SHEEP WANTED.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 10, 12 January 1934, Page 5

SHEEP WANTED.

SHORTAGE OF EWES. BUILDING UP FLOCKS. MORE WOOL PRODUCTION. Enhanced wool values and a shortage of stocks have been quickly reflected in improved prices for sheep of all classes, and the belief is encouraged that sheep farmers who, through force of economic s'lress, were driven into partial dairy production, will find it profitable in the future to concentrate again on the raising of sheep and wool. In this, prospects are assisted by the unfavourable state of the butter market. According to authoritative surveys made to-day, there is an unquestionable shortage of wethers of any description, and also of young ewes for breeding purposes. The last two years, it is pointed out, have been good "lamb seasons, and the killings have been unusually heavy, mainly because lambs have done exceptionally well. It was only natural that the farmer, in the position in which he was placed, should grasp every opportunity ■ of turning everything he had into ready cash. The ruinous prices prevailing for wool encouraged few to retain their lambs for wool production, and even the largest of the stations, which were in the habit of holding on to their wether lambs, allowed buyers to take- what could be killed for export. Raid on Flocks. In effect, as one authority expressed it, the last two years saw a fairly general raid on the permanent flocks of the North Island. The position became worse last autumn when prices for late lamb for export made a sharp rise, and this prompted quite"a number of owners to dispose of lambs which they had intended to hold. That killing included ewe lambs which At had been intended to retain for breeding purposes. The tempting price—it was high only in a relative sense—carried the day. For the struggling sheep owner it was a case of bread and butter and of keeping at bay a wolf which was not one masquerading in sheep's clothing. Cull-

ings and killings were in numerous instances indiscriminate, and the prediction now is that future cullings will be much more selective. Naturally offerings at the sheep fairs have been fewer than was the case laet year, and this, coupled with the increasing demand, induced by the neeessity for replenishing stocks and the rosy prospecte of the rising wool market, has sent prices up. In some quarters it is expected that sheep values will go even higher before the replacement requirements of farmers are satisfied. Depleted Flocks. The prediction was made by an agent in touch with the trade that if an accurate census could be taken of the flocks of New Zealand, it would be found that sheep of all classes were behind normal requirements, and that it would be some time before the deficiency could be made up. Difficulty was still being experienced in obtaining store 'wethers, and in some, districts country which was essentially sheepproducing was going back for want of proper stocking. Throughout the slump lack of finance had kept stock low, lambs had been sold indiscriminately to enable the farm to be held, and to-day, with a general shortage of all classes, the demand was greater than the supply. In addition, lamb and mutton for export were still meeting a good market. During recent years there has been a tendency in some districts for dairymen to take on fat lamb raising as a sideline. This activity will be accentuated by the improved outlook for the wool industry. Back to Sheep. According to received by some of the stock and station agents, there is a good deal of talk among sheepfarmers, who went "partially dairy," of returning exclusively to their former activity, and numbers are at present endeavouring to "swap over." Although this aim, in the majority of instances, is expected to be realised, the point is made that restocking under ruling prices and possibly higher values later may be A somewhat costly Undertaking. On the other hand, it is recalled that no one could have foreseen the remarkable turn in the wool tide, and it is claimed that with butter prices still scraping the bottom of the market and wool values still soaring, logic dictates reversion to straightout sheep and wool production.