THE COUNTRY.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16377, 23 November 1918, Page 3

THE COUNTRY.

NEWS AND NOTES. MORTALITY AMONG BIG LAMBS. Writing in the "Farmers' Union Advocate/' "Agricola," the South Island contributor of that journal, says:— The Shecpowners' Union has discussed the matter of the mortality among the big lambs, and an effort is being made to get tho Agricultural Department, in conjunction with the various farmers' organisations, to make a thorough investigation. According to some of the members the deaths among these lambs have assumed big proportions, and farmers are alarmed. 'It is a matter that affects the farmers most because the lambs on the higher country where tliero is little elso but tussock are not affected. All sorts of theories are advanced for tho trouble. Some think tliat the frosty weather has had something to do with it. Others say that thev believe that the youngsters are too" well fed, while yet others consider tliat they have not been getting tie exercise that they should take. Investigation?. should have been made when the trouble was at its worst. The deaths are not so numerous now, and it may be moro difficult to get cases to pxamme. The main portion of that work will have to be left till next season probably, but in the meantime farmers coufd he askod to give their experiences in connexion with the deaths. They could state the. circumstances under which tho sheep were kept, and anything that came under their notice in "dealing with the sheep and the lambs after the mortality had commenced. Some good might be done by'comparing notes received in this way, and a good deal of general information procured.

ARGENTINE MEAT EXPORTS. INCREASE IN PASTORAL PRODUCTS. In London the Director-General of National. Statistics recently presented a report, to the Minister of Finante relating to the exports of meat- from Argentina. ' This report show's that ! shipments were fairly equal, during ; the years 1911 to 1915, but that they increased considerably in ' the last two years, that is to say., in 1916 and 1917. In 1916 there were shipped 142,202 tons more than in 1915 (32 per cent, increase), and in 1917, 14,468 tons more than in 191 G. Similar increases are to be noted in other pastoral products exported. - • . The report says:—"lf it be taken into account that with ,the. exception- of very few items of agriculture, such as bran, and of forestal products, such as quebracho logs, the country lias been ablo to export the whole surplus of its production, the satisfactory and tranquilising conclusion is arrived at that, in spito of the increasing world scarcity of available merchant shipping, there lias bee'i no lack of tonnage for Argentine products. As regards those with which we are at present concerned, not only has there been no scarcity of shipping, but indeed much greater quantities have been exported than in preceding years." Statistics and tables of prices are published in the "Review of the River Plate," throwing light on the question of cattle prices to the producers in a country controlled by four largo meat firms. Tho "Review" states that the prico of prime freezing cattle was:— 1913 £12 12s each; 1914 (first- half), £13 Ifis 6d; 1914 (second half), £14 3s 6d; 1915. £14 17s 6d; 1916, £15 lis 6d; 1917. £13 18s 3d. It will be noted that 1917 is practically the'same _as the first half oF 1914. The quotations of London of frozen meat from 1913 to 1917 have been as follows: —1913, 2s Sd per stone; 1914 (first half), 2s Sd; 1914 (secoijd half), 3s Sd; 1915; 4s 3d; 1916, 5s 6(1; 1917, Ss per stone. The price of cattle in tho Argentine in 1913 and in the first half of 1914 enable tho price on Smitbfield to be 2s 8d per stone; in 1917, eighty per cent. oF the shipment was sold to the British Government at 0 l-3d per lb. or 3s lOd per .stono, f.0.b., while the balance of 20 per cent, was free to the shipper, and was sold at 8s per stone, or much more than twice the price. Yet the price of cattle shows no advance to the producer, nor any allowance for tho increase in the price of hides, etc.