FAT LAMB EXPORT

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 26, 23 October 1937, Page 6

FAT LAMB EXPORT

— Press Association.)

Good Season Expected

(By Telegraph-

AUCKLAND, Oct. 20. A good season for the export of fat lambs- is foreshadowed. The spell of settled, sunny weather, under which lambs thrive best, has been ideal for bringing them forwaxd. Some warm rains are necessary for pastures, but the progress of the lambs has been so good that a severe setbaek. could be brought ibout now only by most abnormal conditions. So far no killing for export has taken place. A start will be toade about the middle of next week. It is expected to send the first shipments by the Kara-' mea and the Rangitiki. The Karamea, after loading at Auckland early next month, will leave Napier about November 10 for London, while the Rangitiki, which is due here on November 6 to commence loading, will sail finally from Napier on November 18. These ships sh'ould reach London in time for theii consignments to meet the Christmas - market. Last year an early consignment of about 800 lambs was despatched in the last week of October, but the initial shipments this season are rathei later, as no early despatch ef which exporters could take advantage was offering. Exporters havo not yet named theii prices, but an early announcemeut is expected. Opinion in the trade tends toward an opening gchedule of XQd pexa lb. for prime quality. If this ma'terialises opening levels will be most Batis* factory in comparison with recent years Buying for the main shipment before Christmas last year was done mainly at 9£d for prime quality and 9£d for second quality on hooks at works. In 1935 the price of 9jd was paid for exceptionally early lambs and 8i d later for prime quality.

The London market outlook is favourable, although at present values are slightly easier, owing to heaviei competition from home-killed lamb. Consumption, however, has been maintained at a very encouraging level foi some time past. The general tendency of the British market is to absorb largei supplies of lamb and less^mutton. Ex--.ports of lamb from New Zealand for the iyear ended Septembex 30 were a record at 9,187,369 carcases. With the heavy lambing that has taken place throughout the Dominion and the favourabje conditions it is possible .that last year's record may be quickly bxoken.