STORE CATTLE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20128, 23 December 1939, Page 16

STORE CATTLE

CANTERBURY SHORTAGE HEAVY MORTALITY FLOCKS ALSO SUFFER The season has been a very hard one in parts of North Canterbury and southern Marlborough on cattle and sheep, states the Christchurch Press. One North Canterbury station owner said that cattle losses on some of the stations further north had been the severest for years. The lack of feed following the hard winter had caused heavy mortality. The sources of supply of stores for disposal down country will be further diminished as a result.

T.he principal losses in sheep were of hoggets. Numerous dead bodies on the spits of riverbeds showed that the winter had taken a heavier toll in some districts than expected. The sources of supply of store cattle for plains fattening are scarce enough at present. Decently-bred lines of young steers and heifers have been selling' exceptionally well at recent Addington markets, lines that have been advertised invariably bringing together a keen circle of buyers. The high price of beef this winter in comparison with other classes of fat stock can be taken as implying that beef production is falling short of consumption, resulting in the heavy disposal of half-fattened cattle—and, of course, of the übiquitous cow. Even the latter source must decline some time, and more dependence placed on stores bred on the stations for fattening.

One or two big cattle stations have gone out of occupation this last year or two, and taking a long view, it would seem good policy for station owners who have suitable country to breed more cattle, even if it is at the expense of sheep.