SHEEP PRICES IN ENGLAND.
In considering the serious drop in the prices realised by frozen meat in England the fact is frequently lost sight of that the price of sheep in' England and Scotland has been very low for some considerable time. The- Field, discussing this matter, says:— The state of things in the sheep trade shows little change from the autumn of laet year. The onlj appreciable alteration is a rise in the price of wool, which is believed ■to be based en sound economic grounds, and, therefore, may be expected to continue . for an indefinite period. At any rate, the advance in prices, occurring as it did at the beginning of the shearing season, c%n hardly be attributed to artificial or intentional influences. The rise in the value of wool is no inconsiderable item, and ie welcomed all the more at a time when the gross revenue from the sheep farm, is below Che normal. It can* .however, ; make, only .partial -amende , for i)he d&prepife&on 4n^theretores!rioefc. anct mutton, markets. Mutton is still, very low in price, and only -the «n»»He* breeds can be cold . readily or at figures euScient to Jeave a fair profit.' The bigger and heavier classes are almost unsaleable, and- the result is very serious for owners of the longwooOed and heavier Down varieties, which • occupy large tracts -of the beat gracing and arable "iand in the country. The depression in the mutton trade has lasted for nearly a year, and has no appearance of changing. It is not surprising that the influences of the lifeless trade for the fat stock should, after *o long a 6pelL, affect the store stock markets. With the bitter experiences of last year's proceedings fresh in their minds, graziers naturally are reluctant to take a bright view of the future, and there are already evidenoes that the eellere of store sheep at this month's and subsequent 6ales will have to be contented with lower rates than they have been accustomed to for some years past. From some districts we learn that there is no demand for lambs and wethers upon any terms, and breeders, who, j of course, cannot hold their surplus stock :n: n- j definitely, are viewinc the outlook with considerable anxiety. line depression in the t mutton markets is as muon a. mystery ac , ever. There are more sheep in the country than two years ago — or, at all events, there were more in June laet year,— but the increase in the home aggregate was not sufficient to account for the marked depreciation in values. Nor was there ouch a material increase in the imports as could account for the apparent, disturbance in the relationship of supply and demand. The period of illfortune which baa overtaken the pastoral pursuit must be set down as one of the inexplicable problems that beset the path of the farmer, and of the occurrence of which his critics have no knowledge. Contrary to the jjopular belief, there is no plain sailing in British farming, for there is scarcely a season in which one or more departments of the general scheme are unaffected by some adverse and troublesome influence^ and the fact that the branch which a <ew
years ago was the bright spot in the situation is now the 'central cause of anxiety illustrates the instability of the industry and the importance of resource and enterprise among the qualities essential in the successful modern farmer. Although the unsatisfactory condition of the mutton market is the dominant influence in the situation, there are other circumstances operating adversely for the seller of store sheep and lambs. The hay harvest, has not been a good one, and it is practically certain that the supply of hay will be limited in quantity and variable in quality. The root orops so far look well, particularly mangolds, of which a strong, regular plant has bean established, and the pastures, too, are more productive now than earlier in the season. Nevertheless, the general outlook is not reassuring, and a further fall from the reduced prices of last year at the forthcoming store sheep fairs seems inevitable.
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Otago Witness, Issue 2894, 1 September 1909, Page 8
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689SHEEP PRICES IN ENGLAND. Otago Witness, Issue 2894, 1 September 1909, Page 8
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