RAIN AFFECTS THE LAMBS

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 198, 7 September 1937, Page 6

RAIN AFFECTS THE LAMBS

Mortality Reported by Farmers MILK FLOW INCREASES The prolonged si>ell of.wet weather has accounted for a fairly wide spread loss of young lambs in Hawke's Bay. but fortunately the mortality, except in isolated places aiid oir ceitain higihcountry statious, has been very little . above norma i. TJie continuous rain iu ecrtain places where abnormal raiufalis have been recorded has been responsible for the quite heavy losses reported. in the present season a heavy mortality among Jainbs. was to be. expected. If the rain had not come, large numbers of lambs would not have survived owrng to impoverishment. Brceding ewes generally being in low condition and having little or no milk was conducive to heavy probable loss ea. The rain lias, however, had a most benefieial effect as far as a large number of the uew season' s crop of lambi is concerned and mo3t encouraging reports ai'e being received as to the manner in which the older lambs are coming away. Prospects for the fat lamb season were a short time ago far from being assuring, but last night a well-known Hawke's Bay autbority was most hopel'ul regarding early skipments for which the district is noted. Lambs "Jump Away." During the last few days large numbers of lambs have jumped away due to the ewes improving in their milk," he said. "I am satisfied that there will be a tremendous lot of first-class lambs for tlie firsfc boat and there should also be plenty of splendid lambs in the show."The wet weather ha3 held up docking for the last ten days with the result that many lambs tliat have nofc yet been done arc gjetting quite big. On the ilats tho lambing season is practically over, and with a large percentage of the lambs being fairly i'orward, losses from the rain, which has not heen accompanied by a cold snap, liave geiierally been light. In the higher country where the lambing is much later and the lambs? are some weeks youngor the consistent wet spell has been hard on them, more especially, the newly-born lambs. A report has been in circulation that exceptionally heavy losses among lambs had occurred in the Whanawhana district, but last night Mr E. H. Beamish, Kohatanui, stated that the mortality due to the weather was little if any, heavicr than that of a normal season. Ewes in Poor Condition. '•So far I think that xoy losses a« fcbe direct resuit of the rain are comparatively few," said Mr Beamish. "With the ewes being in poor condiciou, losses have been rather more than we* would have liked. Losses in a season like this are inevitable. lo hill country in normal seasons losses in the normal course of lambing are beavier than inauy people think If a©cuiate tallies were kept, mauy farmers would he surprised at their losses during the season through no apparent cause. After wet weather such as w# have^-been having, many would get * surprise at not finding more lamb* dead. ' "As far as this part of Hawke's Bay is concerned, and I can ouly speak for myself and those around me, 1 can say that the mortality due to the wet has not heen so large as reported '» Mr Beamish added that losses from other causes had been rather more •than the average and much of this had been due to the' m other not Aaving sufficient milk due to their poor condition. At Kereru, Arapawanui and Maraekakaho, where lieavy rainfalls took place, the heavicst losses have occurred and a noticeable reduction in the laml* iDg percentage will be inevitable. Fortunately twin lambs are not ao numerous as in past seasons and owing to tho condition of the ewes the weaker lamb lias been killed in order that tho stronger might be reared. Farmers agreo that a'though the wet weather has accounted for certain losses the toll wquld have been much greater ' without it, as many of ihe lambs wonld have been poorly groivn anr much below the exeellent stanclard for which Hawke's Bay lambs are noted. t