Higher Export Lamb Kill; Sheep Down

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31114, 18 July 1966, Page 7

Higher Export Lamb Kill; Sheep Down

The feature of the export meat kill in Canterbury this season has been the big decline in the number of sheep, mainly ewes, slaughtered at the seven freezing works in the province. Compared with last year, sheep killings are 37 per cent lower up to late last month. But lamb killings are slightly bigger than last year—they are up about li per cent. At June 25, the lamb kill totalled 4,slB,4ll—which was

54,297 head more than at the same date last year. Also, the lambs were very much heavier than in the previous season. This will mean a large increase in production by weight Compared with last season, figures show that average lamb weights were better by nearly 21b to about 2.71 b. An average 21b increase In carcase weights over the number of lambs killed would result in the production of an extra 4000 tons of lamb meat. Also a reflection of the good season for lamb growth, the proportion of fair average quality or second grade lambs has dropped sharply. At some works the percentage of these lambs is only a little more than half of what it was last season. Under the impact of prolific feed conditions in the summer and autumn and appeals for a build-up in flock numbers, the sheep kill has dropped away from 1,203,017 at the same time last year to 757,365 this season—a decline of 445,652 head. The combined kill of lambs and sheep for the seven works is down almost 7 per cent at 5,275,776—a drop of 391,355 head.