THE SHEEP INDUSTRY

Hokitika Guardian, 11 March 1930, Page 2

THE SHEEP INDUSTRY

A REMARKABLE INCREASE

Speaking at the Matamnta Show, the Minister of Health, the Hon. A. J. Stallworthy, said that although wool growers are being hit hard as regards prices this season, and values for fat lambs are materially lower than last year, the sheep industry is in a satisfactory position in stocks and production. The increases iegister'-d in total sheep in the Dominion over the last seven years were remarkable. The high The high point . reached in 1917-18, with a total flock of 26,538,302, was followed by a, decline to 22,222,259 sheep in 1921-22. A complete recovery was made by the winter of 1928, when the total flock stood at 27,133,810. At April 30, 1929, there was an advance to the record figure of 29,051,382 an increase over the previous year of 1,917 572 sheep. This represents a 7.7 per cent advance over 1928 as compared with 5.8 per cent the previous year. Although this increase in total sheep is of great importance to the prosperity of the country, its true significance '•niunt be appreciated until we study the sheep classes in which increases have been registered. In 1918 ewes represented 55.1 per cent of the total flock in 1928 60.5 per cent, and ill

'9 23 69.1 per cent. Of the total increase between 1928 and 1929, 56.7 per. cent, was in ewes, 'flip next greatest increase was in hoggets. A phase of management noticeable during recent years has been-tlm retention of breeding ewes for another season . Total killings of mature sheep have shown a gradual decline since 1919-20, whereas for fat lambs the numbers have been steadily rising, reaching the unprecedented figure of 6,200,000 in 1928-29. The indications are that this has been suprnssod during the present season. The estimated average is 88.65 per cent, compared with 88.09 last year. The estimated number of lambs is 1.4.729 914. against the actual number of 13.373.267 in 1928. Statistics of killings of mutton and lamb for export at meat freezing works in the Dominion for the current season up to January 15 are as follows, the previous -season’s figures being in parentheses; Wether mutton, 210.657 (908,288): ewe mutton 14,513 (36,601); lamb, 1,469,969 <\ 508,993). The larger part of this business was, of course, in the North Island, the South Island not having got into full swing at the date mentioned. It is expected the arrears of lamb will he pulled up and a new peak output established by this main section of our 'frozen meat industry.