THE MUTTON INDUSTRY.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 20, Issue 68, 27 August 1909, Page 4

THE MUTTON INDUSTRY.

FICITITIOUS PRICES FOR SHEEP. One of the boost remarkable phases of the sheep industry at the present moment is the fictitious value of sheep. Up to 18s has been paid for breeding ewes in the Manawatu, and as they have been taken at this price in good numbers for the Waikato, and even Taranaki, another Is or Is Gd has to be added to the cost of transport. Hoggets are down a little, selling now up to 10s and 12s, but even at this price they are absurdly high in view of the export value of meat. The above prices have not been paid by dealers, who are finding their occupation gone at present prices, but by farmers. There are two reasons responsible for these high values —the abundance of feed and the inflated ideas of wool values entertained by many growers. The season has been mild, with abundant herbage, while roots are still available; therefore stock is required to consume it, even though a profit may not be in sight, but at present rates the transactions recorded can only result in a loss. The expected returns from wool is a more serious matter. Because crossbred wool has been sold at from lOd to Is it does not mean that the whole fleece of any crossbred sheep is worth this range of value at the present moment. The men who are purchasing sheep on this assumption will probably find that the return for wool per sheep will only be about half the price they are reckoning on. The higher prices quoted for crossbred wool are for the fleece portions of certain clips which are grown on good clean country, and by reason of their exceptional get-up and particularly light condition, appeal strongly to the American buyer, who will pay above intrinsic value to secure a high-yielding wool. The men purchasing ordinary crossbred sheep to take to back country at the present high rates will find that if they secure an average of 4s to 5s for wool per head from ewes and 2s Gd from hoggets, with 4s for that ol woolly hoggets, they will be lucky. It will pay tire farmer to study the wool market iu all its bearings and especially discount the ordinary London wool report. While mutton is a drug on (lie market it is some consolation to know that beef is worth good money, and that a considerable increase has taken place in the number of cattle exported during the season. The two Wellington works alone handled for the year ending in June last seven thousand head of cattle more than they did iu the previous year —an increased revenue on these numbers alone of £54,250.