COMMERCIAL

Northern Advocate, 22 January 1927, Page 8

COMMERCIAL

SOUTH AMERICAN MEAT MARKET The New Zealand Meat Producers’ Board has received he following letter from its South American representative, dated November 16, 1926. There is an exceptionally large available supply of fat cattle owing to the favourable conditions and the lesser quantity required by the freezing companies. Values have in consequence declined considerably, and many of the j large feeders of steers are finding much I difficulty in getting rid of their fat cattle before they attain overweight, when they have to be sold at whatever price can be obtained, and then the freezers do not want such beef. I believe a large proportion of the heavy cattle are cut for the different uses of tho Home trade, and the remainder of tho carcases used for canning, as thin cattle for canning are scarce. With a large offering of fat sheep, principally lambs, on the local market, values are considerably weaker all round, and buyers state that a large proportion of the lambs arriving in the market are lacking in condition.

Two fat-stock shows have been beld and though some of the leading prize winning pons sold at satisfactory prices, there -were many lots that were relatively cheap to their buyers for the annual display of this country’s prize cattle on .the Southfield market. These cattle are raised and fattened in the open, though the use of a supplementary ration of grains is allowed, and generally given for some time previous to showing. Harvest has commenced in tho earlier districts, to the North, where the yield is stated to be satisfactory, but areas in different parts of tbo country have suffered from frosts. However, these zones are relatively small in comparison with the area sown in this -country, and to judge by present indications, this year’s wheat and linseed crop mil be a good; average yield, if no further losses are experienced on the extensive zones to the south, whore cutting has not yet commenced, but where the conditions are favourable for a good crop.

The prices paid by the freezing companies are as follows: —Chillers, 2.29 d to 2.48 d per lb live weight put in the plants; heavy chillers, 1.74 d to 2.02 d; English freezers, 2.11 d; Continental, 1.84 d to 2.02 d; Italian, 1.84 d to 2.02 d; Canners, 1.56 d to 1.84 d.

Sheep.—Wethers (in wool), 4.(14d to 4.84 cl per lb dead .weight; shorn wethers, 3.G3d to 4.04 d; ewes (in wool), 4.04{1 to 4.64 d; shorn ewes, 3.23 d to 3.43 d; lambs, 6.26 d to 6.66 d. Exchange, £1 sterling, T 1.89 dollars. Shipments of frozen lambs, and also some lots of beef, have been sent to the United States, where there are good prospects of an outlet, especially if the duty be removed, to eucouragfc shipments to that enormous country; with its increasing population and insufficiency of meat raised in its own territory. It may be some years before the United . States imports any appreciable quantity of this country s mdat, but it appears to me as if the great Northern Republic will bo glad to get a share of this country’s s rfP plus meat, which at the present time is more than the British and Continental markets are apparently able to absorb. KAIKOHE STOCK SALE. Messrs Dalgcty and Co., Ltd., AVliangarei, report having held their usual monthly stock sale at Kaikohe yesterday. There was a small yarding of cattle of all classes. Competition for young steers was fairly keen, with prices slightly below late rates, Foi all other classes competition was fair, with prices slightly below late rates.

Prices realised were as follow: — Light fat cows, £4; unfinished sorts, £3/10/; store cows, £l/15/, £2; 2-year heifers, £2/5/ to £2/10/ to £2/15/; 3-year steers, £5; 2-year steers, £2/10/, £3/5/ to £3/15/; 1-year steers, £2/2/6; cows and calves, £4, £4/2/6 to £4/5/.