Wet soil underfoot not so good for new arrivals

These young triplets were staying close to mum in a paddock at Matawhero yesterday as the lambing season in Tairāwhiti gets under way. Picture by Liam Clayton

Lambing in the district got under way about three weeks ago and the very early arrivals will have found it pretty tough going in the wet ground conditions, says AgFirst consultant Peter Andrew.

It started for farmers on the front country, places like the Poverty Bay Flats, Ngatapa, Muriwai and Whangara.

“While we’ve had some sunshine recently the weather has been pretty tough on the new arrivals because of the very wet soil,” Mr Andrew said.

“It’s not a great environment for young lambs to be born into,” Mr Andrew said.

“However, it is surprising how many of them do survive in those conditions.”

It was too early to have any indication of survival rates,  he said.

“The scanning this year has generally been quite good.

“Not for everyone, but on many farms the ewes have scanned well, which means more lambs in the system, and potentially we’re looking at a good season.”

It will peak towards the end of August, when the biggest chunk of the lamb crop will arrive, and then continue at full steam until the final lambs arrive in the higher country in October.

“As long as the soil dries out a bit this looks to be a positive lambing season,” Mr Andrew said.

“The sun and increasing warmth are good, plus there’s good grass around, but we need things to dry out a bit for the youngsters.”