Better Lambing In Most Counties

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31001, 5 March 1966, Page 10

Better Lambing In Most Counties

Twenty of the 24 counties in the Canterbury statistical district had a better lambing last spring than in 1964, according to figures prepared by the Department of Agriculture. It is estimated that 6,406,100 breeding ewes at June 30 last gave 6,731,800 lambs a percentage of 105.1, which was the third highest in the country following Otago and Southland. Counties which showed siguficent rises in percentages n the current season were Geraldine rising by 13.2 per ■ent to 111.6 per cent and the Mackenzie imnroving by 8.7 >er cent to 102.7. The livestock superintenlent of the Department of Agriculture in Christchurch. Hr M. C. Armstrong, said that Geraldine had had a low per•entage in the previous year md the improvement in the present season represented a •eturn to the county’s good jormal percentage. Drop On the other hand Cheviot •ounty showed a drop from 101.5 per cent in 1964 to 909 per cent —a decline of 10.6 per cent. Mr Armstrong said that although the district was starting to recover from irought last autumn it had nevertheless taken a severe <nock with drought conditions and it had been noted that beef cattle calving in this district had also been down significantly. There had also been the effect of spring storms and snow losses. Waipara county dropped from 106.5 per cent in 1964 to 103.6 per cent last year. This district had not been as severely affected by drought as Cheviot, said Mr Armstrong. The increases in percentages in a number of South

and Mid-Canterbury counties could be attributed to good autumn and winter conditions. Details of percentages, with variations from the previous season in parentheses, and estimated numbers of lambs born, are: Amuri, 96.5 per cent (plus 4.2 per cent), 323,200 lambs; Cheviot, 90.9 (minus 10.6), 182,600; Waipara, 103.6 (minus 2.9), 420,900: Kowai, 114.5 (plus 3), 149,400; Ashley, 111.2 (plus 8.2), 113,000; Rangiora, 115.6 (plus 2.7), 99,100; Eyre, 114.2 (plus 0.7), 122,600; Oxford, 105.2 • (plus 1.7), 152,200; Tawera, 98.1 (plus 2.2), 60,400; Malvern, 104.6 (plus 2.3), 472,400; Paparua, 104.8 (plus 2.7), 93,500; Waimairi, 108.9 (plus 11.1), 4500; Heathcote, 96.1 (plus 2.2), 10,300; Halswell, 96.1 (plus 3.1), 23,400; Mount Herbert, 97.4 (minus 0.6), 40,800; Akaroa. 106.2 (plus 6.5), 105,800; Wairewa, 103.9 (plus 4), 79,800; Ellesmere, 109.6 (plus 2.7), 334,400; Ashburton. 103.4 (plus 3.3), 1,767,000; Geraldine, 111.6 (plus 13.2), 489,300; Levels, 10.2 (plus 1-7). 355,600; Mackenzie, 102.7 (plus 8.7), 398.000; Waimatc, 110 (plus 9), 861,100; Chatham Islands, 75 (no change), 40.300. In the Marlborough statistical district percentages were lower for all counties. In the cases of Marlborough and Kaikoura they fell by 15.7 and 13.7 per cent respectively. Mr Armstrong said that the decline in Marlborough would be accounted for by summer and autumn drought in 1965 and storms, including snow, last spring. These conditions in the spring would also have affected the Kaikoura county. Marlborough

For Marlborough county the lambing percentage was 82.6 (minus 15.7 per cent on last year) with an estimated lamb

drop of 383,300; Awatere, 91.3 (minus 0.6), 192,000; and Kaikoura, 87.8 (minus 13.7), 123,000. Overall 814,000 ewes in the Marlborough statistical district gave an estimated 698.300 lambs—a percentage of 85.7. In the Nelson statistical district percentages were also lower. Here 408,400 breeding ewes gave an estimated 374,100 lambs—a percentage of 91.6. In individual counties figures were: Waimea, 91.4 per cent (minus 4.9 per cent on the previous year) and 283,100 lambs estimated to have been born; Golden Bay, 91.2 (minus 4.2), 46,800; Buller, 75.7 (minus 0.5), 7100; Inangahua, 98.2 (minus 1.8). 37,000.

Mr Armstrong said that the lower percentages in Waimea and Golden Bay could be attributed to late winter and early spring conditions. There had been quite significant snow losses in Golden Bay. In the Westland statistical district the lambing percentage in Grey County was estimated to have declined 3.6 per cent to 94.5 per cent, giving 69,100 lambs, and in Westland County the percentage was estimated to be back by 0.5 per cent to 98.6 per cent, giving 56,900 lambs.

Grey and Westland, Mr Armstrong said, had had difficult late winter and early spring conditions with very wet and stormy weather at lambing time.