HIGH PERCENTAGE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20073, 20 October 1939, Page 6

HIGH PERCENTAGE

LAMBING IN WAIROA REMARKABLE RECOVERY DAIRYING PROSPECTS GOOD SEASON EXPECTED (Special to the Herald.) WAIROA, this day. With docking almost completed in the Wairoa district, most of the lambing returns have come to hand now and these reveal a remarkably satisfactory position when earlier indications are taken into consideration. The average for the whole of the Wairoa district works out at 81.73 per cent, a figure Which would have been considered extremely satisfactory even had the climate conditions earlier been good.

The returns for last year showed a percentage of 72.8 compared with 81.3 per cent in 1937, 85 per cent in 1936, and 79.5 per cent in 1935. From these figures, therefore, it will be seen that this year’s lambing from the >poi«t of view of numbers has been very satisfactory, the percentage, if anything, being a little above the average for this district, which is not considered to be' noted for high percentages. Little Variation A very interesting feature of the returns is that there has been very little variation in the lamb crop in the various areas in the Wairoa County, the returns on the whole being very consistent. Twin births number around about the average for the district.

Perhaps the most pleasing feature Of the season is the excellent condition of the lambs generally, the quality being much better than was the case last year, when, owing to the outbreak of facial eczema, the floods and other troubles, Wairoa, like other districts in the North Island, experienced one of the worst lambing seasons on record.

Earlier this year climatic conditions pointed to another poor lambing, but fortunately the past month has seen a remarkable recovery. There has been an almost complete absence of anything in the nature of serious ewe troubles, and feed, of which there was a pronounced shortage a short time back, is now coming away well. The indications are that there will be plenty of feed to carry the lambs on, providing, of course, that the district does not experience a lengthy spell of dry weather.

Dairying Prospects

From inquiries made in various parts of the district the indications are that the dairy season will be a very satisfactory One, providing feed continues to come away as it is doing at present. It is stated that the cows are milking particularly well and this also is considered to be remarkable when the earlier climatic conditions and other troubles with which the dairy farmer has had to contend are taken into account.