Lambing Estimates for 1952 Season

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume 86, Issue 1, 15 January 1953, Page 19

Lambing Estimates for 1952 Season

The estimated lambing percentage of the Dominion for the 1952 season is 94.68, a rise of .14 per cent, on that for the 1951 season. The total breeding ewe figure for 19a2 of 22,833,442 is the highest on record. In the following tables, contributed by the Animal Industry Division, county breeding ewe figures had to be estimated, as breeding ewe figures for only the North Island, South Island, and the Dominion were available.

Dominion Totals

A Survey of the Trade in Dairy Produce

DAIRY PRODUCE, 1952"*, published recently /. by the Commonwealth Economic Committee, illustrates how the reversal in the upward trend in milk production in many countries in 1951 was reflected in a serious fall in butter supplies, which continued in 1952. The decline in exports of butter is also attributable to the high level of consumption in the exporting countries, not only of butter, but of fresh and processed milk and cheese. Other factors include the continued absence of supplies from the Baltic and other eastern European countries and the effects of very unfavourable weather in Australia in the 1951-52 season. The general decline in butter output has been accompanied by a marked increase in supplies of margarine and this trend has been accentuated by a fall in prices of vegetable oils while butter prices have continued to rise. Thus consumption of margarine per , head in the United Kingdom reached the record figure of IBlb. in 1951, but butter consumption, at Islb. per head, was 2lb. less than in 1950 and about 101 b. less than in 1938. THE available figures for 1952 show that the trend toward lower milk and butter production has continued in Continental Europe, but in New Zealand, the world’s largest exporter of butter and cheese, a steady increase in output has been maintained; higher milk production has also been evident last year in the United Kingdom and Canada and prospects are favourable

for the 1952-53 season in Australia. United Kingdom imports of butter and cheese have been well below the 1951 level, the decline for cheese resulting mainly from the lack of currency to make purchases in Canada or the United States, and rations have been correspondingly reduced. The fall in European production and exports has served to increase the United Kingdom’s reliance on Commonwealth supplies, which account for a very large proportion of its imports of dairy produce. After a steady improvement up to 1950 world production of butter declined sharply and exports in 1951 were 30 per cent, lower than in 1938. The most serious fall occurred in Australia, where drought reduced exports to little more than 10,000 tons in the 1951-52 season as against 55,000 tons in the previous season and 100,000 tons in 1938-39; butter supplies from the main European exporters also contracted in the face of falling milk production. A further factor was a rise in consumption in the exporting countries of Australia, New Zealand, and Denmark, though in New Zealand the increase in production was sufficient to provide for an expansion in exports also. The effects of these changes on United Kingdom imports has been accentuated by the strong import demand from many European countries which are normally, either selfsufficient or themselves exporters. World production of cheese in 1951 was about 30 per cent, above the prewar level and little change has been evident in 1952, increases in the United Kingdom and Continental Europe off-

setting a decline in North America. Trade in cheese was also much larger .than in pre-war years, partly because of the rise in supplies from New Zealand and Australia, but to a greater extent because of the expansion in exports of fancy cheese from Continental Europe. Much of this trade has been directed to the United Kingdom, where import restrictions were introduced earlier this year. Latest price movements for butter and cheese show a continued upward trend, which is exemplified by increases in contract prices paid by the United Kingdom to New Zealand, Australia, and Denmark. The upward trend is contrary to that for several other primary commodities, including vegetable oils, which are the main constituents of margarine. Output of condensed milk and milk powder in most countries has remained much greater than before the war, with exports closely following the pattern of production. A rise in exports of evaporated milk • (unsweetened condensed) in 1951, most of which came from the United States, was mainly attributable to defence requirements and stockpiling, while Far Eastern countries received greater quantities of sweetened condensed milk, mainly from the Netherlands. Commonwealth countries’ share in production and trade in condensed milk is not large, but they are providing an increasing proportion of supplies of milk powder, which is used not only for baby food but also in the manufacture of many food products. A high percentage of United Kingdom imports of milk powder' is of Commonwealth origin mainly because of the preponderance of New Zealand supplies of skimmed milk and buttermilk powders; Australia also is an important source of skimmed milk powder.

* “Dairy Produce, 1952”, published for the Commonwealth Economic Committee, by H.M. Stationery Office, price ss. net.

