Rams out early

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32879, 30 March 1972, Page 8

Rams out early

In some areas rams had been put out early with the sheep retention incentive scheme in view, Mr W. N. Dunlop, junior vice-presid-ent of Federated Farmers of New Zealand, commented at last week-end’s seminar on the sheep retention scheme at Lincoln College when a question was asked about its application to new born lambs.

Mr Dunlop staid he understood that if there was a big discrepancy in stock numbers as m the end of June the farmer concerned would be asked why.

Professor J.. D. Stewart, professor of farm management at Lincoln College, said it was possible that fat stock buyers would have difficulty in oibtaining stock in June.

Mr Dunlop said that farmers had been warned about holding stock for slaughter after the date— June 30—on which payments under the scheme would be based. It would be at the owner’s own risk if he held stock in numbers greater than could normally be slaughtered after June 30.

Mr Dunlop noted that farmers had been told that freezing companies, faced with meeting new hygiene requirements from the start of the next; killing season, had indicated that they would not be making provision for Slaughtering any more stock than they normally handlad after June 30 this year. It would be unfortunate if farmers manipulated their sheep numbers this year, said Professor Stewart.