STOCK LOSSES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23431, 22 August 1939, Page 12

STOCK LOSSES

EFFECT OF SNOWSTORM POSITION IN SOUTHLAND HIGH COUNTRY DIFFICULTY SHEEP EATS RABBIT'S FUR [BY TKIjEGHAPFI —OWN CORRESPONDENT] JNVERCABGILL, Monday Station owners in the high country of northern Southland who estimated after the recent heavy fall of snow that losses among their flocks would amount to about 50 per cent have subsequently found that their earlier estimates were not on the heavy side. The only optimistic note was struck by the owner of a station near Tarawa, who stated that the position with stock losses on his station did not seem to bo as bad as was at first feared. The owner of a station between Mosslmrn and The Key stated in a telephone interview to-night that his former estimate of a 50 per cent stock loss in high country was "not in the least pessimistic." His station had been under snow since tlio first big fall on' July !2, and at present there was.about lSin. of snow on the levels and 3ft. and more on the hills, with no sign of any appreciable thaw. Ihe sheep have been snowed in practically from the first fall in places, and any animals still in the snow were considered to be "hopeless cases." Effect on Wool Crop Fortunately many farmers on tlio plains in Southland had surplus supplies of hay this year, and consignments have been carried to the high country stations by railway and road in an effort to relieve the position of stock which had boon without substantial feed for weeks. The feed was carted by station owners to the more accessible parts of their properties, but sheep in the hills have had to forage for themselves.

It is almost certain that wool from the high country stations will be of poor quality. The output will bo smaller and. because of the check to growth, some of the wool will be weak in texture, with a bad break. Rabbit Stripped of Fur Snow raking has been in progress on the bill country lor some time. On one station in the Mossburn district a shepherd uncovered five sheep, _ lour dead and one alive. A rabbit stripped of everv pjirticlc of its fur was found among tho sheep. r ! he sheep that was still living had existed on practically nothing else but the rabbit slur for a long period. The station owner said that although the_ eating of wool wns not uncommon, this was the first occasion on which lie had known rabbits' fur to be eaten. On another station -10 sheep were released from a drift in which they had been imprisoned for weeks. All of the sheep emerged alive, looking none the worse. About 60 or 70 head of cattle were snowed in in a particularly hilly locality, and when they were discovered five carcases were found in a heap. It is thought that the snowstorm will give some runholders a serious setback at a time when their financial position is stated to be far from good. No doubt the sheep farmers concerned will point out the stock losses they have, suffered when giving evidence before the Royal Commission which has been set up by the Government to inquire into the sheep fanning industry. The commission is expected to visit Southland iu a few weeks' time.