BAD CONDITIONS FOR LAMBS

Southland Times, Issue 23716, 14 January 1939, Page 12

BAD CONDITIONS FOR LAMBS

Unsuitable Weather For Fattening DEFINITE CHECK SUFFERED X SHEARING DELAYED BY RAIN Very heavy supplies of fat lambs have not been received at the Southland freezing works so far this season and it appears unlikely that for some time yet the numbers offering will bring the works to full capacity. Recent weather has been unsuitable for the fattening of lambs and in some parts of the province lambs are showing evidence of a definite check. The killings for the early part of the season have been below normal and drafters have found that the percentages available for drafting do not in some cases, justify the lambs being sent away. In some cases the lambs have definitely gone back .and where a fair percentage was prime before Christmas the number ready for draft-, ing has dropped. Only a few farmers made use of the facilities provided during December for killing because they preferred to take advantage of the E’ "Eul supply of feed to allow the to reach heavier and more profitable weights. With the lambs now making little or no progress or showing signs of a check they are regretting that they did not draft during December.

While most farmers are experiencing difficulty in fattening their lambs, some very attractive drafts are being received at the freezing works and the general level of quality appears to be satisfactory. From some districts which have not suffered so severely from rain and cold weather the lambs have come forward normally, but in other parts the postion is not so satisfactory. Shearing has been considerably delayed by the wet weather during December and the present month and wool is slow in coming into store for the first Invercargill sale of the season in three weeks’ time. Much of the wool has been sent into the stores in a damp condition and immediate sorting and drying in the store has been necessary to prevent serious deterioration. f Hay making has been delayed and a check has been suffered by all crops. The recent gales have been unfortunate for grain crops, which had been well advanced and unless a fairly rapid improvement in the weather occurs the crops will probably be light as a result of being shaken and blown by the wind.