SHEEP AND PIGS

Shannon News, 26 April 1927, Page 4

SHEEP AND PIGS

QUICK "FATTENING BREEDS,

In sheep-breeding, says an English agricultural journal, it has been the early maturing characteristics of the, Hampshire, the Oxford, and the Suf- : folk, which have made them so popular among the Down breeds. Whether for fat'lamb production or for finish-ing-off, mi roots, no other breeds get into such- big weights at so early an age, and' thus it is, both in cattle and -sheep breeding, that the’more slowlymaturing breeds are passing out' of favour. ' • •

! In pig-breeding it is the earlymaturing characteristics of the Middle White - which are to a great extent responsible for, the popularity of that, breed of pig to-day. combined, of course, with the fact that the breed is nearer to the bacon curcr’s. ideal than any other pure breed,: but, all the same, the fact remains that for early maturity the Middle White stands ahead of all others, and if ‘we look at the position of stock-bi*eeding in general we cannot ignore the fact that, whether it be in cattle sheep, or pigs, those breeds in which early maturity is a strong point are In the far greatest demand. - i It, of course .stands to reason that early maturity cannot be fostered and developed under adverse, conditions It is impossible to develop efarly-rrta-turing qualities in our hill and mountain breeds of sheep; which have, to eke out a hard and scanty living on the poorest fare in the bleakest and most exposed surroundings! Lambs cannot be fattened on poor land in exposed situations, and the great majority: of the wethers which are fattened in the pastures in the summer months are Hie produce of ‘ those breeds which, by reason of their en-r vironment, cannot be classed in the early-maturing category. The three-year-old wether is a thing of the past, and the tendency has long been to feed wethers as yearlings. The growth of roots and forage crops of a ! ll kinds is an essential factor in the development of early maturity. Breed is no good without feed, and those who specialise in the production ot young beef, mutton, or pork, must riot only breed the right class of animals for the business but see to’ it that the best kinds of food are available- for their growth- and develop- ~ • ment.