IMPORTING PEDIGREE SHEEP.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1109, 24 April 1911, Page 8

IMPORTING PEDIGREE SHEEP.

. ■ BUSINESS WITH ENGLAND. During ■ the last year the Australian demand for sheep from England amounted to !K head, averaging <£'J Bs. 3d.. The iVew Zealand breeders took 103 ■ head, averaging ,£33 6s. 2d. The following, from the "Live Stock Journal," shows .how wo compare with other countries as buyers' ■of England's best'sheep:—"The American demand has increased from 735' head to 1577 during the past year'; the average of these works out at £a 15s. 4d., a very moderate one. Then again, the Canadian demand, which increased from 3475 head in 1909 to 3811 head in 1910, secured these at the general average of £5 Ss. Id.; thus, 5350 head of the 7839 head were shipped to countries for which tho prices realise'd were well- under.-^β. , . . Germany.-'.has been a good enstomer, taking 675, head at £6 10s. 9d. Uruguay; to -which- country we sent 167 head, as against 100 in 1909, paid an average of ,£ls 17s. for them. The Argentine, which took 1735 head in 1009 only took 770 in , 1910, these working out at an average of Jitt l 7s. 4d. . ■.' . Other countries took 6M head at £9 6s. lid. . . "During the .past sixteen years (says •the journal) the lowest yearly average for exported sheep is that recorded in IMO-ri.e., £7 19s. 7d. .The, nearest approach.to tins was in,tho-y.'ear 1902, when .£8 -ls'.-Sd. was the average for 3596 head exported. Why this lower range of average should have; prevailed during , tho past. year, is not: a matter difficult to' locate. It arises from"two causes. The first is tho stoppage of the South American demand during that period of the year when largo shipments have usually been made, and consequently the loss of sales of high-priced stock. The second causn is the increase in.the demand from North America for the'aa.eregate number shipped : during 1910, 7330, is 5 per cent. above tho number shipped in 1909. The increased demand from Nqrth America, Canada, and the States; is-responsible for the increased : humber of sheep'shipned.during the'year; and. owing to the , fact that the prices paid, as a rule, for such sheep are lowones, the general average of declared values has consequently been reduced."