BOBBY CALVES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22777, 10 July 1937, Page 13

BOBBY CALVES

BATES FOE EXPOET

THE OPENING SCHEDULE DEFINITION OF DISTRICTS .The season for the killing of bobby calves, which normally extends over the next few months, has commenced in earnest. Small quantities havo been reaching the freezing works but with' tho larger , numbers now available exporters have issued their first schedule of prices. Theso will cover next week's operations and aro up to London parity. Tho export buying schedule as from Monday shpws tho following ruling district prices at;tho farm gate:—Waikato, Paeroa, ■ Thames Valley to Putaruru, to Otorohanga, to Mercer, Shorthorn-Holsteins, up to 8s each, Jersey, up to 6s 6d; Waihi-Opotiki, Shorthorn-Holstein, up to 7s 6d, Jersey, up to 65.; Te Kuiti, Itotorua, Shorthorn-Holstein up to 7s 6d, Jersey up to 6s; Pokena to Helensville, iii-; .eluding Auckland, Shorthorn-Holsteju up to 8s 6d, Jersey, 7s; Kaipara Flats, \Vellsford and Kaiwaka, ShorthornHolstein up to 7s 6d, Jersey up to 6s; Maungaturoto, . Waiotira Junction, Ruawai, Dargaville, Shorthorn-Hol-stein, up to 7s 6d, Jersey, up to;.Cs; AVhangarei, Waipu up to Whakapara, Shorthorn-Holstein, up to Bs, Jersey* up to 6s ,6d. : , _ . Tho bobby calf trade has developed into a valuable 'dairying side-line in recent years and during the short season it returns well over £IOO,OOO to dairy farmers. Last season more than 500,000 calves were killed for export and there are good prospects this season of this number being exceeded. Killings of other classes ol' meat for export have now fallen to a nominal lev«l, tho season having practically ended. In tho meantime the export values remain unchanged, rates on hooks at Southdown-being as follows: Beef.-—Bulls, 18s per 1001b.; boner cows, 15s. Lambs.- —Up to 361b.,- 9d; 371b. to "421b., BJd; over 421b.,- 8d; seconds, BJd; light seconds, shorn, 3d-less, all grades, with the usual deductions

for seedy. Pigs.—'Up to 801b., 6d; 811b., to 1001b., 5Sd; 1011b. to" 1201b., old; 1211b. to 1601b., 5Sd, 1611b. to 1801b., 4id; 1811b. to 2001b., 2J'cl; over 2001b.. l»cl; choppers, exportable, 2d; porkers, unexportable, Id less; baconers, unexportable, over 1201b., id less; choppers, unexportable. |d per lb.

EFFECT OF COMPETITION ORGANISATION NEEDED PIG ASSOCIATION'S PROPOSALS. [from our own correspondent] HAMILTON, Friday A comprehensive scheme for the rationalisation of the bobby calf industry was prepared bv the New Zealand Pig Marketing Association over a year ago, at the request of the Minister of Agriculture, the Hon. W, Lee Martin, stated Mr. W. A. Phillips, chairman of directors of the association, to-day, when expressing his company's views on the question. The fundamental principle of this scheme was the elimination of competition in the field where its cost to the producer had increased out of all proportion to the service rendered by transferring the real competitive element for the product itself from the field to the. killing points, whence it could be capitalised to the producer's advantage. . This could be brought about, said Mr. Phillips, by the adoption of the following basic proposals: —(1) Complete producer control from the farm gate to killing point; (2) one collecting organisation; (3) the sale of the product, both at killing _ points in New Zealand and 011 consignment ;in Great Britain; (4) allocation of killings in respect of works .according to the percentage of their kill over the past one or two seasons, and geographical position regarding economic transport and distribution of live product, to ensure prompt treatment •with the greatest degree of efficiency from the viewpoint of works costs. The Minister had recently announced that the industry would, before next season, be handed ovei to the Dairy Control Board, with the necessary statutory powers to deal with the position, commented Mr. Phillips. In effect, it would be seen that these proposals would ensure to the producer all the real advantages of the present normal competitive element in tho trade without any of the present manifold and costly disadvantages ot oxisting practices. Calves could be purchased on weight, collecting charges could be reduced to a minimum by organised zoning to ensure the fixing or rates of on maximum loads, freight charges in manner would be improved., .tile freezing and export companies- -would get a square deal, and, finally, because of the highly speculative nature of tho trade, owing to the international aspect or tho calfskin market, which mainly governed the price to the farmer, the means, would, be provided for a pooling scheme to ensure him fair market value for his product at all times and under all circumstances.