DEPLETION OF FLOCKS

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 103, 25 January 1933, Page 12

DEPLETION OF FLOCKS

Check to Killing-off Movement SHEEP INDUSTRY REVIEWED Phases of the sheep industry during the past year are discussed by the DirectorGeneral of Agriculture, Dr. C. J. Reakes, in a review he has prepared for "The Dominion." I>r. Reakes said the flock depletion noted during the.past two seasons bad not been continued so far as the earlier part of the current meat export season was concerned. Dr. Reakes said the phase of stock depletion entered upon in the 1930-3.1 season,» consequent upon abnormally low prices for sheep products (wool in particular). was continued in 1931-32. ■ The annual sheep returns as at April 30. 1932, showed a Dominion flock of 28,691.788, this being a decrease of I, head compared with 1931. The drop in the latter year had not been viewed very seriously, as breeding ewes had actually increased to a peak total of 17,608.729 (including stud sheep). In the 1932 returns, however, breeding ewes registered a fall of 545,669 to 17,063,060, this decrease’being approximately in proportion to the aggregate shrinkage in sheep stocks for the year. Even so, the number was higher than any recorded for breeding ewes before 1930. Good Lambing Season. “Estimates of the 1932 season’s lambing,” said Dr. Reakes, “indicated an average percentage of 88.82, which is probably a record for the Dominion as a whole iu any one year. Both islands shared in the high average, the North with 89.16 and the South with 88.42 per ceut. On the basis of 17,063,060 breeding ewes this gave a Dominion estimated lamb crop of 15,156,151, compared with 15,284,161 lambs on an estimated percentage of 86.79 in 1931. (In past years the estimates had proved to be very close to the actual figures.) “This year's high natural increment to the Dominion’s sheep stock is doubly satisfactory in view of the abnormally heavy killings of sheep and lambs in the 1931-32 meat export season, far exceeding all previous records for combined output. The figures for the twelve months ended September 30, 1932, with those for the corresponding period of 1930-31 in parentheses, were as follow: Mutton, 2,872,860 carcases (2,132,532) ; lamb, 8.804,889 carcases (7,783,528) : total, 11, carcases (9.916, 060). “While these excessive slaughterings may be partly ascribed to the incidence of droughty conditions experienced last season in certain districts, the main cause was undoubtedly an economic one, indicating efforts made by farmers to meet current expenses by the sacrifice of capital in the form of replacement stock. Depletion Not Continued. “This depletion movement in sheep stock has not been continued so far as the earlier part of the meat export season of 1932-33 is concerned. From October 1 to December 31, 1932, killings of lambs amounted to 1,389,939 carcases, and those of sheep to 108,376 compared with 2,146,879 and 365,772 respectively in the corresponding period of 1931. Labour trouble is doubtless partly responsibly for this marked decline, and the main part of the season is still to come.” Dr. Reakes said the most serious economic aspect of the sheep industry, namely, the exceptionally heavy fall in wool prices —some 60 per cent, below the average of a ten years’ average, compared with approximately 33 per cent, for all staple commodities—remained in much the same position. The average price realised during the 3931-32 season at the local wool sales, which still absorb the great bulk of the clip, was 5.27 d per lb, compared with 5.66 d for the preceding season. The current season’s sales had so far shown some improvement for the finer sorts of wool, and average crossbreds showed a little upward movement, but there was a long way to go before they could properly emerge from the trough of the depression. Export Value Viewpoint. From an export value viewpoint, the additional sheep and lambs killed, though having some effect ou receipts, had not been sufficient to maintain total income. For the 11 months ending November 30, 1929, 1930, 1931, and 1932, the export values of the main sheep products were as follow .---Wool, £14,544.141, £7.365,374, £5,194,162, and £5,298,535; lamb, £67625,142, £6,908,727, £6,059,976, and £5,794,269: mutton, £1,748,143, £2,275,396, £1,328,680, and £1,441,477. These figures spoke for themselves. The total export value of these three items combined for the periods concerned was £22,917,426, £16,549,497, £12,582,818, and £12,534,281 respectively, and it must also be remembered that the total flock had been depleted by over 2,000,000 head. Sheep by-products had fallen in market value to the same or greater extent as the 'staple products. LIVE STOCK MARKET Prices at Gisborne Ram Fair By Telegraph—Press Association, Gisborne, Jan. 24. At the Gisborne ram fair to-day the entry of Romneys totalled 2300 head, which was considerably greater than usual. Bremer and Sons, of Waverley, obtained 9} and 8} guineas, and L. E. Craine, of Feilding, 8J guineas. For two- 1 thirds of the sale prices averaged 4| guineaS, and then slumped, when good rams were obtainable for one guinea. For several pens there was no bid. Increase in Fat Wether Values Dominion Special Service, Waipukurau, Jan. 24. The rise in the exchange rate was partly reflected iu values at the Waipukurau stock sale to-day. store lambs and fat wethers showing an increase of about 2/6 all round, and fat ewes about 1/- extra. There was only a small yarding of cattle and a fair number of sheep. Prices were:— Forward store lambs, 12/6 (top price) ; 8 medium fat young P.A. cows, £3 14/-; 7 two-year Hereford and P.A. heifers, £2/16/6; 1 good young P.A. steer, £3/1/-; 1 Jersey bull. £2/13/-; 2 fair P.A. cross cows, empty, £2/10/-; 1 Jersey cross cow, £l/10/-. Fat Sheep.—Thirty well finished ewes, 7/2; 64 prime shorn ewes, 7/8; 34 well finished ewes, 7/4; 14 good maiden ewes. 10/6; 23 prime wethers, 13/4; 10 well finished ewes, 7/2: 8 prime wethers. 15/-. Store Sheep.—Three hundred and six good wether lambs. 10/1 ; 315 ditto, ex Ngawaka, 9/6; 256 good woolly wether lambs, ex Hat time, 12/4; 212 medium b.f. lambs, ex Porangahau, 9/3; 279 ditto. 9/1; .123 good wether lambs, 9/7; 160 fat and forward lambs, not. drafted, (recount F. Jackson, Porangahau, 12/6; 153 fair rape lambs. 9/1; 149 fair wether lambs, 9/-; 193 small wether lambs, 8/1; 41 fair m.tn. lambs, 9/7; 91 two. four, and six-tooth wethers, 11/7; 57 f. and f. wethers, 11/7; 41 medium wether lambs, 9/1; 50 medium m.s. lambs. 9/1; 40 fair shorn lambs, 7/6; 33 small b.r. lambs, 5/3; 11 good wether iambs, 10/8; 21 good ewe lambs, 10/6; 42 small Southdown lambs, 5/1. DAIRY PRODUCE PRICES White N.Z. Cheese Steady Joseph Nathan and Co,, Ltd., have received from their principals, Trengrouse and Nathan, Ltd., London, the following cabled advice, dated January 23:—New Zealand butter, weak ; 80/- per cwt. New Zealand cheese, white: steady, 46/- per cwt.