SOUTH AMERICAN CONDITIONS.

Putaruru Press, Volume IV, Issue 120, 11 February 1926, Page 8

SOUTH AMERICAN CONDITIONS.

CATTLE AND SHEEP SLUMP. The New Zealand Meat Producers Board has received the following letter from its South American representative, dated 17th December, 1925 : “ With a large offering of grass-fed cattle at this favourable time of the season values dropped, especially for best grade chillers, though the grades for Continental requirements did not decline so much, though lately there has been more interest shown by buyers, and prices are nearly recovered. Breeding and store cattle are also cheaper. Pasture is abundant all over the country, though locusts have done considerable harm in some parts of Cordoba and Santa Fe. “ With large entries of fat sheep in the local market values slumped and it was about a fortnight before values gradually rose to nearly their former level. It is difficult to realise where so many sheep came from ; as you are aware, I have frequently stated that I am convinced that the total sheep stock of this country is being gradually reduced, possibly with the exception of the extreme south of this country, which embraces a vast country which is capable of carrying a large number of sheep, though they are unreliable as a permanent source of supply owing to the many influencing climatic conditions in that wild pa.rt of the country, though according to the past record they appear to be capable of exporting around a million and a half of sheep and lamb carcases annually. It is very difficult to .obtain any sort of indication of what is taking place in that vast territory., as one settler can only speak about his own. particular district, which may or may not have experienced the same conditions as the inland estancias that stretch to the hills that form the boundary between this country and Chili.”