HEAVY LAMB LOSSES

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVI, Issue 72, 22 September 1943, Page 6

HEAVY LAMB LOSSES

BAD SEASON IN SOUTH P.A. CHRISTCHURCH, This Day. Thousands of lambs are dying throughout Canterbury in one of the worst seasons experienced by sheep farmers, for years. The stock superintendent of the Department of Agriculture, Mr. E. Elphick, said today that the long spell of wet weather experienced throughout the South Island wquld have a serious effect not only i on meat production but also on the quality of~ wool. September was the main lambing period, but lambs born during the present cold and wet nights had little chance of survival. , One farmer reported that although he had 200 more ewes than last season his lamb production would be less. Apart from the death roll, said Mr. Elphick,. the position regarding feed was also serious, as its mushy nature I was certain to affect the general health of sheep and bring crop disease problems. Already many flocks were in poor condition. Cattle were also suf-1 fering as a result of the fodder position, and if that position did not improve there was sure to be a milk shortage. ____„___,„„________,