LAMBING RETURNS.

Northern Advocate, 28 September 1918, Page 4

LAMBING RETURNS.

GENERALLY GOOD

COLD CAUSES MORTALITY

Lambing returns this season on the East Coast, both in Hawke's Bay and Poverty Bay districts, are said to be excellent. Some exceptionally heavy percentages are reported, and

i" the weather conditions continue favourable, hopes are entertained that the returns will be better than

f Hoy •'have been for some years past. lie ..oris from _-Ty.rany.ki and other Wes; Cea.it districts ;r.'at'e that the. season opened fav\/arably,. and a short spell of good weather was experienced., A sudden change to rail.], accompanied by cold winds, arid a slight, fall of snow on the high country of the West Coast and Main Trunk districts, however, caused considerable mortality among both lambs and ewes that were not in the best of condition. It:is feared that the season's returns in these localities will be seriously affected, even, if the weather conditions remain normal from now onwards. The . lambing season.in the North is said to."have been fairly good, though localities' it is stated that there-, has been a fairly high, mortality among lambs about a month after birth. In the Taheke, Umawera, and Broadwood districts, conditions have been particularly favourable for lambing, and large numbers of twins have been dropped. The mortality so far has been light, on account of a fairly dry spring having been experienced. If the favourable weather continues the percentage of lambs is expected to be very high. Good returns this y«.ir ' will be particularly gratifying to the farmers of the district mentioned, as there has been heavy mortality among the lambs for the last two seasons, owing to wet spring weather.