WAIKATO LAMBING

Wairarapa Times-Age, 13 September 1938, Page 3

WAIKATO LAMBING

VERY POOR PERCENTAGES ANTICIPATED. FOLLOWING ON FACIAL ECZEMA. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) HAMILTON, September 12. Lambing percentages in the Waikato are as low this year as they were high last year, when the returns were the best for some considerable time. Authorities estimate a reduction of approximately io per cent in the district’s lamb production, but a final analysis will not be available foi- some weeks, as lambing is by no means yet finished. In some areas satisfactory reports have been obtained, but in districts where facial eczema was experienced returns have so far been poor. Many lambs are too weak to survive and die a few days after birth, and in other cases ewes are not strong enough to raise their lambs.

One prominent grazier with a flock of 3000 ewes reports that he will obtain only about 800 lambs. Another, with a flock of 150 u ewes, is expecting a total of only about 250 lambs. Many other farmers expect their returns to be as low as 30 per cent.

The poor season can be attributed in chief to the effects of facial eczema, although another contributing factor has been the cold and wet weather experienced throughout the Waikato since lambing began. It is stated that fresh cases of facial eczema have made their appearance among flocks in some districts, but it is thought that these are examples of ewes exhibiting outward symptoms of the disease aftei 1 being inwardly affected throughout the winter.