RECORD LAMBING

Southland Times, Issue 21854, 3 November 1932, Page 6

RECORD LAMBING

SEASON IN SOUTHLAND. LOWER PRICES PROBABLE. The lambing in Southland is regarded by farmers as a record, both as regards the number of lambs tailed and the conditions during the lambing period. Last year a very large increase in the number of lambs exported was shown, and it is anticipated that if the season continues to be as favourable as it has been during the early period a similar increase will be shown in the new season’s killings. The lambs are making excellent progress, and judging from the large number of butchers’ lambs coming on to the market at this early stage it is likely that there will be a considerable number of lambs available for killing for export before the Christmas season. The intentions of the freezing companies regarding the opening date for killings have not been announced yet, but it is considered probable that similar facilities for early killings as were available last year will be provided this season. So far, there have been no reports of serious diseases occurring among the young lambs, and the dry nature of the season during the period when the lambs were very young has probably contributed to some extent to the excellent health of the lambs.

While the prospects for heavy production are very bright, the outlook for prices is not at all bright. The London stores appear to be very full and the Smithfield quotations are very depressed. The indications for local schedule rates are that they will be substantially lower than those of last year, but as yet the freezing companies have given no indication of probable prices. Spurred by the success of growers who consigned their lambs to the market during the previous season, a number of Southland farmers shipped their lambs Home on their own account last season, and the returns have been very disappointing and a number have been required to make reclamations on the advances paid out.