THE DEMAND FOR SHEEP.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2007, 14 March 1914, Page 8

THE DEMAND FOR SHEEP.

AND THE CONSEQUENT RESULTS.

In tho opinion of a well-known Wairar.apa settler, next season «heop are going'to bo a tremendous price. Asked what-grounds he had for predicting this, tho settlier said: "Ono has not to ho extraordinarily clearsighted to. make this deduction in face, of what is happening. The keen demand for 'fats' and tho' consequent high., prices -at . prosen.t - rijling "lias. prompted farmers to go'-in" heSviljr'foV. breeding black-faco lambs, and this fact is bound- to bring : about a shortage in breeding ow.es. On top of this,- buyers for certain Home, markets are keenly operating for what., they term. thirdgrade freezers,, and sheep, which in'tho , ordinary course' would remain oh the farms are now being sold for slaughtering purposes. . Their particular buyers are offering to within a shilling of the price paid for first-grade freezers, both sheep and lambs, and it is this tempting price which is causing our ilocks to diminish in an astounding manner, and is creating a position that will probably bo serious eventually from a sheep-breeders' point of view. Further, thia wholesale demand is compelling farmers to breed from inferior ewes,-and while prices are certain to go up, the'quality cannot but recede. What I toll you is a fact, and I can name numerous farmers who aro retaining ewes for breeding purposes that were •■■in past years] disposed! of as "potters." Prices, as I said bofdre, aro going to go up and up."—Eketahuna ''Express."