ARGENTINE BEEF

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 12094, 23 March 1925, Page 11

ARGENTINE BEEF

ENORMOUS SHIPMENTS IN 1924. CATTLE NOW SCARCER. The New Zealand Meat Producers’ Board has rep jived the following letter from its. South American representative, dated January 20th:— “There have Been enormous shipments of meat during the past year; 9,546,652 quarters of beof were sent from the.Argentine* alone,, while 4,020,09 1 carcases of mutton and lamb were sent to the British and Continental markets. Included in the mutton shipments are the sendings from the three Argentine plants on the South Coast, while 737,428 more carcases of mutton wete sent from the three slants situated within Chilian territory in the south. “There may he a slight difference in the total of the shipments cabled to jour board, for the reason that there are occasionally odd lots of a few thousand quarters shipped from here to orders, which has not been included in the figures sent to your board, as its destination was unknown when sent from this country. There was about 60,000 quarters sent for orders. The total .shipments to Continental countries were 175 per cent, higher in 1924 than in the previous year, which shows the increasing demand from Continental countries for this country's exportable beef and mutton, for the sendings of mutton to the Continent are also increasing. /T hear that Brasil is also sending considerable quantities of that country’s plain quality meat to Continental markets, and that country could easily send considerably more as its cattel resources are better utilised to furnish cattle suitable for the beef export trade. “I am .convinced that the continued heavy slaughtering here not only of the best class of beef but a large quantity of canned meat has also been exported during the past year, and a large number of mostly tbin cows used for that ourpose, will have its effects on the available cattle supply of this country, and there are likely to be less quantities exoorted in the near future for the 'iinple reason that cattle of all classes will be scarcer, and will not be obtainable in the present large quantities, while probably more artificial systems of feeding will be adopted, that is by the giving of a supplementary ration of grains produced on the property. At present all tat cattle are straight from the Alfalfa or pasture lands, and no artificial feeding is given. Best quality fat cattle are somewhat scarce, though there is a large supply of Continental grade of animals. There is a slightly better inquiry for sore cattle owing to the improved prospects, while good class of breeding cattle are selling well. “There’is a goqd demand for all classes 0 sheep, especially best quality lambs an j weight wethers. Imported stud rams are, meeting a very slow selling trade, and I saw yesterday in the ''' l * ft ™*ntine station a considerable number uf New Zealand-bred Romneys and Cor-

riedales, though they are not likely to meet & good trade mere owing to their i>lavn quality for this market. A few *ood New Zealand Lincolns imported by another importer ought to meet a satisfactory trade, as there are eeveral real -cod sheep that will attract attention here and sell well. In yesterday's market 599 lambs sent by George Corbett sold for £2 Is 4d, one of the best prices obtained for that number of lambs for some time, and denotes the interest for good fat lambs.”

DAIRY PRODUCE

WEDDED AND CO.’S CABLE. Messrs A. H. Turnbull and Co. report, —We are in receipt of a cable from our principals, Messrs W. Weddel and Co., tjated London, March 20th, reading butter, 224 s to 226 s (last week, 232 s to 2345); New Zealand, unsalted 186 e to 190 s (186 s to 190 s); New Zealand, salted 172 s to 174 s (174 s to 180 s); New Zealand, salted, first Government grade, up to T76s; market slow. Cheese, white and coloured, 102 s to 14MS l (last week, 100 s to 104 s); maraet quiet.