THE PRICE OF SHEEP.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLVI, Issue 118, 16 May 1912, Page 6

THE PRICE OF SHEEP.

SHARP RISE PREDICTED

A prediction from a, well-known Wsirarapa sheep) dealer to the. effect that a sharp rise in the price <.v sheep will take place next season is published in a contemporary. The dealer in question is reported to br^-i his calculations on the fact' thati the phenomenal season has been responsible for a, largely increased numbw of "fats," sating that 50 to 100 per cent. more fat sheep have been railed this season tlvut last. He goes on io state that "the logical conclusion then in the face of the small lambiu.r percentage r.s compared with the year previous is that there must- be le^-s sheep alive. Already there is a l?,vg*i shortage in the" South Island, ard this must be reflected on the North Island mairket. 'Again, strange though it may seem, in face of the quantity of grass about, anyone wi'i .C'l.resi to inspect the flocks will finrl that the hoggets: are not doing nearly so well as in previous years, and there seems nothing that can .wev-t heavy mortality among them." Opinions on the above in theMrr-a-watii, according to inouiries, differ somewhat, and it is held that it doss not necessarily follow that a sharp rise .will take place, as there .n-b m«.ny other causes bearing on the question. At present, for instance there- is a sec-ious tightness, in tho money-market, a.nd this may possibly have a' depressing effect on the stock market and may ternd1 at least to prevent prices from becoming ab;un.rrially high; Cable advices from Horn-? state that lamb and beef are likeW to remain fairly good in price, bid the mutton market is dull. It is true that many sheep have boon uoir!-;.* from the North to the South TsvUrir'. during the present- sen-son, but th-it dtoes not necessarily mean a shortn .?,e there; it may simply, mean that, LiV'* farmers, in this island, they have an unusually plentiful supply of grass and require more sheep to keep.it down. Here grass lias not been to plentiful for ye.*:i's, and farmers ar<caiyyins; more sheep than they lii.ite been able to carry for many ye.-trs. Should the winter prove a good, on'this may be rather «n advantfigo

than otherwise, but should the winter ; prove a Severe one a heavy mortality j will be likely to follow. It has to i<; ; remembered, too. that there hava i been practically no "burns"' this sea- j son, and that as it is the custom t-j j put hoggets on the newly-burnod j jM-eas, the demand for this- kind. i;l ; sheer) cannot be a strong one. Aiv*. ; though grass, its plentiful it .contr.ms j" a, great dcvA of moistua-e, ands h'.-j^- i geta that arc being fed on it are noo • thriving as well :.!.•* they would^ in :. ! warmer and daier seeson. Alrevs-'-ly | there, has been a> fairly heavy mov- j tality among the young sheep, ;.nd I the indications are that it will : c heavier still. This, .including a some- j wiiat lower pereenL'-ge of lambs, ian-r | indicate a- probable shortage for tli^ next season, but it does not news- j sarily mean an abnormally sharp visr i in prices. It has to be remembered ! tlisrt many people who formerly grew j sheep h-iive, during the _ past ye'M.r •-»' so, gone in for d':ary fanning, r.ndj will therefore require cattle in pl.^/.w of sheep. All things considered, _it i seems probable thut while prk'es. should" not become abnormally hip;n. f they may havo a tendency to Irardn-i | at the beginning of next season, <y..U \ are likely to remain firm throughout, j