MORE LAMBS FOR EXPORT

Press, Volume LXXV, Issue 22895, 16 December 1939, Page 14

MORE LAMBS FOR EXPORT

INDICATIONS FOR DOMINION “FAVOURABLE POSITION” RETENTION OF REPLACEMENT STOCK “The meat industry has never been in a more favourable position than this season,” said the Hon. W. Lee Martin (Minister for Agriculture), in an inlerview_ with “The Press” last night. “Even if climatic conditions are not good in all districts in New Zealand, the number of lambs which will bo available for export will far exceed the number in any previous season.” Apart from export, the Minister said, there would be opportunity to retain more than the usual proportion of ewe lambs. . “As our essential function in the supply of food to Great Britain is along the line of meat and dairy products, any real expansion of the amount of these depends very largely on the replacement animals which, are available,” said the Minister. “And It Is to be hoped that a larger than ordinary number of lambs should be retained further to increase our breeding flock, satisfactory as it is, at approximately 20.000,000.” The latest information on the estimated lambing percentages and the number of lambs for the whole Dominion was given by the Minister. The figure showed that from the 10,960,299 breeding ewes in the Dominion, the estimated percentage of lambs was 85.26, the number being estimated nt 17,017,595. Figures for the last six years for the Dominion arc:—

totals 0,070,407 88.29 7,828,801 Canterbury Situation “At present the conditions in Canterbury, due to the comparative absence of rain, from the grass production point of view, are not specially satisfactory,” said Mr Lee Martin, “but it must be remembered that it is during dry seasons in Canterbury that this province produces her best lamb and conditions are extremely favourable for the carrying-over of hoggets.” And. the Minister added, for the sheopfarmer, the price position was equally advantageous. The point that the sheopfarmer might not have yet fully realised was that although opening prices'were not very much in advance of those of last season, they were the minimum prices for the year. “Usually.” said the Minister, "the opening schedule is high and tends to fall within a month or so, rising again In certain cases in the autumn, but with an average which is distinctly lower than the opening price. As the nrico of meat is fixed, the price of wool is fixed, and as wool grows steadily throughout the season, the schedule will likewise tend to increase and the usual mid-season fall will not be experienced.” , . i Provincial Returns The lambing percentage returns for the two northern districts of the South Island are:—

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Marlborough-Nelson-Westland Breeding Est. P.c. Est. No. Ewes. o£ Lambs. of Lambs. Wnlmea 170,393 59,08 100,868 25.043 81.20 15,877 Colllngwood 12,837 70.21 10,010 Buller 2,051 83.00 2.200 Inangahua 12,824 90.00 11,542' Murchison 38,596 ‘ 63.00 23,055 Grey .. 25,722 94.00 24,177 - Westland 38.200 100.00 ' 38,209 110,367 68.43 73,317 Morlboroiigh 213,032 05.84 140,635 Awatere 210,745 80.06 168,722 Calitorbury-Kalkonra Breeding Est. P.c. Est. No. Ewes, of Lambs. of I^ambs. Knlkoura .. 117,014 78.00 91,271 Amurl 237.751 78.00 185,446 . Cheviot .. 145,759 88.00 125,353 Walpara 294,343 80.00 235,474 Ashley 89,018 75.00 51,784' Kowai .. 70,058 92.00 64,453 73,883 72.00 53,190 Ranglora .. 35,088 90.00 31.577 Eyro .. 55,190 92.00 60,775 55,008 81,00 44,535 Malvern .. 127,014 90.00 114,313 Pnpartia .. 32,243 92.00 29,664 4,664 92.00 4,100 Heathcble .. 0,804 73,00 7,011 Akaron .. 03,566 96.00 89,823 Mt. Herbert .. 43,554 75.00 32,666 Walrcwa .. 75.783 81.00 61,360 Halswell 14,007 87,00 12,089 Springs 28,749 78.00 22,424 Ellesmere .. 86,143 108.00 03,034 Selwyn 154,200 86.00 132,612 732,122 84.00 614,982 Geraldine .. 253,521 84.00 212,058 168,774 100.00 168,774 Mackenzie 322,704 82.00 204,617 Walmate 469,873 89.5 420,536 Chatham Islands 43,551 73.00 31,792 Totals .. 3,813,960 85.15 3,247,608