EARLY SPRING LAMBS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22146, 27 June 1935, Page 12

EARLY SPRING LAMBS

NUMBER ALREADY BORN FANCY PRICES SOUGHT SURVIVING ROUGH WEATHER Although it will be several weeks before lambing is general in the Auckland district, several farmers in sheltered localities have already a number of lambs in their paddocks. These have mostly been born during the past fortnight- At least two flocks in tho Mangere district were noticed to be well forward yesterday, anil in one case about 70 lambs wore running with their ewes and surviving the exceptionally unpleasant weather. The first lambs to appear on the market invariably realise fancy prices, commensurate with the difficulty of bringing them successfully through tho worst of tho winter. Generally, however, the bulk of the local lambs conic on to tho market from late September onward, and graziers prefer to bring them to heavier weights before marketing them.

Last year tho first lambs to be offered were sold at Westlield on July 12, these coming from Edenbrook, where equally early lambs are again rapidly reaching tho marketable stage. Lambs from tho Mangere district were also sold in July. Duripg August tho number increased steadily, and prices up to 31s were still being realised in September, the total offerings seldom exceeding SO. Although it is still early to predict the prospects for the coming season, flocks are reported to bo in first-class condition. In a number of cases a later lambing is expected, due to the effects of the dry summer. One farmer who had as many as 100 lambs at this stage last season stated yesterday that so far none had been born on his farm. The majority of farmers, on the other hand, expect little difference in the time of lambing this season.