THE LAMB TRADE.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 458, 17 March 1909, Page 5

THE LAMB TRADE.

FARMERS' CALCULATIONS UPSET. Our Christehurch correspondent writes:— The-present state of the lamb trade is causing farmers some annoyance,. so a "Timaru Herald" reporter was informed on Saturday by a.farmer who stated that he and others did not know where they wero just now in regard to their fat lambs, as the altered basis of buying had altogether upset their calculations. Previously growers had aimed at getting heavy lambs with plenty of fat on them, but now buyers had fixed 361b. as the maximum weight for first quality, with the result that those who'had bought store, lambs at up to 13s. 6d. each to fatten 'were losing money, as the lambs wero worth no moro than this when ready for killing. Tlib prices now offering were:—Up to 361b., first qualitv 4id. pound; second quality, samo weHiV 4}d.; 361b. to 421b., 4}d.; over 421b., 3 ,<>Bcl Thus a big lamb over 401 h. did not fetch as much as a primo quality 361b. lamb, ami farmers when buying stores picked wit the biggest-framed lambs, thinking to make up in woight for the reduced price now offering per lb., but instead of attaining their object they now found themselves worse off through having big lambs. The farmers further said that the freezing works had been at a standstill for some time, becauso growers of fat lambs had been holding back to get extra weight on their lambs before selling, but now they found the extra weight was going to count against them .they were pushing them in the works. Further, ho said, that sending lambs up to 501b. Homo had been the means of detracting from the reputation of the hew Zealand lamb export trado, something smaller and not quite so fat being what was desired by consumers in England, but tho gudden change in woight and the drop in price would mean a heavy loss to a good many shocp men hero this season.