SPLENDID PRICES REALISED.

Shannon News, 24 February 1925, Page 2

SPLENDID PRICES REALISED.

Oneof the moat pleasing features for farmers-and graziers alike, must be the very satisfactory prices realised for store and fat cattle in the stock markets at the present time. Store, cows, which even a few months ago would fetch 20s to 30s are making £3 to £4 to-day; cows with any condition at all are selling at £5 to £6, while fat steers are keenly sought after at £l2 to £l4. It is many years since farmers have been able to obtain such prices, and the dairy farmers in particular should fully avail themselves of present-day values.

The questionable practice of disposing of culls as dairy cows is gradually being stamped out as a result of the enlightenment emanating from the herd-testing associations. Thousands of culled cows had to be taken back home from the saleyards during the past year, the owners milking them for another season rather than accept the 20s or 25s offered for them as stores. Very few farmers realise or would be prepared to admit that these cows have, figuratively speaking, been eating their heads off, as they never gave sufficient return to pay for their keep apart from the extra labour of milking, etc. However, these cows today realise anything from £3 to £6 and no time should be lost to convert them into cash and butchers' meat.

I An equally good opportunity exists at present to get rid of the scrub-bull. The appearance of this gentleman on any up-to-date dairy farm is looked upon as a disgrace, and as £5 and £6 l is quite a common price for a well conditioned potter, his trip to the works should not be delayed. As already nientioned, fat steers are fetching excellent prices and owing to the heavy killing of bull-calves during the past seasons, the coming year or two will witness an acute shortage of this class of cattle. Nor will it be possible to quickly remedy this shortage. Many of the dairy farmers who at one time provided the market with a large number of young steers have since gone in for Jersey bulls, with the result that the male progeny is practically useless for meat purposes and is simply slaughtered for the hide. Farmers going in for the heavier breeds will no doubt go in for calfrearing on an extensive scale once more as it will certainly prove a payable proposition, if present oattle prices are any where near maintained.