10 April, 1916.] Note on Lambs for Export. 239 



there are not the same possibilities of depreciation as in Australia. 

 From the Bluff to Belfast or Islington — the most northerly freezing 

 works, with the exception of Petone — is between 200 and 300 miles, 

 and there are in that space ten freezing works. In the North Island, 

 where the distances to be travelled are longer, the heat is not so intense 

 as in Australia; and if my memory is right, the longest distance between 

 freezing works is between Longburn and Petone, somewhei-e about 

 100 or 120 miles. If rams were mated about November or December,* 

 the lambs would come in about August or September. This, with the 

 establishment of freezing worksf nearer the supply centres, with railways 

 to the nearest port of shipment; shelter or shade at freezing works, with 

 water in dams or races; small paddocks, where the lambs would rest 

 better than in large paddocks; trucks with doors at the end and 

 opening into its fellow, instead of at the side, such as at present, would, 

 I believe, be a step towards a mitigation of the losses that happen 

 pretty well every season in Victoria. 



Another matter that might be brought under the notice of the lamb 

 raiser is the characteristics of the various crosses, and the type of ram 

 that ought to be used. As an instance of the value of the latter, let 

 me cite the following: — I had my Christmas holidays with a relation. 

 He reared a few lambs, and was using Romney Marsh rams on ewes 

 the product of Romney Marsh rams and Merino ewes. Now, I think it 

 is generally admitted that the value of the Romney Marsh is: (1) Its 

 immunity from foot rot; (2) The ewes are strong, big-framed, and 

 roomy; (3) They are good mothers. But, from the ram side of the 

 question, they have some of the faults of the Lincoln, certainly in a 

 lesser degree. They do not mature as quickly as other breeds, and 

 the lamb has not that conformation that one looks for in an early lamb. 



The Merino is not to be thought of as a cross for early lamb raising, 

 and when mated with any other ram than the Border Leicester,! the 

 lamb throws back to the Merino. The most general crosses met with 

 in a freezing works are the Border Leicester and English Leicester. 



The former, owing to the sniallness of the head§ is less liable to 

 losses in lambing than the English Leicester — the lamb matures early, 

 fattens quickly, and is the possessor of a good skin. It is also the 

 coarsest cross; it carries a higher percentage of fat than any other; 

 and is inclined to be leggy, and on this account does not show that nice 

 covering of fat where it is so essential. The English Leicester does 

 not grow and mature as quickly as the Border Leicester, and, in fact, 

 is rather slower all round ; yet it does not carry such a high percentage 

 of fat; it has a good skin. The Shropshire, wlien mated with good, 

 roomy ewes of the Lincoln cross, produces a good lamb, which matures 

 and fattens quickly ; but in New Zealand has been discarded a good 

 deal for the Southdown. A very compact, nuggety type of lamb is 

 produced, deep in the sliouldeis ; it has a jioor skin, comparatively 

 speaking. The Southdown, when mated with second cross ewes, or 

 large-framed sheep of the Lincoln or Romney Marsh breed, is unequalled 



• As a rule only merino and fine crossbred ewes come In sea.'^on durina Novenjlx>r and Dcocmber in 

 Victoria. 



t In Victoria the snpply of l:il)onr ha.s to Iw considered ; it Is not availnlile where lam))s are produced. 

 In New Zealand butchers and other hands live nearer the works. Tliis work continues over a good part 

 of the year. 



J Border Leicester more suitable than very woolly, excessively covered mi-rlnoes. not necessarily all 

 merinoes. 



ji Not so much head, often has deep ruunert fore quarters, IiIkIi wither, and prominent jioint of 

 brisket, a matter which can In- reversed bv selection. 



