A wet, cold end to winter caused some grief for dairy farmers, but several weeks of settled, warm weather has coincided with lambing, with farmers reporting a relatively easy and enjoyable start to spring.
There are reports of high lamb survival rates, despite scans revealing varied pregnancy rates after a tough summer and autumn.
Meat companies and farmers are hopeful of a high lamb drop.
Meat and Wool New Zealand forecast six million fewer lambs this year due to drought and land use change, but there were also prospects of prices hitting $90.
Meat and Wool New Zealand has also forecast that fewer lambs may mean average weights increase 1kg to 2kg this season, and the percentage of chilled lamb exports could increase from 20% to 26%.