Shortage of Cattle in the United States.

Manawatu Herald, 25 June 1895, Page 3

Shortage of Cattle in the United States.

The shippers and handlers of beef in the United States are becoming alarmed at the scarcity of fat cattle available for shipping and local congumption, and at the great increase in the prioe of beef, amounting to 50. a lb.

A Times telegram says that " Charges are being made against the leading packers at Chicago and elsewhere of having formed a combination to raise prioes. The Secretary of Agriculture has ordered the Bereau of Animal Industry to make a thorough investigation into the oause the high price of beef, and to discover what influence the packers' trust has on prices. The agents of the Bureau will begin an inquiry forthwith at Chicago, St. Louis, Kansas City, Omaha, and elsewhere in the West."

Our readers will recollect that at the annual enumeration of stock in the United States a deficiency of about two and a quarter millions of cattle was shown. America apparently has seriously felt the export drain set up by the shipping of live cattle and refrigerated and prepared beef, aHd* her toerds and flocks are declining in consequence. As we have before pointed out, this is Australia's opportunity. The United States have about fifty-one millions of cattle (all descriptions) and fortytwo and a quarter millions of sheep, against Australasia's thirteen millions of cattle and 180 millions of sheep ; but then the former country has 70,000,000 of people to feed against Australasia's 4,000,000. — British Australasian.