Dec. 2, 1920.] 



Agricultural Gazette of N.S.W. 



847 



monthly tables. The Dorset Horu shows a substantial increase from prac- 

 tically all strains of ewes. The Border Leicester x Merino ewe maintains its 

 advantage, and the Leicestei- x Merino occupies third place in all groups, 

 except in the case of the mating with the Dorset Horn. 



Taking the results from the three strains of ewes by the three breeds of 

 rams, the results show the South Down crossbred lambs averaged 71 lb. 

 12 oz., the Shropshires 72 lb. 9 oz., and the Dorset Horns 79 lb. 10 oz. in the 

 aggregate. 



Similarly we find the different strains of ewes when grouped together 

 yielded lambs averaging respectively Lincoln x Merino, 73 lb. 14 oz. ; the 

 Leicester x Merino, 72 lb. 3 oz. ; and the Border Leicester x Merino, 7G lb. 6 oz. 



When worked out for the full period, the loss of weight in transit for all 

 crosses represents 6*8 per cent, of the total live weight on the average. It 

 would be extremely difficult to say exactly what proportion of this loss was 

 really tissue. It was the practice in the majority of the consignments, 

 when the lambs were taken off the pastures, to yax'd the lambs for a few 

 hours before weighing. This period, however, was not suflBicient to enable the 

 full contents of the stomachs and intestines to be emptied. So that a certain 

 percentage of the loss in weight would be represented by excreta voided 

 while on the journey. 



The figures, however, are convincing enough to reveal that a considerable 

 percentage of waste takes place during transit. Obviously the best facilities 

 that can be afforded for transport, or, better still, killing and freezing near 

 the farm, are the most practical measures that can be adopted to reduce the 



loss. 



The Prices Realised. 



The next point that calls for comment is the prices reahsed. Looking at 



these returns, as before, first for the rams and then for the ewes in their 



combined groups, we find the lambs by South Down i-ams realised 18s. 7d., 



those by Shropshire rams 19s. lid., and those by Dorset Horn rams 21s. 7d. 



On the side of the ewes, the lambs from Lincoln x Merino ewes reahsed 



19s. 3d., those from Leicester x Merino ewes 19s. Id., and those from Border 



Leicester x Merino ewes, 20s. 3d. 



