N.Z. BEEF SUPPLIES

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17238, 19 April 1930, Page 4

N.Z. BEEF SUPPLIES

GISBOENE WILL PROVIDE BRIGHT PROSPECTS FOR P.B. Since the severe drought in Poverty Bay and along) the Coast three or four years ago decimated many herds of station cattle, there has been a gradual building up. not only of ordinary sorts, which aix' used as mere agricultural im plements, but. also of a good beef type, fhis has been going on all over the district, with the result that there has been a particularly good demand for breeding types. Up till now there had been a shortage, of cattle in the district, and even this season, with the numbers greater than since the. drought, the numbers were not sufficient for the great growth of feed that has been everywhere in L'overty Bay and along the Coast throughout the summer and autumn. The number of cattle in the district is not up to the pre-drought strength, but it is thought that this winter there will be sufficient to set Poverty Bay on the map once more as a district on which other parts will rely for at least some of their beef supplies. The surplus provided by the building up of the herds should come in particularly useful this winter, in view of the fact that Hawke's Bay has been experiencing a particularly dry spell, and may not bo able to supply nearly the quantity of beef usually expected of the district. The construction of the cattle yards at the wharf has been completed 'none too soon, and they will help materially in the shipping of cattle to ot her ports. Although (he prices for beef in tho district are now comparatively poor, and there are not great/prospects of a big demand at the cattle fair at the end of the month, it is anticipated that the market will brighten considerably during the winter with shipments to other parts. ' If is thought that .there will be a profitable market ' both at Atrtlington and West-field, and that the supplies from Poverty Bay to these quarters will increase in future years. The completion of the cattle yards .it Gisborno already has stimulated an inquiry from Canterbury for the shipment 'of cattle. Already a small consignment has gone to Westport, this lot, one of 20 fat cows, being the first to be shipped from Gisborne for four years.

If this winter's business is as suci essful as is anticipated, it will act, no doubt, as a stimulus to tho breeding of beef types in the district, Poverty Bay during the years before the drought sent away' small numbers of cattle to other parts, but tho district was drawn on mostly for stores. It is claimed that there' is no better fattening country in the Dominion for beef than that to be found in this district, and* there should be no reason why the best beef should not bo produced here in larger quantities than before, so that the district will be able to' participate in the home market as well as in the export trade to a greater extent than has been the case for some years.