“PHENOMENAL WEATHER”

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27410, 24 July 1954, Page 5

“PHENOMENAL WEATHER”

STOCK ALL IN GOOD CONDITION

“At the end of March most districts in the North Island faced the winter with little reserve of feed, following on the long dry spell of summer and early autumn,” says the quarterly report of the New Zealand Meat and Wool Boards’ Economic Service. “However, by mid-April good falls of rain were recorded throughout both Islands and

then began the most phenomenal run of mild autumn and early winter weather ever to be recorded. The recovery of grass in April was remarkable, as was the continuing growth throughout May and June.

“In Northland the recovery was slower than that experienced in the remainder of the Auckland province, but within the last month farmers have been able to regard the feed position as adequate. Further south in the Waikato the half-yearly rainfall is now about normal. Heavy falls in mid-May resulted in some flooding in the Hauraki Plains, and occasional serious trouble for the dairy farmers who had no readily availaole relief country. Supplies of hay were short but fortunately the weather continued mild with few frosts and no bad storms, and it looks as if recovery is now well under way. May be Difficult

“Root crops have not been good but the situation so far has been eased by the growth of pasture, and with the general shortage of hay it may still be possible that the early spring period may be difficult for breeding stock. “In the East Coast areas—Gisborne, Hawke’s Bay and Wairarapa—the general feed position has likewise improved—especially for cattle. Particular attention might be directed to the rapidity with which topdressed country came away, and this applies too to the hill country of the centre of the Island. In the main cattle have held their condition while the ewe flocks have come through so far in good order. “Store cattle prices were easy up till the beginning of May, but the market is now showing a rising tendency. Killings of stock for export are much on a par with those of last year in terms of weight. The 1952-53 killings for the North Island totalled 178.000 tons; and 1953-54, 170,000 tons. This year we killed half a million more lambs, but fewer wethers and ewes. The average lamb weights were down by approximately 1.51 b a head. The North Island beef position is interesting: last year we slaughtered 314,000 qrs. of ox and heifer beef but no chilled or baby beef. This year the total is 316,000 qrs. of ox and heifer, plus 46,000 qrs. of chilled and 48,000 qrs. of baby beef. Since this chilled beef business has just emerged from the “trial shipment” stage the results are most encouraging, showing that we can produce the quality. All we want now is a recognition of its worth in the United Kindgom, in the form of worth-while premium prices. “In the South Island the lamb kill exceeded that of the North Island by 700,000 and was up on last year’s figures by approximately 600,000 carcases. Unlike the North, the South Island lamb weights showed an, average increase of 2.51 b a head—from 33.41 b to 35.91 b. Cattle still remain an incon-

siderable portion of the South Island kill, but it is of interest to record that 657 qrs. of chilled beef were exported together with 1843 qrs. of baby beef. This may mark the beginning of what may—and should—in time develop into a worth-while industry. “Climatic conditions in the South Island have been similar to those of the North. Useful March and April rains were followed by mild autumn conditions favouring pastures and prolonging the growth of root crops and autumn sown green feed. The only severe rainfall was in June in Marlborough when heavy flooding of the Wairau plain occurred. Fortunately there was no severe loss of livestock, but a great deal of winter feed was destroyed. The heavy frosts common in May did not set in until late in June and there were no severe snow falls in the high .country up till the end of that month.

“From reports to hand it would seem th&i throughout the Dominion stock are in good order’, much better than had been hoped when our last report was compiled in early April. Lambing will soon be under way in the North and the next few weeks will be critical for breeding ewes in both Islands. Close attention and good shepherding of the ewe flock, together with judicious rationing of whatever feed is available will be necessary in order to avoid the lambing troubles, dopiness and milk fever which are so often encountered after a winter of relative feed shortage.”