DAIRYING MATTERS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVI, Issue 4833, 22 May 1925, Page 3

DAIRYING MATTERS.

SOUTH AMERICAN NEWS.

CONDITIONS IN CATTLE TRADE.

The N.Z. Meat Producers’ Board has received the following letter from its South American representative :— “Very heavy rains have lately been experienced over the greater part of this Republic which will make the land in good trim for ploughing and also promote a growth of winter feed, though the prospects for winter feed are bad owing to the effects of tne prolonged drought. "Best quality fat cattle are scarcer and values are slightly higher, as also are. freezer and continental grades. There is a good inquiry ror store steers at higher prices, white breeding cattle are also worth mor:. “With a large offering of sheep va ues are lower, though with less animals offered on -the market, due to the better prospects for feed in the camp after the rain, prices are likely to be firmer. "I have made all possible! inquiries regarding the prospects for the Sout.i Coast (Pategonian kill), and it appears that the drought has done much damage in that part of the countrj and the prospects for winter feed are very bad. will reopen their plant at San Julian which has not been working for .two years, though this will have no effect on the total kill as the sheep slaughtered there would have been sent to a more distant centre. The total number of sheep likely to be slaughter'&d on the South Coast will likely be 10 to 15 per cent, less than last year’s kill. I have arrived at this-conclusion after speaking with several managers of plants operating in that part bf the country, as it is very, difficult to get reliable information regarding conditions on the South Coast as its extensive lands are subject to mativ variations as to climate and general conditions.

“The ram sales are just over. The demand for Lincolns was disappointing. though there was a bettejr inquiry for the dark-faced rams'as they are likely to be more generally used in the breefling of fat lambs, for which high prices were paid this year, around £2 Is Bd, which has attracted attention, and more interest will be taken in the breeding of fJI lambs for export.

The former president of the Australian Meat Council has spent some time in this country, though X did not have pleasure of meeting him, as I was in Rio Grande del Sud (Brazil) for twelve days in representation Jf a local hank, who have interests in that part of South America. There are a round nine million-head of camtie there—the best grazing part cf Brazil —though I could not get the -latest statistics of the; existence of sheep. These extensive, undulating lands are;«very suitable for cattleraising and feeding, though the steers are not finished till they are over four yqars old, and then they are sent to the dried beef works, which at present is their only utilisation. The camps are very well watered with sweet water, and the pasture is of a feeding nature. The different breeds of cattle were represented by ver;.’ good quality animals bf their breed which are ma tod to pedigree bulls in order to breed the bulls recessary for the large herds of commericivl cattle. Unfortunately ticks are very bad, and the cattle require frequent dipping. I also observed that the blowfly was- a nuisance.

“There are considerable numbers of sheep kept on these camps, mostly of ' a Romney Marsh cross, though darKfaced rams are also used as they withstand the heat and have proved suitable for the local conditions. The sheep to be seen were capable bf considerable 'improvement. as they were in many" cases light beasts with littl-i wool on them, though occasionally big, well-grown animals were to be seen, which would suggest that with more care and culling the general quality of the sheep could be considerably improved. There is little prospect of these sheep for some time at least becoming an important factor in export, though a few selected animals would sell all right. “The soil in that par,t is very fertile, and some excellent crops of maize were to be seen, the ground for which had been ploughed with a steam tractor. The houses arid building.? ate all of solid stone construction, and fencing is generally good in that part, while the cattle arid shetep dips are very substantially made. The large supply of good continental' of cattle in Rio Grande Del Sud is likely in the near future to be utilised for export as frozen beef for toe continental trade.”

A later communication reads: —

“Pastoral conditions have improved, but the fresh green growth will stand little eating, and is likely to disappear with the . first frosts, while it has also very little feeding value owing to its watery composition. Best quality fat cattle are scarcer and chiller grade are dearer, and values are likely to be higher as Lie winteY advances. Cattle suitable for English freezers and best continental have been bringing values almost equal to chillers, though these values are likely to be lower in thd near future as shippers have lost money on some of their contracts, so continental prices will either have to advance or values be lowered here. One of the principal exporters of livestock for the Continent tells me he has lost £4 on .several lots of cattle, while a recent a recent shipment of Aberdeen-Angus steers lost £1 pm head. Shipments by that firm have for the present been suspended ow - ing to the high prices here and what the continental buyer’s will nay net leaving a profit. Store and breeding cattle are meeting a good trade at higher prices. “The sheep trade has improved on last month’s report, as the prices will show, though it is wonderful where all the sheep come from, as I am confident the existence in this country is not nearly equal to the stock of ten years ago, though at tha; period a large number bf sheep were

slaughtered and half of the mes. wasted on the Estancias in order to feed the workmen. Times have changed, and the sheep now slaughtered bn the properties are very much fewer and their mutton better taka i care of.

“I was in treaty with a firm L' again proceed to the Falkland Islands and buy the surplus sheep for them, but the! operation has fallen through, as it is now late in the season, and the difficulty is to gfy a propel ly ventilated boat in the holds, where it is necessary to carry twothirds of the cargo to keep down expenses. 1 have brought as many as 9200 hejad on one trip, two years ago.. There are about 30,000 head of surplus sheep on these islands every year. Had I gone there it would have enabled me to visit the South Co>ast of this country, which is a part I have so far not travelled over.”