County Breeding ewes (as at 1952) Estimated percentage of lambs , Estimated number of lambs Mangonui 30,253 83.0 25,110 Whangaroa 14,747 90.7 13,272 Bay of Islands 65,671 95.4 62,650 Hokianga 43,344 80.0 34,672 Whangarei .. 93,104 84.4 78,579 Otamatea . . .. 89,197 88.0 78,493 Hobson 84,312 92.0 77,567 Rodney 100,644 90.1. 90,680 Great Barrier 6,149 63.6 3,911 Waitemata . . 77,557 ' 91.4 70,887 Eden 3,186 97.0 3,090 Manukau 75,857 92.9 70,471 Franklin 155,594 ■ 102.5 159,484 Coromandel . . 32,920 78.8 25,941 Thames 14,133 86.1 12,169 Hauraki Plains 22,085 . 89.4 19,744 Ohinemuri ... 25,041 96.5 24,165 Waikato 180,109 102.9 185,332 Raglan 482,616 99.0 477,790 Waipa 202,567 100.5 203,580 Piako . . 147,059 103.4 152,059 Matamata .. 322,964 102.5 331,038 Rotorua ; 131,275 99.8 131,012 Taupo 8,289 85.6 7,095 Taumarunui 115,508 90.5 104,535 Kawhia 71,140 91.9 65,378 Otorohanga 160,606 100.0 160,606 Waitomo .. 393,694 96.9 381,489 Ohura 121,812 92.0 112,067 Kaitieke 72,073 88.6 63,857 Tauranga .. 173,928 100.2 174,275 Whakatane .. 58,436 83.8 48,969 Opotiki 48,631 78.2 38,029 Totals .. 3,624,501 96.23 3,487,996

AUCKLAND DISTRICT

Clifton .. .. 94,366 92.3 87,100 Taranaki 32,447 106.6 34,589 Inglewood . . .. 58,330 99.2 57,863 Egmont 24,529 106.7 26,172 Stratford 118,170 95.9 113,325 Whangamomona . . 59,116 86.5 51,135 Eltham 55,899 99.6 55,675 Hawera 81,413 96.3 78,401 Waimate West 10,134 106.3 10,772 Patea 220,916 100.7 222,462 Waitotara .. 146,657 97.0 142,257 Waimarino . . 177,229 98.0 173,684 Wanganui 289,824 91.0 263,740 Rangitikei 974,920 98.0 955,422 Oroua .... 222,170 ' 107.7 239,277 Kairanga . . 109,545 103.6 113,489 Kiwitea 253,607 93.1 236.108 Poll angina . . 128,569 95.0 122,141 Manawatu . . 154,170 105.7 162,958 Horowhenua' 124,991 98.9 123,616 Hutt 68,355 88.4 60,426 Makara 45,844 87.7 40.205 Featherston 334,825 94.9 317,749 Wairarapa South . . 183,913 90.4 166,257 Masterton .. .. 301,131 80.8 243,313 Castlepoint 94,025 86.8 81,614 Eketahuna . . 141.681 81.3 115,186 Mauriceville 47,412 87.9 41,675 Totals . . a .554,188 95.22 4.336,611.

WELLINGTON-WEST COAST-WAIRARAPA DISTRICT

County Breeding ewes (as at 1952) 1 Estimated percentage of lambs Estimated number of lambs 1 Estimated percentage of lambs Estimated number of lambs Matakaoa 64,656 81.0 . 52,371 Waiapu 245,554 78.0 191,532 Uawa 118,558 78.1 92,594 Cook 432,349 82.3 355,823 Waikohu . 347,841 83.3 289,752 Wairoa 412,959 77.1 318,391 Hawkes Bay 967,135 91.2 882,027 Waipawa 458,274 98.7 452,316 Waipukurau 150,032 98.2 147,331 Patangata 510,556 ■ 91.5 467,159 Weber :. 55,607 87.6 48,712 Dannevirke 301,555 95.8 288,890 Woodville 92,497 97.8 90,462 Pahiatua ... 164,324 92.4 151,835 Akitio .. 153,828 81.3 125,062 Totals 4,475,725' 88.34 3,954,257

GISBORNE-HAWKES BAY DISTRICT

Waimea 166,268 88.8 147,646 Takaka 27,860 84.0 23.402 Collingwood 13,574 82.0 11,131 Buller 1,442 90.0 1,298 Inangahua . . 15.857 102.5 16,534 Murchison . . 29,701 94.9 28,186 Grey . . 25,661 109.0 27.970 Westland 33,576 112.2 37.672 Sounds 95,290 73.0 69,562 Marlborough 212,162 88.0 186,702 • • 212,162 88.0 186,702 Awatere 174,896 89.0 155,657 Totals .. 796,287 88.63 705,760

