Huge stock losses left in wake of torrential rain

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33928, 22 August 1975, Page 1

Huge stock losses left in wake of torrential rain

Thousands of lambs and ewes, and some calves, have died as a result of the torrential rain and strong winds that swept the province on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Authoritative sources report that many farmers have lost 60 per cent of lambs born in the last three days. On Banks Peninsula, some farmers have lost more than that. Telephone lines were still down last night and accurate estimates of losses and damage were hard to make, but

Banks Peninsula seems to have been hit hardest. Many farmers with large flocks lost all lambs born in the last three days because they could not get them to 'shelter. Pre-lamb-shom ewes ihave died in thousands, too. A Port Levy farmer, Mr D. J. Blakely, said that he expected that the toll on his farm could rise as high as 800 dead ewes. But he was amazed that any of his 3000 ewes — all newly shorn — were left alive.

I f Floating carcases “We expected to find them all dead,” he said. He was still looking for dead sheep. Many had got caught in gullies ancj creeks and were floating out in the swollen waters. “The sheep most affected were the ones which had been shorn on Monday or Tuesday, and sleepy sickness grtt the older ones.” Mr Blakely said he was “hot particularly excited” about the accuracy of weather forecasters, and said that his wife had measured Blin of rain as a result of Wednesday night’s downpour. He said it had been showering up until early last evening and that there were slips everywhere on his farm.

Mr R. K. Craw, of Pigeon Bay, said that he had lost more than 100 lambs, although he had not made a definite count as he was busy trying to save the ones which were still alive. Lambing had begun on his farm a week ago, and he expected to lose 10 to 12 per cent of lambs. His farm had suffered extensive damage.

More than half A Menzies Bay farmer, Mr R. E. Menzies, said that he expected many more than half of the lambs born on his ' farm during the last two daysi to have died, although he did: not know the exact numbers.; Al! the access tracks: around his farm and the; main road to the bay had been closed by slips. Farmers in the Little River area reported big losses of .ewes, and some calves. Tallies which ran into hundreds yesterday are expected to grow even

(greater during the next two I days. Elsewhere in Canterbury, I down-country farmers were :the worst affected, and continual rain was adding to the problem. Only about a quarter of the province is lambing at the moment.

Ewes miserable Mr G. J. Cairns, of Wakanui, said that he had lost ;about three-quarters of his newly-born lambs. He sajd that the Wakanui Creek had burst its banks and there was a lot of flooding. A farmer in the Wakanui area, Mr J. R. Bruce, said lambing losses were “pretty heavy.” Everyone involved ini lambing at. that time would' have heavy losses unless they were in very good shelter. The ewes were very miserable.

' A Springston farmer, Mr J. V. Everest, said that the rain had caused him to lose about $lOOO in production. While he lost only four calves, he was j unable to get his milk away

I because of the condition of the track to his milk-shed. Cover* rushed I One Irwell farmer said that he had lost about 20 to 30 lambs, but that the main loss was in the damage to wool. He said that the drop in wool quality owing to the rain might mean a financial loss of 10 io 15 per cent. Ashburton stock and station agents reported a heavy demand for tear-off lamb-dry One firm had sold 70 or 80 rolls, with 100 covers on each roll. There has also been a big demand in the Rakaia and Methven areas. I The covers are designed to I retain the lamb’s b<xiv heat

; Gi/t to HJJ.O. The Japan Shipbuilding Industry Foundation has contributed 300 million yen (about $792,480) to the World Health Organisation 'for the eradication of small- : pox and the control of leprlosy.—Tokyo.