SLUMP IN SHEEP

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 128, 26 November 1938, Page 13

SLUMP IN SHEEP

BRITISH FARMERS' POSITION

(Special to the "Evening Post.") LONDON, October 20, The slump in values in the Home sheep market continues, and in most cases a feeder is lucky if he gets as much for his wethers as he paid for them as lambs twelve months ago, so that ( money spent on keep and labour is lost. Lambs at some of the leading sales have been 10s cheaper than at the same sales last year. Farmers declare that increased Home production, followed by, a shortage of i keep, threw extra sheep and lambs ion the market at a time when there was also a slight increase in imports, with the result that supplies, were estimated to be 12 per cent, to 15 per cent, above normal.

Unfortunately, this occurred at a time when there was a serious increase in unemployment and a drop in purchasing power, so that when home-produced supplies were at a maximum, economic pressure was drawing the consumer to cheaper alternative foods. Also, abundant supplies of imported lamb were available at lOd to Is 4d per 1b retail when Eng* lish and Welsh lamb was up to Is lOd per lb; so that the demand for the home-produced commodity became almost negligible. Values dropped fully 40 per cent. If the national flock had to be written down to present prices, the loss to Britain's sheep farmers would be in the region of £26.000.000.