Freezing Season For Lambs To Open Soon

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28413, 21 October 1957, Page 15

Freezing Season For Lambs To Open Soon

North Canterbury freezing works will probably open for killing new season’s lambs in the first week of next month. November 4 and 5 have been mentioned as likely opening dates, but the Kaiapoi works expects to have a small chain in operation on October 29. A spokesman f or one company said that although the season might open early in the month it was unlikely that sizeable killings would be made until after the Christchurch show, which falls in the middle of the month.

Until a few days ago the weather had not been conducive to early fattening of lambs. There had been too many cold winds and too frequent falls of ram so that freezing company officials have not been expecting an early opening. Warmer weather in the last few days has, however, revived interest in the opening of the season.

Canterbury farmeis are generally extremely conscious of dry weather, and as one freezing company executive said it would only require a few more days of dry north-westerly conditions anu farmers would be ♦Linking about getting some of thei • lambs- away. Companies are keen to begin operations, as accoiding to tne economic service of the New Zealand Meat and Wool Boards this may well be a record killing season. Apart from the storm in early September, which caused estimated losses of up to 10 pei cent, of the expected lamb crop in Rangiora. Culverden and Rotherham districts, lambing has generally been good and m addition to increasing lamb numbers from expanding ewe flocks, freezing works also expect to handle a greater number of cast-tor-age ewes which were held over lasl season in the process of building

up flocks and in the face of nigh ewe prices at the fairs. Thio killing season max be reminiscent of the 1955-56 season when drought conditions caused heavy culling of ewes in -judition to big lamb Killings. Opening Schedule Freezing company officials are naturally reticent about the opening schedule prices ter lamb. The trend of markets at the London wool sales which open this weeK could well have some influence on the opening schedule. A big part of New Zealand's lamb slipe wools are sold in the United Kingdom.

At Smithfield market trading in New Zealand lamb is at present very quiet and on the basis of the present tone of the market and the prices being paid there there is some feeling that over all they hardly justify paying rates higher than last year’s opening. It has of course to be remembered that lamb purchased in New Zealand next month will not reach the London market until a month or two later, when the pressure of supplies will have eased off. A report from London last week said that all classes of New Zealand lamb were weaker, particularly the light-weight seconds, and trading generally was very quiet. All classes of Canterbury lamb except first quality 281 b and under were cheaper by Jd per lb. In the last six weeks the overall price movements for Canterbury lamb have been small, except in the case of the 281 b and under seconds which have shown a decline of l’ t d over that period. This may. however, be no more than a question of suoplv and demand. At the end of the season it would be natural for more of this class to reach the market.

At the end of September onlv comparativelv light supplies of New Zealand lamb awaited shipment so that the new season will open with a clean board. Tn Canterbury the killing season opened last year with 281 b and undo- lambs selling at 24 Ad. 291 b to 381 b at 23d. 371 b to 421 b at 21d. 431 b to 501 b at 19d. and 51’b to 561 b at 17d. with light-weight seconds at 23Jd. 291 b to 361 b at 22d and over 361 bat 20d. These prices dronoed two weeks later by £d to. Id per lb. Smithfield Prices The following is a comparison of wholesale prices ruling at Smithfield for lamb last week and at the same time last year: First Quality

This table shows that first quality grades are a little in advance of last year’s rates at this time while seconds are cheaper, but these prices must be viewed in the light of increased freezing charges and shipping freights and perhaps most of all the economic nosition in Britain which might to more marked consumer re- ! sistance.

A freezing industry spokesman Mr H. A. Seifert, said last week that the over-all prospect for the seventy-sixth meat year which began this month appeared to be cheerful, but at the same time certain factors of an adverse character could not be overlooked. An example was the 122 per cent, increase in shipping freight rates, equivalent to about ’,d per lb on meat. Tn the aggregate this meant more than £l.sm in additional costs to be met bv the freezing industry. “The tendency is for the general level of costs to rise and an item of serious proportions will be the hishe v charges for electricity, of which the freezing indu c4v ’" is a very bi 4 * user.” said Mr Seifert. Freezins charges were increased at the beginning of the year and last week agreement was reached in conciliation for an I increase in the rates of pay for freezing workers.

1957 1956 Var’n. d. d. d •’Rib and under 281 27 -i 11 29 to 361b .. 27J 26 +1J 37 to 421b 251 244 4-1 43 to 501b . . 23 23 — Seconds 281b and under 24 26 —2 29 to 361b .. 24J 25 -J