FAT LAMB INDUSTRY.

Putaruru Press, Volume VII, Issue 305, 12 September 1929, Page 6

FAT LAMB INDUSTRY.

' The main reason for the success of New Zealand *s fat lamb industry, ae- ' cording to an opinion expressed in an Australian paper, is that her farmers have been breeding a “type” that seems most suitable for the export trade. The breed most in favour is the Southdown ram crossed with a big framed Romney ewe. In fact, any bigframed ewe of the Romney, Lincoln or Leicester cross is suitable. There are a few breeders using Border Leicester or Shropshire rams, but these have not proved as profitable in most cases as the -Southdown, and in the majority ol districts the Southdown ram predominates, probably fully 90 per cent, of rams used, in NeXv Zealand for fat lamb raising being Southdown. The Southdown-bred lambs come to maturity in four or five months, giving a nice square, meaty carcase, without excess fat, of an average dressed weight o± 321 b. to 361 b., classed as first grade. Lambs over this weight are classed second grade, and paid for at a lower rate Ninety to 95 per cent, of prime lambs are sold off the mothers, the balance being topped off on rape or some other artificial feed ,and eventually sold as prime to the freezing works. Some ob jection has been raised to the Southdonw on the ground that in- the event of the lamb not being fattened and carried over the wool is of very little value. If proper provision is made with artificial feed for topping off an) lambs that do not get away off their mothers, this question will not arise, and it should be the aim of every lamb raiser to see that he has something in reserve for any lambs that may need a little extra food to put a finish on them. Fat lamb raising is a profitable under- ' taking, and it is worth a little time and care to see that every lamb possible is sold