Fat Lamb Trade.

Hokitika Guardian, 13 October 1922, Page 1

Fat Lamb Trade.

AUCKLAND, Oct. 11

A hint that the shipping companies intend to carry stud sheep free of charge from England to New Zealand was made to Mr J. B. Reid, of Elderslie, Oamaru, just prior to his departure from England in the Ruahine, which arrived last night at Auckland. Discussing the matter, Mr Reid said the proposal seemed to indicate a broad-minded policy, and he expressed a hope that enterprising New Zealanders would import some Suffolks, which lie considered were quite the best fat lamb producers. In August he had seen a large number of Suffolk lambs that would weigh 1001 b dressed ; too heavy, of course, but showing what could he done by care and selection. There was at least one small flock in the Dominion, namely, that belonging to Mr George Gould, of Christchurch. The wool was not much better than that of the Southdown, hut the lambs were much heavier.

Mr Reid urged the adoption of the system of sending the lambs direct from their mothers as far as practicable instead of being weaned and fattened before being slaughtered, as under the former method very good results would be achieved. The prices realised would be much higher per lb, while the cost of carriage would be 110 greater. Such a practice, of course, would not he possible in every instance, but much more could be done in that direction than at present. The system at Home, Mr Reid explained, was to give lambs a small quantity of crushed oats and cake. The sheep were folded, but the lambs were allowed out through openings in the fence, and after being fed went hack to their mothers. To a large extent that was not possible in New Zealand, hut lie thought there was no reason why small farmers should not do it, and the lambing season could be arranged from, say the end of July until the end of October. There was certain to be a great demand for our lamb so long as it was of first quality, but Mr Reid said lie had observed in the English shops many hoggets marked “New Zealand lamb” which were not reallv lamb at all