SLAUGHTERING OF EWES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21278, 3 September 1932, Page 7

SLAUGHTERING OF EWES

CONCERN AT INCREASE DECREASE IN SHEEP FLOCKS Concern at the large number of eweu, 1 particularly ewe lambs, being slaughterlidl =■ in New Zealand was expressed by Mr. •' T. A. Duncan, acting-chairman of the . Meat Producers' in the course of • his address ait the annual meeting of the board in Wellington. . I -'There has been a decrease in our flocks as at April 30, 1932," he said. "These figures show a further drop of 1,186,Q00 sheep, as compared with the previous year, 4 and as compared with April 30,. 1930, show a decrease of ' 2,235,000 sheep, equal to approximately - 7 per . cent. It may be noted also that , the number of breeding ewes as at April 30 last stands at 17,000,000", a drop of 600,000 as compared with the previous year. It is satisfactory to note, however, thjit our percentage of breeding ewes to the _ total flocks is being maintained. "The last lambing returns show an estimated increase of approximately 560,000 as compared with the previous year, but as against this increase, an additional number of lamb? has been killed this year up to the end of July as compared with ithe same date„ last year. When we consider the number of sheep which was held in the Dominion in 1930, it cannot be said that the country is at present overstocked. The large quantity of ewes, and especially ewe lambs, being slaughtered is a matter for concern. "The export killing figures this season show that wa have established a further record in the number of carcases of lambs killed for export. The total quantity of meat exported, computed in freight carcaiies, will eclipse all previous records. to the continued dry weather, and with the prospects of prices falling, farmers were inolined to send along their stock earlier than usual. The effect is shown in the lower average weight of lambs as compared with previous seasons."