THe JOURNAb 



or 



T^fie department of Mgricufture 



OF 



VICTORIA. 



Vol. XIV. Part 3. 10th March, 1916. 



LAMB-BREEDING TESTS. '^^lo! 



{By H. C Wilson, Manager, Research Farm, Werrihee, and 4|jr — 

 .4. J. Whelan, Field Oificer.) ^* 



The development of the fat-lamb industry during the past ten years 

 has brought into prominence the problem of the most profitable type of 

 lamb to raise for export purposes and local trade. 



To test this matter was the object of a series of experiments com- 

 menced three years ago at the State Research Farm, Werribee. It 

 is intended to continue the tests for a further period, and in the mean- 

 time to briefly review the results to date. 



The principle followed was to select first cross ewes of uniform 

 quality and to mate these with representative rams of different breeds. 

 The main objects of these tests were briefly: — 



1. To ascertain the comparative market values of the various 



crosses. 



2. To compare the values of the fleece of each cro^s at siiearing, 



and 



3. To test the prepotency of the various rams used. 



Lincoln merino, first cross 4-tooth ewes of uniform type and quality 

 were secured in December, 1912. These ewes were used for tiie 1913-14 

 experiments only, young 2-tooth ewes being secured in December of 

 1914 for the third-year trials. Each year tlie ewes were divided into 

 six sections, particular care being taken to preserve uniforn;ity through- 

 out. 



'i'lic foHowing rams were joined with tlu^ ewes in .January. 1913 and 

 1914: — Lincoln, liorder Leicester, English Leicester, Dorset Horn. 

 Shropshire, and Southdown. Tn the tliird year, however, it was de- ■ 

 cided to replace the English Ticicester with the Suffolk, and mating 



1638. 



