Weaning has been off to a late start for most in the South Island, Silver Fern Farms head of communications and sustainability manager Justin Courtney said last week.
"Due to the later season we are finding less capacity constraints than normal across our South Island sheep plants, right now" he said.
Silver Fern Farms livestock agent Cameron Rowland said the season had kicked off "a good two weeks" later than usual.
"We only really got a couple weeks done before everything shut down for Christmas".
![Farmhand Fiona Short pulls out lambs to be dagged before they are sent away to the meat processor. Photo / Alice Scott](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/resizer/v2/V7SKBWSQ72XYIQDC73MILW43PA.jpg?auth=e54536184eded1b4dccd56f0cde68c4eadf132cac5baf9f8a5575f8113f82a96&width=16&height=22&quality=70&smart=true)