The Lambing Season.

Putaruru Press, Volume VI, Issue 255, 20 September 1928, Page 6

The Lambing Season.

AVERAGE RETURNS. Morrinsville Flocks. With several exceptions, which appear to be isolated, lambing is progressing very favourably in the • Morrinsville district. Speaking generally, mortality among the ewes has npt been a heavy item, some runholders stating their losses to be lower than in previous years. Docking is still proceeding and there are numbers of ewes that have not yet lambed, so that percentages a.t this Stage are based largely on estimates. Nevertheless the season has advanced sufficiently to indicate that the returns will be well up to average. The number of doubles varies with the flocks, in some the figures being very good and in others below normal. With about 80 ewes yet to lamb Messrs. Howie Brothers, Kiwitahi, have the excellent percentage of 102, with the loss of 80 ewes. Only approximate figures can be furnished in the flocks of Messrs. .1. B. Thomas and P. McNaughton, Kereone, in which lambing has not yet reached a stage where a percentage can be arrived at. At present both are below the hundred mark. At Te Mimi estate (Mangateparu) the position is not so good: To date the percentage of lambs from the 2080 ewes- is only SO and is expected to reach 90.

A run of bad luck has been experienced in the Walton district, where the returns are low, and owners state the position is worse than for many years. Messrs. Dickie and McLean have each 1400 ewes, and the former states he expects only 800 lambs, while Mr. McLean anticipates 1000. The ewes for both owners were driven from Cape Runaway, and it is thought the long walk, coupled with a dry autumn, may have been the cause of the poor returns. The ewes are in good condition and mortality has been light.