LEAN SEASON.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 221, 19 September 1938, Page 12

LEAN SEASON.

BUTCHERS' PROBLEM.

"CANNOT BREAK EVEN."

HIGH FAT STOCK PRICES,

"Butchers arc passing through a very lean period, and oh the ruling price of fat cattle it is impossible to break even," said Mr. H. C. Bridges, president of the Auckland Master Butchers' Association, this morning in discussing the effects of the shortage- of fat stock.

The seasonal shortage of beef, aggravated by the effects of the eczema outbreak on top of a heavy export season, has sent prices .on the Westfield market to the highest level for over eight years. The value of by-products lias slumped, and butchers are finding difficulty in meeting increased costs. In addition - , jpigs and calves have l>ccn dearer than for years past, though in the case of pigs there has been a slight easing over the past fortnight. Reduced prices of fat sheep have given some compensation. A rise in retail rates for beef and veal has met the situation to some extent, gravy beef, mincemeat and steak having been raised a penny a pound. Veal is also a penny dcarer'in the shops. These increases have not been sufficient, however, to offset the rise in butchers' costs and the fall in the return for byproducts. A year ago when fat cattle ranged up to 41/ per 1001b compared with 42/ at present, heavy ox hides wore worth about 20/ more. Butchers state that at that time .they could make their profit on the hide, which would be worth about £2 15/ in the case of a bullock costing £10. The extent of the decline in hides, sheepskins and tallow is shown in the following table:— Killing A year prices, ago. Hides (per lb)— Heavy ox fijcl to 7<l fljd Medium ox sJ<l to 6d !)gd Heavy cow 4grt . 8d Medium cow 4gd sjd Sheepskins, salted (each)— 3to full wool 5/0 to 0/4 10/0 to 11/9 Halt wool .. 3/ to 3/10 7/0 to S/0 Sheepskins (dry, per lb)— 3 to full wool .. Sd 14d Half wool 7d lljd Tallow (per cwt.) — Good 13/!) Ifi/0 Second 11 /li is/(i Third' 9/0 10/9 Higher Abattoir Prices. The full effect of the rise in wages at the beginning |of the year is now being felt, and in addition abattoir charges have been increased. Moreover the abattoir allowances for hends, runners and fat were cut down by almost half when they were revised in August. The best proposition a£ present, according to Mr. Bridges, is mutton. Wethers which brought up to £2 10/ a head last rear are now selling up to about £1 IS/9. When the fall in the return for the skin and offal is taken into account the reduction in the cost of mutton to the butcher has been about 5/ a head.

The present good supplies of fat sheep offering have disproved forecasts of a shortage following the eczema 'losses. This is attributed to the poor lambing season, which has caused shcepfarniers to send numbers of barren ewes in to the market. A shortage is expected later, however, as flocks have been depleted and lambs will be comparatively scarce.

The scarcity of fat cattle is usually at its worst in October, and this year prices are expected to continue at high levels, at least till December, Last season they were maintained over the New Year and were at their highest in February of this year.