SHIPPING CATTLE TO ADELAIDE

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XI, Issue 4033, 9 July 1884, Page 3

SHIPPING CATTLE TO ADELAIDE

The prices that are being obtained for fat cattle in Adelaide just now (says the Wanganui Chronicle) nro making our farmers' teeth water. While with us prices average something under fifteen shillings per 10 "lbs, we find from the Adelaide stock reports up to the end of last month that from 30s to £5 w;u them tho ruling price there - heavy bullocks fetching as high as £22 per head. About £6 is the average price realised in our local sale yards just now— so there is a good margin between what our farmers get for their beef and what is obtained on the other side. But it must not be forgotten that our cattle are young, being mostly three-year-olds, and of an aver go weight of about 8001bs, while the Adelaide beasts are probably five-year-olds and 1000---pounders. The prices quoted per 1001 b proves this. But making all due allowance for the difference in weight, there is a large margin between the ruling prices in Adelaide and on this coast ; .and n point worthy of consideratilm is, whether a handsome profit might not be realised by sending over some shipments. One or two gentlemen largely interested in the cattle trade have already made inquiries with the view of shipping from New Plymouth, but have partly given up the idea, as they believe that the freight and other expenses would swallow up the anticipated profit. But the idea has not been entirely abandoned. Others are now making inquiries with the object of ascertaining whether satisfactory arrangements cannot be made for sending a shipment from Wellington It is thought that a cargo of 250 bullocks could be taken over at a total cost, variously estimated at from £5 to £0 per head. Supposing 40s per 1001 bto ba obtained, that would leavo a fair margin of profit to the shippers.