ABERDEEN-ANGUS CATTLE BOOMING.

Otago Witness, Issue 3030, 10 April 1912, Page 15

ABERDEEN-ANGUS CATTLE BOOMING.

A r t<er la.s(: week's very excellent sale at Perth, and tho highly favourable, sales which took place later in the week at Aberdeen, Inverness, Elgin, and other centres in ttie north, there can bo little doubt thai Aberdeen-Angus cattle are getting again on to the crest of the wave of popular fancy and support. We never remember seeing a. larger or more representative crowd than there was at Perth; tho benches during most of the sale on both days were literally packed, while there was an eagerness to secure the best specimens, both in the female and the mak> divisions, which has not teen shown for several years before. The presence of Mr MucGregor all lho way from Alberta, Canada, gave a distinct lillip to tho sale, all the mors when it became known that, ho was in quest of cattle of both sexes for adding to his already extensive and valuable herd in Canada. We have always thought that Canada as it. got opened up and developed would probably makn a valuable outlet for cattle of tho AberdeenAngus class. Beef raising is likely to bo for many years an important industry in tho Western States, and no cattle should be better suited for settlers whether kept in small or in large lots. Mr MacGregor at any rate has great faith in tho breed, and it is no secret that when lie returns to Canada shortly ho wil> take out with him one of tho finest consignments of the breed that has over left these shores. Since Perth sale last week he lias acquired privately several very good animals which have already made a name for themselvesin this country, and the career of which. on the plains of Canada, will he watched with interest. A'mosL no less satisfactory than tho Perth sale on Tuesday and Wednesday was the Aberdeen sale on Thursday, and tho Inverness and Elgin sales on Friday and Saturday. In almost every instance the general average fcr the breed 1 was up, and at Inverness they oven beat the shorthorri3 both in highest price and general average. Sales were also held during tho week at Turriff, Maud, and Alford, when prices were also comparatively good. At all

those sales a total of 1125 Aberdeen- Angus cattle were disposed of, and they realised £30,053 12s, an overhead average of £26 ]4s 2d. This is the best average price that a similar number of the breed has realised at public sales for a number of years, and everyone is hopeful and expecting that it foreshadows the beginning of a moro favourable time for those who have stuck so tenaciously and so heroically to the fortunes of the good old "A.-A." breed. — North British Agriculturist,