KING COUNTRY FAT LAMBS

Taranaki Daily News, 19 January 1933, Page 16

KING COUNTRY FAT LAMBS

RECORD NUMBER MARKETED. 100,000 SO. FAR DISPOSED OF. The King Country this year has had a remarkably successful season for fat lambs. Never in previous history have so many fat lambs been marketed from the . district round Te Kuiti and the Northern- King Country area. This improvement is due to the combined influence of the mild winter followed by a genial spring. With low prices ruling for wool, sheep farmers have concentrated on the fat lamb trade, and during five weeks from November 29 to . January 9 a total of 73,120 fat lambs was railed from stations between Kopaki, Te Kuiti and Ohaupo to Horotiu. Another 20,000 from outside the railway zone were trucked to the Borthwick works at Waitara. An additional 30,000 are still to be marketed from the hinterland of Te Kuiti. A ■ total of 100,000 lambs, valued at £50,000, has so far been, marketed from the Northern King Country area, providing a record for the district. An emphatic answer is thus given to those who are inclined to underestimate the pastoral value of King Country lands. It must be understood that these- returns represent only the northern half of the King Country, all the districts south of Te Kuiti being excluded. With the 30,000 lambs still awaiting delivery to the Waitara works, together with the daily shipments still being railed from Te Kuiti and stations further north, it is estimated that this season’s fat lamb returns will be jual to £70,000 for Northern King Country farmers.