PROSPECTS FOR FAT LAMBS

Southland Times, Issue 23682, 3 December 1938, Page 19

PROSPECTS FOR FAT LAMBS

Drafts Should Be

Early

GOOD PROGRESS ON RIVER FLATS

EFFORTS MADE TO AVOID CONGESTION AT WORKS

Prospects for a good lamb-fattening season in Southland are now bright and big numbers should be available in the first drafts from river-flat districts before the end of this month and during January. The lambs are making excellent progress and as there is now plenty of feed in all districts ewes have completely recovered in condition from the low state reached during the autumn and winter because of the shortage of feed.

An inspection of the country districts has shown that the lambs are making very rapid progress and already small drafts could be taken from many flocks. The numbers of lambs offering at Lomeville on Tuesday indicated that many growers already have fairly big numbers available and the offering was beyond the requirements of butchers.

A month ago, before feed became plentiful, it was feared that the fattening of jambs would be K difficult this season, but the difficulties of lamb growers have quickly disappeared. It is practically certain that the usual facilities of a fortnight’s killing before the Christmas holidays will be provided at the freezing works and substantial numbers should be offering during this period. The companies have endeavoured to avoid congestion during this season by extending the killing boards and increasing storage capacity, but it appears certain that there will be a big rush of lambs in January and February and growers whose lambs are ready for killing before Christmas would assist the position by sending in an early draft. In the past growers have not taken full advantage of the early killing facilities to a great extent, but the shortening of the season which has occurred in recent years makes it more important that where possible killing should be done before the great rush of stock occurs. Total killings for the season may be slightly below the record figures for last season. An average of the lambing returns in all parts of the province shows a decrease of approximately 2 per cent, compared with the previous year. This was largely due to the dry autumn conditions and the poor condition of the ewes at mating. A small reduction in the number of lambs to be killed may be expected from this cause and it is probable that there will not be a repetition of the very complete clearance of lambs which occurred last year because of the shortage of feed. The retention of a bigger percentage of ewe lambs to replenish the flocks is desirable and farmers will probably keep back a greater percentage of ewe lambs this season. These two factors will probably ease the congestion to such an extent that normal killings will be possible throughout the season.