MEAT PRODUCERS BOARD.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 19 November 1924, Page 3

MEAT PRODUCERS BOARD.

BENEFICIAL 11AINS

The New Zealand Meat Producers’ Board has received the following'letter from its South American representative, dated September '2O, 1924: "“Following a period of drought, beneficial 'rains have been experienced all over the-most productive zones of this'.country, and with the favourable influence of spring pasture in the warmer zones to the north will soon be plentiful, though the cold weather has retarded the coming grass to the south. Best quality fat cattle have been very scarce and dear, and the greater part of the meat shipped as chilled beef would, under more plentiful periods', very probably he sent to the Continent. A recent number of the Meat Trades Journal to hand refers to’ the plain quality of the meat shipped as chilled from this country. The* general scarcity of fat cattle here during the winter months can be realised,' as there is little pasture available, which with the lack of shelter' or artificial feeding beyond alfalfa hay cattle' could not be expected to be fat. When plenty of pasture is again obtainable there will be the usual large supply of fat cattle available. The time will come when feeding cattle /will, get more attention than they have been accustomed to receive in this country, and a Supplementary ration of grains will be used and help to produce better beef. The general scarcity of prime quality fat cattleduring the -winter months forces the freezing companies to buy the best they can get, and prices are generally highest during July, August and September, with a tendency to become lower as tlie supply increases with the spring weathpr. Breeding and store cattle have maintained their values, and are likely to be dearer as the conditions in the camp improve. Sheep I of all classes continue to meet a veryj fair trade, especially good quality handy weighted hoggets and young lambs. The New Zealand exhibits of live stock at the International Show won many prizes, and served to give a good impression of the class of dairy cattle and type of sheep most favoured in New Zealand. Swifts prices are today : Chillers, 6.53 d; Continental grade, 5.18 d to 5.37 d; canners cows, 2.83 d t#3.46d, all per kilo live weight. Sheep: Wethers, 9.41 d to 9.98 d; ewes, 7.29 dto 7.68 d; hoggets, 10.18 dto 1f1.94d; fat lambs (off the ewes), 12.48 d to 13.06 d, all per lb dead weight. Exchange, 12.50 dollar!? to the £ sterling.