VALUES OF MEAT.

Putaruru Press, Volume IV, Issue 164, 23 December 1926, Page 6

VALUES OF MEAT.

IN SOUTH AMERICA. The New Zealand Meat Producers Board has received the following letter from its South American representative, dated 23rd September, 1926: Fat cattle whose beef was destined for export have for some time met a good market, but lately values have declined considerably, very possibly owing to the reaching of a working' arrangement between the rival British and North American interests. Apparently some sort of an understanding has beer, arrived at as far as the lowering of the values of beef cattle are concerned, though it has also to be recognised that there is a large offering of fat cattle owing to the very mild winter experienced and the abundance of feed available. Most large feeders sow oats or rye as a fattening feed for their steers during the depth of winter, when there might be a scarcity of pasture and their well advanced fattening steers lose condition.

The freezing companies are at present offering 29 cents (5.85 d) per kilo live weight for even the best lots of chiller steers with an average of over 90 per cent, graded chillers. Store cattle have been selling very dear and are not likely to leave much for their keep with the actual values ruling, which will very probably be even lower in the near future. Prices for all classes of sheep and lambs are also lower. Wethers are worth 24 to 26 cents (4.53 d to 5.25 d) per pound estimated dressed weight, ewes 22 to 23 cents (4.44 d to 4.64 d), hoggets 30 to 31 cents (6.06 d to 6.26 d), lambs (spring) 38 to 40 cents (7.67 d to 8.08 d) per pound.