FARMERS PUZZLED

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18273, 16 December 1933, Page 6

FARMERS PUZZLED

ABNORMAL SEASON LAMBS WILL NOT FATTEN Puzzled as to the reason for their inability to fatten lambs, motubors of the Poverty Bay provincial executive of tlie Fanners’ Union, at to-day’s meeting, came to the conclusion that the season was an abnormal one, and that there was no accounting for the unfortunate position. The topic was introduced by the president, -Mr .1. E. Benson, in order that members might give expression to their opinions. “This season,’’ said .Ur Benson, “ we have good feed —all the country hasn’t galloped away—the ewes are in good condition, and the season generally is not a very bad one, and yet we can’t, fatten our lambs.” “Too much feed,” suggested Mr 11. K. Shanks. ' “Lack of lime,” opined Mr C. Tietjen, and Mr ,1. G. Field agreed with that view. As an instance of the trouble, the president said that his Hock had been •pastured on short English grass and clover, and the ewes were in good order, but at shearing time when he went through 1(12 lambs off one paddock he found that 50 of the lambs were weaned. A neighbor had bad a similar experience. Such a large iiimi.her of dry ewes in a Hock was not natural. Other instances were cited by Mr W. Turnbull. One neighbor, be said, whose flock was pastured on bare country, found that .100(1 poor ewes yielded 600 fat lambs, while the lambs of another neighbor were mongrels, although the feed was splendid. “Why have the ewes gone off their milk with such an abundance of feed?” asked the president. “They .arc too fat,” said Mr 'Turnbull. “This is an abnormal season, and you can’t account for it.” After a remark by Mr 'Shanks that two years ago it was possible to fatten anything, the discussion lapsed.