New Zealand Mutton at Home.

Feilding Star, Volume XVI, Issue 205, 28 February 1895, Page 2

New Zealand Mutton at Home.

The year opened well, stocks in band were known to be moderate, they were in few bands, and prices advanced and remained steady through the March quarter. Legs of mutton have come to hand in far too large quantities, 247,459 having been received* As Jong as these were shipped in moderate numbers neatly cut from good bat heavy eiieep, they sold well at .4£& to 2d per lb, but when the market was flooded with legs roughly cut from old ewes and inferior sheep there was a collapse, and prices rapidly fell, till 3d, 2:] d, 2£d per lb,~was all that could be obtained With shoulders of mutton the same thing happened. The first shipments sold readily at 4d per lb, but later ones, badly cut, rough and unsightly, have been hard to move down to 2£d per lb. Shipments amounting to 451,857 have been received as against 473,322 in 1891. Trade in lambs has been more steady, without any great fluctuation in price ; the average for the year will be about 4£d per lb ; and notwithstanding the large numbers received, a clearance was made during the lamb season, ending in September, the sales made since being from later shipments that lack of storage preyented from being landed in time to meet the market at its best. Much of the lamb received has been very prime, some rather large and leggy but of good quahtr ; and all of choicest and best sold at good prices the average being lowered by the small and inferiors sorts sent Home.— Mark Lane Express, ' '