BRITAIN'S SHEEP EXPORTS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1761, 28 May 1913, Page 10

BRITAIN'S SHEEP EXPORTS.

A BAD YEAR'S EECOED. When it is remembered that it is to Great Britain that the majority of the sheep-breeding countries of the world have been accustomed to look for the supplies of fresh blood for their flocks, and taking into consideration the sums Home breeders spend every year in maintaining thfiir stud flocks, it is a-remark-able fact that during last year only 1609 sheep were exported from the Old Country. This ivas due largely to the outbreak of foot and mouth disease. The declared value of the sheep exported in 1912 amounted to .£16,45 i, or .£lO Is. Gd. per head, compared with £83,213, the uyerage total lor the sixteen years preceding. ■ * -* * Apart, however, from the effects of th'o outbreak of disease, figures go to show that the demand fcr British sheep is declining. For instance, in 1910, tho Argentine imported from the Old Country 738, in 1911 i&a took 422, and last'year only 185.

The Australian demand, which is, of course, considerably smaller, shows proportionately as great a falling off. In 1910 83 head wero imported by the Commonwealth, in 1911 the number dropped to 72, and last year to eight, which, however. made the notable average of < .£6O each. In 1910 New Zealand took 103 head from thio Old Country, in 1911 96, and in 1912 60, showing that in other matters besides Dreadnoughts our Dominion is loyal to Great Britain. With regard to the United States and Canada, both of these countries show a tremendous reduction; the former in 1910 imported 1577, reduced in 1911 to 692, Inst year it was only 129; the latter in 1910 imported no fewer than 3811, reduced in 1911 to 374, and further reduced last year to only 21. Tho value of the latter is worthy of record, for the official returns give it as being 475. 7d. One docs not of lei; hear of sheep usable for breeding purposes being sold at such.a. ridiculous figure. It will be noticed from the above particulars that during tho last three years there has been a marked decline in the demand for Home-bred sheep from the chief importing countries all over tho world—a"lessened demand for which outbreaks of diseaso can be only held 1 partly responsible.

FAT STOCK. PRICES IN THE ARGENTINE. Some interesting information is published in "The Farmer and Stock Breeder" with reference to some of the fat cattle exhibited at the last Palermo show' in tho Argentine. Though the prices were nothing liko those paid for show stock a few years ago, when four figures were by tho freezing companies for fat bullocks, yet the vnlues obtained wero exceptionally high. The freezing companies were again the chief buyers, and no doubt their purchases were made with a view to showing the carcasses for advertisement purposes in England. Hereford steers made the best average, 33 selling at ii 27 19s. to .£2BB is., averaging ,£BO 12s. 3d. There wero 281 Shorthorn steers sold at 2s. to JG3flO lGs. (the top price), averaging .£47 10s., and 38 Aberdeen Angus steers made X2l lGs. Bd. to .£ll3 10s. 8(1.. averaging -£t7 fls. 2d.A couple of Holstein steers made *£78 12s. apiece, two Holstein and Shorthorn cross steers -£7S 12s. and -£3G Is. W. respectively, a Red Poll steer ,£O9 17s. -Id., and tlireo Angus and Shorthorn .£43 13s. id. to .£GI 2s. Bd. The cattle were of various ages, and most of them of heavy weight, some going over 12001b., 13001b., and UOOII,. dressed wciirht, and tlio average would be about 10001b. Fat sheep brought equally high prices with'the cattle. Two hundred and seventy-five Lincolns made 355. to .£3 Us. Bd., averaging .£3 15s. 7d., and 218 Downs £2 3s. Bd. to .£9 12s. 2d., averaging JM 10s. Bd. As the ages of the cattle were not. given ill tlio catalogue, n comparison of the weights cannnt. very well he made with British fat cattle as shown at Smitlifield.