THE PRICE OF SHEEP.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1436, 10 May 1912, Page 8

THE PRICE OF SHEEP.

SHARP RISE PREDICTED. A prediction from a well-known YTairnrapa shesp deator to the effect that a sharp rise in the price of sheep will lake place next season is published in the Elcetahuna "Express." The dealer in question is reported to base his calculations on the fact that the phenomenal season has been responsible for a largely increased number of "fats," stating that oO to 100 per cent, more fat sheep have been railed this season than last. Jle goes on to slate that "the logical conclusion then in tho face of the small, lambing percentage as compared with the year previous is that there must be less sheep alive. Already there is a large shortage in the South Island, and this must be reflected on the North Island market. Again, strange though it may seem, in face of the quantity of grass about, anyone who cares to inspect tho floeTts will find that the hoggets aro not doing nearly so well as in previous years, and there seems nothing that can avert heavy mortality among them."

Opinions on the above in the Manawatu, according to "Standard" inquiries, differ somewhat, and it is held that it does not necessarily follow that a sharp rise will take as there are many other causes bearing on the question. At present, for instance, there is a serious tightness in the money market, and this may possibly have a depressing effect on tho stock market and, may tend at least to prevent prices from becoming abnormally high. Cable advices lrom Home state that lamb and beef are likely to remain fairly good in price, but the mutton market is dull. It is true that many sheep have been going from the North" to the South Island during the present season, but that does not necessarily mean a shortage there; it may simply mean that, like farmers in this island, they have an unusually plentiful supply of grass and .require more sheep to keep it down. Here grass has not been so plentiful for years, and farmers are carrying more sheep" than they have been able to carry for many years. Should the winter prove a good one, this may bo rather an advantage than otherwise, but should the winter prove a severe ono a heavy mortality will be.likely to follow. It has to be remembered, too, that thcie have been practically no "burns" thi.- season, and that as it is the custom to put hogi'cls on the newly-burned areas, the demand for this kind of sheep cannot bo a strong one. And though grass is plentiful it contains a great deal of moisture, and hoggets that are being fed on it are not thriving as well as they would in a warmer and drier season. Already there has been a fairly heavy mortality among the young sheep, and the indications are that it will bo heavier still. This, including a somewhat lower percentage of lambs, may indicate a probable shortage for the next season, but it does not necessarily mean an abnormally sham rise in prices. It has to be remembered that many people who formerly grew sheep have, during the past year or so, gone in for dairy farming, and will therefore require cattle in place of sheep. All things considered, it seems probable that while prices should nut become abnormally high, they may have a tendency to harden at the beginning of next season and are likely to remain firm throughout. \