HEAVY LAMB CROP

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29910, 25 August 1962, Page 13

HEAVY LAMB CROP

Slight Losses In Storm

Thursday's southerly storm has slightly reduced Canterbury's lamb crop, but according to one farmer now in the thick of lambing, it may be nature’s way of balancing up a phenomenal lambing. This fanner in Mid-Canter-bury had 26 ewee. which lost their lambs during Thursday night, under cover last night mothering lambs which had been abandoned by other ewes. There have never been as many twins born on this farm before. The farmer said that eight out of 10 ewes were producing twins and at this stage, half-way through lambing, he was not exaggerating by saying that his percentage was running about 180.

The farmer said that his experience was apparently not an isolated occurrence. One of his neighbours was also reporting “a terrific number of twins.” On some farms in this locality, lambing has, however, been marred by losses of ewes badly affected by foot troubles after the damp winter.

A Rangiora farmer, who said that about four lamb deaths cut of 50 born during the period could be attributed to the weather this week, also reported a good lambing percentage. A Bonks Peninsula farmer said last evening that there also seemed to be prospects of a good percentage with plenty of twins being born.