SNOW SHEEP LOSSES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23428, 18 August 1939, Page 10

SNOW SHEEP LOSSES

BANKS PENINSULA TOLL TOTAL MAY REACH 10,000 HEAVY LAMB MORTALITY [BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION] CHRISTCBURCH, Thursday Sheep losses on Banks Peninsula in tho snow storm of three weeks ago may total something like 10,000 head. The full extent of the losses is not yet known, as .gullies are still deeply covered by snow drifts, but already from individual bays the loss has been over 1000 head. Eastern bays, such as Little Akaloa, Pigeon, Okain's and Le Bon's, appear to have suffered worst, getting the full force of the storm. At Little Akaloa a loss of between 1000 and 1200 head has already been disclosed, and more dead sheep are being found every day. Pigeon Bay has reported the same figures.

11l a survey made of the peninsula this morning, losses of up to and over 200 head in individual flocks were common, representing a death rate of 25 per cent in extreme cases. One farmer on tho hills over Little Akaloa lost 240 sheep out of a flock of 950.

In western bays and the sheltered reaches round the Akaroa harbour, the losses were not so heavy. The worst feature of the losses is the effect the storm is having on lambing. Lambs aro being born dead, and the mortality in eastern bays will bo one of the heaviest on record.

Cattle suffered also in the storm. As the drifts are cleared away grim reminders of the intense cold have been revealed. At Pigeon Bay cattle were found frozen stiff in a standing position. Sheep carrying a good deal of condition also died as thev stood.