STOCK CONDITION

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 21990, 6 April 1946, Page 6

STOCK CONDITION

REMAINING HIGH KAITI WORKS KILLINGS GENERAL INCREASES Although killings at the Gisborne Refrigerating Company’s works at Kaiti ibis season from September 1, 1945, to March 31, 1946, showed a substantial increase over those for the same period last season, stock came forward in better condition than was expected. The hard summer temporarily exhausted pastures on hill country properties, which accounted in part for the notable falling off in condition. However, it was not until about three weeks ago that carcases showed any deterioration. The movement of stock from Gisborne and East Coast districts to the Waikato continued this season and the sheep figures in this move are estimated at 250,000. This fact also bears out the theory that the stock condition was not seriously affected in the early stages of the dry period, otherwise they would have been unable to travel long distances. Bookings Easing Off Good classes of cattle are being killed in smaller numbers now, in common with the situation in other Dominion freezing works, and it is learned that there is a tapering off in the bookings for sheep after the end of the month. In the beef section 2760 head passed through the Kaiti works from September 1. 1945, to March 31, 1946, this figure being more than double the number for the same period last year. Other notable increases were: Cows, 1981; calves, 204; sheep, 56,592; and lambs, 51,242. There was only one case of a decrease and that was in the pig section, 498 fewer having come forward. All stock, with the exception of calves, were in lighter condition than, usual. This season's calves averaged heavier because they were of export quality, whereas last year they were for local use only. The following tabulation shows the comparative figures for the seven months September 1, 1945, to March 31, 1946: KILLINGS

7 mos 1945-46 7 mos 1944-45 Increase head head head Ox beef 2,760 1,095 1,665 Cows 4.075 2,094 1.9S1 BuIIb 235 219 16 Calves 232 28 204 Pips .. 8,134 6.632 49S* Sheep .. 153,499 96,907 56,592 Lambs .. 240,584 189,342 51,242 indicates decrease. AVERAGE WEIGHTS 7 mos 1943-46 7 mos 1944-45 Decreaso lbs. lbs. lbs. Ox beef .. 679 748 69 Cows 475 521 46 Bulls .. 574 614 40 Calves .. 178 123 55* Pigs .. 127 131 4 Sheep .. 52.5 56.5 4 Lambs .. 30 31 1 increase.