5i8 



Cross-Breeding for Mutton. 



[dec, 



faced — Border-Leicester — Wensleydale breed. For several years 

 in succession at the Penrith Christmas Fat Stock Show the 

 1st prize pen of shearling wethers were thus bred. These 

 sheep have averaged 230 lb. live weight, and have realised 

 84s. each. The following are some of the results inbreeding 

 for fat lambs from these first-cross ewes that have been obtained 

 by the writer during the past six years, and illustrate the 

 points under consideration : — The ewes used have been Cheviot 

 — Border-Leicester, Black-face — Border- Leicester, and Black- 

 face — Wensleydale ; and the rams Border-Leicester, Oxford 

 Down, and Wensleydale. In the matter of fecundity, the average 

 number of fat lambs actually marketed from the three classes of 

 ewes during the whole time has been 17 for each ewe; the 

 number born, of course, was higher than this. The ewes have 

 always been in good condition when the rams have been put to 

 them. Of the three kinds, the Cheviot — Border- Leicesters have 

 dropped the largest number of lambs, often more than were 

 desired in the way of triplets ; and the Black-face — Wensleydale 

 the smallest number, though the difference has not been great. 

 The lambing period has practically been the month of March. 



I. Twenty Cheviot — Border-Leicester ewes were given 

 respectively to Oxford Down, ¥/ensleydale, and Border- 

 Leicester rams. 



Number of lambs by the Oxford = 36 of which I died. 



,, Wensleydale = 36 3 



,, Border-Leicester = 34 ,, i 



From the ist of May the lambs were weighed weekly, and 

 all that turned 4^ stones of 14 lb. in May, or 5 stones in later 

 months were sold by auction if fat. By June 24th — 



28 Oxford cross lambs had been sold. 



20 Wensleydale ,, ,, ,, ,, 



19 Border-Leicester ,, ,, ,, 



that is 80 per cent. Oxford, and about 60 per cent, of the other 

 two crosses. It will thus be seen that the Oxford-cross lambs 

 matured most quickly, and therefore cost less for "keep," This 

 also allowed the dams of those lambs to be sold off fat more 

 quickly than the other ewes, thereby realizing better prices, and 

 costing less to keep. The following is an analysis of the total 

 results : — 



Average weight. Average price 

 lb. per live pound. 



Oxford-cross lambs ... ... ... 74*8 .. 5d. 



Wensleydale-cross lambs ... ... 77*2 ... 4|d. 



Border-Leicester-cross Iambs ... 75-2 ... 4|d. 



