Nov. 2, 1920.] 



Agricultural Gazette of N.S.W. 



765 



On comparing the percentage of lambs by the different rams as formerly, 

 we observe the relative positions to have changed. At this farm the South 

 Down is ahead of the other two, with the Dorset Horn next, and the Shrop- 

 shire in third place. 



The percentage of lambs dropped for each cross is higher in the case of 

 this farm than at the other two, and little difference is shown between the 

 percentages from the different groups. Contrary to previous results, the 

 Border Leicester cross ewes were behind the other two. 



The number of ewes assisted at parturition was in direct contrast to the 

 hgures recorded at the other farms — the Border Leicester cross ewes showing 



locxiLctjic Ut loiLUUn Wd.S kitiaiicl, 



uie 



greateaii CiiSauvaliLagt;. v» line uio pc 



mortality at lambing time was also heavier, the Dorset Horn cross having 

 the worst record in this respect. 



In the next table the figures for all three farms are brought together and 

 averaged. 



Table I. — Combined Averages of Lambing Results at Wagga, Cowra, 

 and Bathurst Experiment Farms. 



Breed of 

 Lambs. 



No. ot 

 Ewes 

 Mated. 



Hereeiitiii^e 

 of Lambs. 



Ewes 



Assisted. 



Deaths of Ewes at Lambing 

 Time 



Before. 



At. 



After. 



Mortality 



Percentage 



in Ewes. 



D,LiM 

 D,L,M 

 D1L3VI 



D,LaM 



D3L: 





412 

 417 

 421 



430 

 428 

 446 



409 

 435 

 442 



75-9 

 79-2 

 80-7 



76 8 

 76 2 



84-8 



82-9 

 7o'8 

 79-6 



5 or 1-2% 



5 or l-2„ 



6 or I "4 , , 



7 or 1-6,, 

 6 or 1*4 „ 

 9 or 2-1 „ 



11 or 2-6 „ 

 13 or 3 0,, 

 22 or 5-0 „ 



2-4 

 2 1 



2-8 



1-4 

 2-6 



2 



3-9 



3 

 61 



The main points in this table are : (1) the percentage of lambs by the rams 

 of the three breeds, and (2) the number of lambs dropped by the three strains 

 of ewes collectively. 



Dealing with the prepotency of the rams first, the figures indicate that the 

 South Down rams left the largest percentage of lambs, approximately 80 per 

 cent, over the three groups of ewes, the Dorset Horn rams next with approxi- 

 mately 7fi per cent., aod the Shropshii-e rams third with approximately 74 

 per cent. 



On the average, about 2-5 per cent, of rams was employed throughout, so 

 that the individuality of any one ram did not exert an undue influence on 

 the proportion of lambs dropped by either of the thiee groups of ewes. If 

 by chance one individual happened to prove more prepotent than the other, 

 any such individuality would be balanced by the averages, seeing that these 

 figures have been taken from the consolidated averages from all three farms 

 ©▼er a. number of years. 



