EXPORT SEASON FOR LAMBS

Southland Times, Issue 23678, 29 November 1938, Page 8

EXPORT SEASON FOR LAMBS

PROSPECT OF EARLY DRAFTS

KILLING MAY BEGIN BEFORE CHRISTMAS New season’s lambs in Southland are making very rapid progress and have suffered only a very slight check from the stormy weather at the beginning of last week. At the Winton show on Saturday many lambs fully fat and ready for killing for export were exhibited and the numbers of butchers’ lambs available at district stock sales has been increasing steadily. The date for the opening of the freezing works in Southland has not yet been fixed, but it is expected that the companies will provide the usual facilities for a fortnight’s killing before the Christmas holidays. Drafters and fat lamb buyers will be starting their work in about a week and a decision on the opening date will be made after information has been received from farmers about when the first drafts will be ready. In previous seasons only a small number of lambs has been killed before Christmas, but facilities have been provided to avoid congestion in the busiest part of the season.

The companies hope that during the coming season there will be no repetition of the serious congestion which was caused last season by unusually dry weather and the necessity for early killing because of the shortage of feed. Lambing returns in Southland this season have been slightly below the high averages of the previous season and it is probable that a smaller number of lambs will be slaughtered. However, the companies have made extra provision in killing facilities at the freezing works and the hooks available for killing have been increased by more than 20 at the three works during the off-season. An increase has been- made in the storage accommodation at Mataura and Ocean Beach and it is hoped that the Meat Board will provide more regular shipping facilities for the export of Southland frozen meat. Delays in shipping early this year caused the companies to restrict killing when freezing accommodation was short. The present market position is uncertain. In the North Island the schedule rates for the opening of the season have been below the level of last year and a reduction has occurred this week. The opening price in the North Island is usually above the level for the remainder of the season because the first shipments reach London in time for the Christmas trade. The price at the opening of the season in Southland last season was on the basis of 8d per lb for prime lambs up to 361 b. The present Auckland schedule is Jd per lb below that price. The details of the export killing schedule for this week in Auckland on hooks, Southdown. Westfield works are: Up to 361 b, 8d per lb; 371 b to 421 b, 7ijd; over 421 b and seconds, 7jd. The rates for wethers and ewes on hooks at Southdown, Westfield, freezing.works are unchanged as follows:—-Wethers: Up to 481 b, 4|d per lb; 491 b to 561 b, 4d; 571 b to 641 b, 3Jd; 651 b to 721 b; 3|d; over 721 b, 3d; seconds, 3jd. Ewes: Up to 481 b, 2|d per lb; 491 b to 561 b, 2;}d; 571 b to 641 b, 2d; 651 b to 721 b, Ijd, over 721 b, seconds, lid.