Big Lamb Kill Forecast

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31057, 12 May 1966, Page 1

Big Lamb Kill Forecast

Freezing works in North Canterburymay be faced with a very big increase in stock to process next season, according to information given to the annual conference of the meat and wool section of North Canterbury Federated Farmers yesterday by its chairman, Mr W. N. Dunlop.

It has been estimated that more than 10 per cent more ewes may have been mated in the district this season. Mr Dunlop said that a committee of the section had not accepted the projected breed-ing-ewe increase for Canterbury of 15.4 per cent for the years from 1965 to 1972 as supplied to it as a basis for submissions to the South Island Freezing Works Investigation Committee, which met in Dunedin last year to consider the siting of the next freezing works in the South Island. Last month, he said, the

Department of Agriculture had been asked to conduct a limited survey of ewes mated this autumn to give the industry some guide as to the immediate likely trends in stock numbers. The sample covered 206 farms carrying about 10 per cent of the sheep in North Canterbury. This showed that 26,887 more ewes had been mated this season than last season, representing an increase of 10.7 per cent—--279,150 compared with 252,263. “I would stress that this is a limited survey covering 10 per cent of the farms—it is not a complete census," said Mr Dunlop, “but these figures indicate that one of the first tasks of the incoming executive should be to initiate a more comprehensive survey to establish the over-all position. “Terrific Increase”

“On the basis of these figures it does mean that the industry must plan for the possibility of a terrific increase in through-put this coming season. The major part of this increase must be in old ewes held back from slaughter this year, and with

a good autumn behind us only a reasonable winter and spring will be necessary to produce a lamb crop far beyond any numbers previously planned. “If later substantiated by killing, these figures mean that we will have achieved in one year two-thirds of the projected increase set for North Canterbury for the next seven years. This would

be a major challenge to every section of the industry. “The utmost co-operation among all associated with the industry will be needed if these numbers are to be processed without great economic loss to the whole community,” said Mr Dunlop. Speaking after Mr Dunlop had made his statement, the vice-chairman, Mr A. F. Wright, said that after a very quiet time in the freezing industry since January the time might not seem very opportune, but if these projections were shown tc be justified, then he was quite sure that the quotes for killings at works would be the first thing that would have to be thoroughly looked at.