RUSSIA STOCKING UP WITH SHEEP TO PRODUCE WOOL ON NEW ZEALAND CROSS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 22887, 5 March 1949, Page 10

RUSSIA STOCKING UP WITH SHEEP TO PRODUCE WOOL ON NEW ZEALAND CROSS

REVEALING STOCK IMPORTS

“It is fairly obvious that Russia is iletennincd to restock her vast areas of scorched earth, the Steppes and the Lkraine, with basically the same crossbred sheep we produce in New Zealand, and although this object, cannot be achieved in cither one or two years, I think it must be taken as a pointer by New Zealand that at a later date a considerable part of our wool now being bought by the Soviet—-mainly through the London wool sales —will be replaced by the home-grown wool irom these llocks. ’

This conclusion has bean reached by Mr. H. W. G. Dickinson, well known in the Gisborne district pre-war, who is now farming in the Maidstone area of Kent. By correspondence he has been keeping in touch with his friends in Gisborne.

docking tally average as 89 per cent..” states Mr. Dickinson. "Also given are the results of 21 fully-costed Kent farmers over the period 1937 to 1947. From these it is maintained that the yearly profit per ewe works out at 5s id for the 27.530 ewes under review and annualy put out. 1 have no idea how this figure compares with Gisborne sheepmen's returns, but I think you might all be interested in the figures from Kent for purposes of comparison. "The principal agricultural economist. at Wye states: "Under existing conditions the Southdown ram for crossing purposes is hardly prolific enough nor is the resulting animal large enough to be a profitable proposition for the present-day demand for large joints and meat’ “Over the past years the demand has been for the big-framed type of beef beast,” Mr. Dickinson writes in connection with beef breeds. “However, tiie judges at recent fat stock shows are and always have been big butchers and I think it is highly significant that in each show to date this season the judges passed by the heavier type of animal for the more compact beef breeds.

Stock exports from England during 1943 showed that the Romney largely had been favoured. Romney exports totalled 1980 animals, leading all other breeds by a good margin It was interesting to note, he wrote, that the Lincoln came next m number, but 400 head behind the Romney. "What is particularly striking is the huge amount of stock which has gone to Russia,” states Mr. Dickinson. "Russia alone accounted for no fewer than 1480 Romneys, of which total only 450 were rams.

"The average price paid and listed is given as £lB 13s 4d per head. However, tnis is slightly less than the average price paid by the Soviet for Lincolns which is given as £2O (is for 1222 head. That figure includes 310 rams, the proportion of males to females being considerably higher, probably accounting for the increase in the price average.” Russian Buyers’ Methods. Describing his visit to two ewe fairs at Maidstone and Ashiord. the largest sales of the kind in Kent, Mr. Dickinson said he was intrigued by the methods employed by the Russian buyers operating there. They appeared to work in pairs. Having marked their catalogues, they stood below the auctionears' stand with their backs to the auccer. When stock they were interested in came into the ring one turned and nodded to the auctioneer and the second one merely nodded his head without a word Thev seemed to be operating without limits

"At both Birmingham and Bristol, Aberdeen Angus came into the picture, gaining first at Bristol and second at Birmingham. The latter beast at two years nine months sealed 144 cwt-. whereas the heaviest beast in the show was a South Devon steer which went 24 cwt. In view of this decision, which is in direct contrast to the Government meat graders’ rulings up and down the country, the judges were asked to give their reasons for their choice. More Compact Types Wanted The reply of the chief judge, Mr. H. H. Eynon, was most enlightening. He gave it as his view ’that the actual amount of loss from this type of animal, to the butcher, was less than that on the heavier breeds. The meat was more compact and of a better texture and there was less loss from the bone, nor was there so much sec-ond-class meat.’

“Looking at the wool market from this end the outlook seems to be 'set lair' or some lime,” continues the writer. "Prices seem to be higher than ever at the moment and the demand for ail classes of wool seems unappeaseable. "The trend here and in France seems for the women to be demanding much more wool for all forms of clothing—in some measure I think this is accounted for bv the very restritced allowance of cotton for English and softcurrencv countries. The Lancaster cotton mills' output has been greatly increased in the last 12 months, but all the increase is earmarked for dollar export.

"The meat position here does not improve. Already since Christmas the ration has been cut by 2d worth of fresh meal. At present, to make up the amount to the Is worth we are getting tinned corned beef. We, being a family of four, this week got a lib tin, which the butcher informed us was our ration of corned beef for a fortnight. Our tin was Brazilian meat and of a very coarse texture. It was quite impossible to carve even with the sharpest knife for it simply shredded. Our thoughts turned longingly to the popular New Zealand brands which would absolutely put this stuff to shame. "Another factor which is at present reducing the amount of meat available is the almost complete cessation of shipments of store and fat cattle from Ireland. "I believe there arc two reasons for this. Firstly, we are being outbid for the cattle by ttie Belgians and. secondly, we are not very much in Irish favour just now over our disinclination to discuss with them the incorporation of Ulster into the Eire Republic. Goods Being De-rationed “In all other respects things have improved tremendously in the last 12 months," he continues. "Both bread and potatoes have been de-rationed. For the first time for many years the milk ration has not had to be cut so far this winter. We are definitely getting more eggs. Oatmeal has been derationed and jam has come oil points. Boots and shoes are off the ration list, as are now many articles of clothing and those yet requiring coupons have been much down-pointed.

"Another thing whicli has caused a further demand for wool is the comparative failure of plastic materials to hold their market. Most firms manufacturing plaslics have shown reduced earnings anc prints this year. At the moment plastic shares are a glut on the London Stock Exchange, whilst at least two fairly large plastic firms in the north have gone out of business since August." Washed, Hand-Picked Wool. Recalling that some weeks ago a report went out over the 8.8. C. overseas service to the effect that a record price of 85d had been received for wool at the Canterbury sales, Mr. Dickinson slates that some farmers in New Zealand may have been misled. That price was paid for a small parcel of washed, hand-picked Dorset Down wool. Kent was the home of ihe Romney, he explained, and the farming acreage was being severely reduced by the amount of proposed building. It was happening also in other parts of Southern England and in some measure would explain the terrific drop in available homegrown meat. During the war it was Government policy to discourage sheep husbandry in favour of milk production and cropping. “The report also gives the rather astounding figure of 127 as the average number of lambs reared per 100 ewes put to the ram.' he quotes from a publication of Wye College, the county farm college. “Note it distinctly says reared and not docked, and the report goes on to say this average was obtained by covering 1 he years from 1930 to 1947.” So that figure cannot be taken as a Hash in the pan. "I believe (hat tlie last figures I saw relating to the Cook County gave the

‘‘So far this winter there have been very few electricity cuts and although the coal ration has not been increased it is much easier to get one's ration than it was a year ago, but the price has risen considerably. Even then we get coal at £4 10s a ton instead of the New Zealand price of £O. “Despite the mixed weather last summer, it seems the harvest was a record with large increases in barley and potatoes. Sugar beet was up considerably. Vast studies have been made with this crop in the Fen lands and Lincolnshire, with the result that the sugar ration has been maintained with a huge saving in hard currency for South American sugar. “Owing to the large Increase in the barley harvest, it has just been announced that fanners may this year retain 25 per cent, of their crops for feeding purposes; this is a 5 per cent,, increase on what they were allowed last year. This concession should be of great help to the poultry and pig men.”