THE WEEK

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27576, 5 February 1955, Page 5

THE WEEK

GOOD LAMB PRICES

Among the biggest lines of store lambs to come into Addington each year is that from the estate of R. O. Bradley, Chatteris Bay. This year’s draft, which was sold on Wednesday, was in excellent order, particularly so in view of the dry season, and, as it is a standard line, comparison of this year’s prices with those of previous years is interesting. The practice is to take one or two drafts off the mothers to sell either to the works or fat. Last year 560 went to the works at weights of between 35J and 371 b. The remainder, 1185, were as usual sold at Addington in three main lines in the store pens. This year about 260 were sent to the works, and with the exception of 10. which killed out at 43.71 b, dressed at 34.2 and 38.51 b. A draft of another 260 was sold in the fat pens at Addington on Wednesday and made from 66s 7d to 77s Id. The top of the draft of the 1150 stores this year, 159 head, made 695, about the average for those sent into the works. Top price last year was 565. The table gives a comparison of prices received for the three main store drafts this year and back to the boom year of 1951:—•

LAMB IN LONDON

The first New Zealand lambs arrived on Smithfield in time for Christmas, but little interest was shown because lamb does riot suit the Christmas trade, according to airmail advice received by the Bank of New Zealand from its London .office. With the advent of the New Year, however, the demand for lambs was good, although butchers were very slow to change to the higher price of new season’s lambs from New Zealand. Arrivals so far have not been heavy, and with the fall in the New Zealand price the demand is steadily improving at the expense of the less popular Australian and South American lambs. Ewes are bringing a little more, due to the temporary shortage before the arrival of new season’s supplies. Wethers are selling well, but the trade considers that any tendency to raise the price may check the demand in favour of the South American large lambs and tegs, which are very good and are arriving in large quantities. The Ministry of Food has released New Zealand pork for the first time since decontrol, and at the lower price the demaqd is good. Prices ex Smithfield range from Is 4d to Is 6d per lb.

SOLID WELCOME

The “Scotch Shorthorn Journal” records a remarkable performance by Calrossie Welcome, a Shorthorn bull bred by John and D. P. MacGillivray at the famous Calrossie stud. At the last four Perth February sales, 40 calves by this bull have been sold for a total of £94,925. Besides these Perth sales, there have been many private and other sales, which would have brought the total to well above the Perth figure.

WEST COAST LAMBING

Second only to Southland, the West Coast last year produced lambing percentages more than comparable with the more recognised sheep raising centres of the Dominion. The percentage for the two districts, embracing the two counties of Grey and Westland, was 110.38 per cent., comparted with Southland’s 111.22 per cent. The number of lambs produced on the West Coast, however, is the smallest in New Zealand by a wide margin, with only 72,590 breeding ewes and 80,129 lambs. The West Coast figure was considerably above the national figure of 95.73 per cent. Inangahua secured 97.4 per cent.

MARGARINE CONSUMPTION

Consumption of margarine is traditionally highest in Continental Europe, particularly in the colder Scandinavian countries, while Commonwealth countries have been the main consumers of butter, says “Dairy Produce,” a review published by the Intelligence Branch of the Commonwealth Economic Committee. Nevertheless, Commonwealth countries have all increased their consumption since before the war, although only about lib per head of Australian consumption represents table margarine, as distinct from cooking margarine, and none whatever in New Zealand. In the United Kingdom, where butter and margarine were included in a combined fats ration up to May, 1954, margarine consumption rose sharply between 1938 and 1952 to compensate for the shortage of butter supplies, but in 1953, with more butter available on the ration, it declined. With the end of rationing and the return of branded products, it is clear, however, that margarine consumption has increased at the expense of butter, and in 1954 will probably exceed the record 1952 level of 191 b per head. Nevertheless consumption of the two products, taken together, is unlikely to be greater than before the war. In 1953 the total was 311 b per head compared with 341 b in 1938. In the United States also the rise in margarine consumption between 1938 and 1953 was insufficient to offset the decline for butter. Margarine consumption in 1953 showed only a small increase compared with the gains of the three previous years and was 51b per head heavier than before the war. The comparatively low level of consumption of butter and margaine in the United States (161 b per head) is compensated for by a high consumption of lard and shortening (121 b and 101 b in 1953 respectively) and by a substantial supply of the invisible fats in meat and milk. In most European countries consumption of margarine showed further increases in 1953. In both Denmark and the Netherlands, the main butter exporting countries, it exceeded 401 b a head and in Norway 501 b. Pre-war levels were surpassed in all cases, except Denmark, with the rise being greatest in the Netherlands, where butter consumption iri 1953 amounted to only 61b a head.

EWE FAIR DATES

The North Canterbury Stock and Station Agents’ Association anrcunces the following list of dates fdt the 1955 series of ewe and ram fairs:— February 17—Christchurch stud ram fair. February 18—Kaikoura ewe fair. February 28—Amberley southern ewe fair. March I—Ashburton County Breeders ewe fair. March 3—Hawarden ewe fair. March 7—Rakaia ewe fair. March 7—Amberley northern ewe fair. March 7—Ashburton unregistered ram fair. March B—Little River ewe fair. Marcli 9—Ashburton ram fair. Marg.i 10—Culverden ewe fair. Maiwi 11—Methven ewe fair. March 14—Kaikoura ram and ewe fair. March 15—Tinwald open ewe fair. March 15—Sheffield ewe fair. March 17—Christchurch flock ram fair (mutton). March 18—Christchurch flock ram fair (wool). March 21—Oxford ewe fair. March 22—Coalgate ewe fair.

Year. 1955. 1954. 1953. -1952. 1951 S. s. s. s. s. 1 . 69 56 541 46 84 2 . 56 49 46i 39J 73 3 . 50 42i 351 291 65