MARLBOROUGH-NELSON-WESTLAND DISTRICT

Kaikoura .. 118,419 70.2 83,130 Amuri 227,746, 83.6 190,396 Cheviot 159,100 91.0 144,781 Waipara 297,705 100.1 298,003 Ashley z . . 67,183 90.0 60,465 Kowhai 84,044 99.9 83,960 Oxford 74,358 89.1 66,253 Rangiora 50,538 100.8 50,942 Eyre . . 63,421 102.9 ' - 65,260 Tawera 48,445 75.9 36,770 Malvern 147,587 100.0 147,587 Paparua - -- 42,978 103.7 44,568 Waimairi . . 3,006 95.1 2,8o8 Heathcote . 7,755 86.3 6,693 Akaroa 82,860 107.2 88,826 Mount Herbert 41,165 98.7 40,630 Wairewa . . 69,736 96.5 67,295 Halswell 16,772 91.8 15,397 Springs 35,079 110.9 38,903 Ellesmere 88,830 101.8 90,429 Selwyn 157,081 77.9 122,366 Ashburton . . .■> 854,495 91.8 784,426 Geraldine 294,505 89.3 262,993 Levels .. 213,796 100.8 215,506 Mackenzie . . 299,297 83.0 248,417 Waimate . . 519.008 87.3 453,094 Chatham Islands . . 50,559 74.0 37,414 Totals .. 4.115,468 95.06 3.747,362

CANTERBURY-KAIKOURA DISTRICT

County Breeding ewes (as at 1952) Estimated percentage of lambs Estimated number of lambs / Breeding ewes (as at 1952) Estimated percentage of lambs Estimated number of lambs Waitaki .. .. 462,194 95.0 439,084 Maniatoto 227,173 82.0 186,282 Vincent 230,425 84.0 193,557 Waihemo .. .. 106,848 . 85.0 90,821 Waikouaiti . . . . 72,890 90.0 65,601 Taieri .. 167,530 97.0 162,504 Peninsula , 14,934 102.0 15,233 Clutha . . .. 486,870 109.0 530,688 Tuapeka 358,721 93.0 333,611 Bruce 258,102 100.0 258,102 Lake .. .. 134,537 76.0 102,248 Southland .. 2,061,617 114.0 2,350,243 Wallace 683,189 96.0 655,861 Stewart Island .. 2,243 81.0 1,817 Totals .. ' 5,267,273 102.25 5,385,652

OTAGO DISTRICT

Auckland .. 3.624,501 96.23 3,487,996 Gisborne - Hawkes Bay 4,475,725 88.34 3,954,257 Wellington - West Coast-Wairarapa 4,554,188 95.22 4,336,611 Marlborough - Nel-son-Westland 796,287 88.63 705,760 Canterbury-Kaikoura 4,115,468 95.06 3,747,362 Otago 5,267,273 102.25 5,385,652 Dominion. 22,833,442 94.68 21,617,638

DISTRICT ESTIMATES

Year Number of breeding ewes (*as at 1950) l Estimated percentage of lambs Estimated . number of lambs Actual No. of lambs . tailed NORTH ISLAND 1952 .. 12,654,414 93.08 11,778,864 Not available 1951 .. *12,181,797 92.12 11,221,453 — 1950 .. 12,181,797 94.04 11,454,372 11,722,316 1949 .. 12,027,414 94.55 11,371,834 11,702,479 1948 .. 11,821,596 89.43 10,572,444 10,830,868 1947 .. 11,696,313. 92.47 10,814,554 11,250,554 SOUTH ISLAND 1952 .. 10,179,028 96.66 | 9,838,774 1951 .. *9,699,670 ' 97.59 9,465,829 Not available 1950 .. 9,699,670 97.65 9,471,747 9,516,145 1949 .. 9,472,289 98.93 9,370,665 9,467,367 1948 .. 9,233,886 96.93 8,950,202 8,975,017 1947 .. 9,047,469 93.94 8,498,971 8,584,492 DOMINION 1952 .. 22,833,442 94.68 21,617,638 — 1951 .. *21,881,467 94.54 20,687,282 Not available 1950 .. 21,881,467 95.64 20,926,119 21,238,461 1949 .. 21,499,703 96.48 20,742,499 21,169,846 1948 .. 21,055,482 92.72 19,522,646 19,805,885 1947 .. 20,743,782 93.11 19,313,525 19,835,046

The following table shows the estimated lambing for the North and South Islands for the previous 5 years together with the actual number of lambs tailed:—