THE BEEF SUPPLY.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLVI, Issue XLVI, 30 May 1914, Page 10

THE BEEF SUPPLY.

The question is now beginning to arise ,(says Koran, in the Canterbury Press) as to the amount of beef that will be available for the winter and spring supply. There are apparently more fat. cattle about than at this time last year, but prices are likely to Tule high. In. Canterbury, the autumn fattening season has not been a good one, 1-ut in the North Island the eondiiiapns have been more favorable. There

has been, however, a keen demand in j the North for fat cattle for freezing, \ and this will, of course, reduce the ' numbers available for local consump- ! tion. The North has not been drawn j upon by the South Island to the extent | that has been usual for several years j past, and this indicates that the South I Island is now better ' supplied. A j Manawatu correspondent of the Farmers' Union Advocate, says that southern ' buyers will find it difficult to secure supplies, especially of coav beef. For ! fat bullocks up to £16 per head is be- t i ing asked, and this is beyond the limits , lof the freezing companies' buyers who I offer £13 or £14. for the same class of j cattle. It is expected that beef in the j Manawatu district will be worth fully | Sfis per 1001b this winter. The scarcity j of mutton, through the heavy export" in the North Island and the poor fattening season in the South will akso have its effect upon the values of beef this winter. Store cattle have ruled at high prices this year, and there has been no slaughter of young calves, as it has paid to rear them, and conseJ quently the beef supply in the near future should show a considerable in- , crease. At the same time, the export i trade with America and other markets j will absorb any surplus.