WAIKATO LAMBING

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23130, 31 August 1938, Page 14

WAIKATO LAMBING

REDUCED PERCENTAGES

RESULT OF FACIAL ECZEMA REAPPEARANCE OF DISEASE [from our own correspondent] HAMILTON, Tuesday Early lambing returns in tho Waikato indicate that there will be a smaller percentage this year on account of tho recent outbreak of facial eczema. Some farmers in the Morrinsvillo district are expecting their returns to bo no moro than 30 per cent, compared with over 90 per cent last year. One farmer with 1400 ewes stated that lie did not expect to obtain more than 600 lambs, whilo another considered he would bo fortunate to get tho same number from 1700 ewes. Another prominent Morrinsville grazier estimates that he would get no moro than 1200 lambs from 3000 ewes. After lambing, many ewes have not had sufficient strength to rear their lambs and farmers are using artificial methods. A disturbing feature in somo districts is tho presence of eczema among owes, and somo farmers hold the view that tho disease is making its appearance anew. In the districts where tho disease was not so severely felt, lambing has been more favourable. Farmers in these .areas report that returns aro quite as good as last year. OTOROHANGA DISTRICT HIGH MORTALITY REPORTED [from oub own correspondent] OTOROHANGA, Tuesday The lambing season is now well advanced, and indications point to the faet that the anticipated record lambing for tho Otorohanga district will not be realised. As a result of tho eczema outbreak among sheep earlier in the year, quite a number of lambs are being born dead.

It is also reported that the lambs born to ewes that have been affected by the epidemic do not bear a healthy appearance and are undersized. The wet and cold weather now prevailing is adding to tho troubles of the sheepfarmers.