LIVE AND DEAD WEIGHT.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIX, Issue 3199, 24 December 1892, Page 2

LIVE AND DEAD WEIGHT.

At the late agricultural show at Claudelands a good deal of interest was taken in the classes for sheep fit for freezing, and considerable difference of opinion existed not only as to the weight of the fat sheep themselves but more particularly as to the relative proportions of live »nd dead weight. It was curious to note that so few farmers had apparently taken the trouble to test this question and be in a position to make a definite statement as to the percentage of loss. A general vague sort of idea existed that about a third less would be about the correct allowance. Mr Caverhill, the manager of the Auckland Freezing Works, however, who was present, was very emphatic that the allowance was much too low, and at the request of the officials of the show, agreed to personally superintend and note the weight of two of the pens of exhibits, which were going to pass through his hands. The following are the returns forwarded by Mr Caverhill to the chairman of the show committee:—

Mr James Runciman—Five sheep weight Kvoss 5841b ; net weight when dressed for freezing, 3231b; average weight, 04,1b ; lo:s, S6llb, equal to 45 per cent. i\ew Zealand Kstates Company—lo sheep,, weight gross, 14051b; net weight when dressed for freezing, 7921b ; average weight, 701b ; loss, Ul3l b, equal to -]-! per cent. In cattle the percentage of dead weight is somewhat higher—we take the following quotations from the North British Agriculturist:—"The imperial of 1121b live weight may be tiken in a " prime "animal as representing (kilt) to (iSlb of carcase or dead weight of beef. "Very good" represents bullocks that will dress C2lb to ti-llb, and fair from 591b to (illb, and inferior from 5131b to sSlb. Taking the 1001b standard in place rf lhell2lbthn.se figures would ran for " prime '' 581b to li'ilb ; "very good/' 551b to s"lb ; " fair,''s2lb to 541b j and " inferior," 501b to 521b.