Island section of the New Zealand Meat Producers Board's annual competition for the best export lambs have been shipped hy the "Waipawa," due to arrive in London on January 8, and by the "Rangitata," which will reach London on January 23. Soon after their arrival the lambs will be displayed at Smithfield, the ex- ' hifcition being regarded as one of the distinctive displays of the year at this great market. A panel of judges select-| ed from prominent meat importers will' decide the winners of the board's silver challexxge shield for the North Island, and also award the board's prizes of £15, £10, and £5 for the best individual pens of lambs.

This annual competition is designed to maintain a high grade of export lambs, and it has again created keen interest among producers, field daya I being held in the ten districts which I have entered the North Island section i of the competition. At these gatherings farmers have an opportunity of inspecting the live stock, and subsequently making comparison3 of the competitive carcases. The educative value ' of these field days is enhanced by the attendance at many of them of the board's supervising grader, who selects the best 15 pens to b.e shipped to London, and explains the ideal requirements for the Home market, where New Zealand lamb commands a premium among imported products. Members of the New Zealand Meat Producers Board also attend the field days for the purpose of giving information- on good quality points. The South Island section of the competition has attracted entries from eight districts, and the shipping arrangements will enable the lambs to be landed in London towards the end of February, when they will be displayed and judged at Smithfield. Each district is represented by 15 pens of three "dambn.