CONCERN FELT

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 321, 7 September 1932, Page 2

CONCERN FELT

TOO MANY EWES BEING SLAUGH.TERED IN N.Z. INCREASING EXPORTS. Coneern at the large numbar of ewes, particularly ewe lambs, being slaughtered in New Zealand, was expr.ess.ed by Mr. T. A. Duncan, actingchairman of the Meat ■Rroducers' Board, in the course of his address at the annual meeting of the board. "There has been a decrease in our docks as at 30th April, 1932," he said. "These figures show a further drop of 1,186,000 sheep, as compared with the previous year, and as compared with 30th April, 1930, show a decrease of 2,250,000 sheep, equal to approximately 7 per cent. It may be noted also that tlie number of breeding 'ewes as at 30th April last stands at 17,000,000, a drop of 600,000 as compared with the previous year. It is satisfac'tory to note, however, that our pereentage of breeding ewes to th'e total docks is being maintained. "The last lambing returns show an estimated increase of approximately 560,000, as compared with the previous year, but as against this increase, an additional number of lambs has been killed this year up to the end of July as compared with the same date last yea,r. When we consider the number of sheep which was held in the Dominion in 1930, it cannot be said that the country is at present overstocked. The large quantity of ewes, and especially ewe lambs, being slaughtered is a matter for concern. "The export killing dgures this season show that we have established a further record in the number of carcasses of lambs killed for export. The total quantity of meat exported, computed in freight carcasses, will eclipse all previous records. Owing to the continued dry weather, and with the prospects of prices falling, farmers wera inclined to send along their stock earlier than usual. The effeet is shown in the lower average weight of lambs as compared with previous seasons."