THE BEEF MARKET

Shannon News, 14 September 1928, Page 4

THE BEEF MARKET

Scarce and Dear to Buy

DIFFICULTIES OF GRAZIERS

There, in a type of farmer who is an adept in economic acrobatics and has a way of somersaulting himself out of the way of influences that are obvious•ly in his "favour. With him it is a case of "cither the rain is destroying the grain or the drought is destroying the roots." Briefly, ho is loath to admit that anything is very well with his prospects or with his markets, states a correspondent of the New Zealand Herald.

It is not surprising, therefore, to hear that the remarkable price now reigning for beef is a mixe'd blessing—one, indeed, that is often to be regretted. And it happens that the explanation is convincing, as far as the average farmer who is compelled to run cattle for pasture maintenance is concerned. In the national trading account, of course, every farthing a pound increase on the exported commodity is to the good, even though "London parity," is promptly reflected in the price the housewife pays for the joint. The local consumer taken by and large, has been so tutored in economics that ho pays tho extra with a good heart, realising that worse things can happen if primary produce drops in price. There is pretty general recognition by city people that if the local price of meat or butter fails, there is going to be a slump in trade, which brings most unpleasant consequences. Thus, with beef selling at 4(is. per 1001 b., a rate slightly higher than the wartime requisition price, there is no violent protest against the increased price for the roS,st' or steak, though beef may appear rarely on some tables. Stores for Crushing Fern. Only the odd farmer, however, seems to have reason for great . enthusiasm over the situation, for only the odd farmer fattens beef. The great majority are more concerned over the cost of stores which they must run to crush fern. ; . .

The price of stores has increased in sympathy with that of beef, the difference: between present rates of a year ago being about £3. Spring is the season when farmers on rough country must have cattle to crush fern an'd other seeoncterv growth, and on account of the high beef prices, this necessary stocking with animals which are regarded more as an implement than as a means of profit, is costing much more without offering much hope of showing a return in the long run Naturally those who hare bred the stores are benefiting along with those who were engaged in finishing beef- animals when the rise took place, but tho trade in stores has r/o effect upon export figures. No Benefit Anticipated.

A very few men with larger areas breed their own pasture-preserving cattle, allowing the calves to run with their mothers, but, naturally, as good a type of beast as possible is wanted, and a good class of calf must be obtained from mothers which have to "rough it" on steep country through the winter. Thus most Bhoep farmors rely on the salcyai'ds for maintaining their herds of stores, which few have the facilities for fattening, but sell to the fatteners after so long on the ferny ridges. Such farmers arc not anticipating any substantial increase in the returns from cattle. One man remarked he was sorry that he was at present tinder the necessity of buying 100 head of stores. His place had to have them, but apart from their implement value they were not likely to be an economical proposition. ' Mention was niado of the fact that tlie price of hides and by-products had an influence on the beef market, but it had to be remembered that only a large beast gave the heavy hi'de, and the difference per lb. was therefore not so great as might be imagined by casual observers. '' Actually,'' said .an authority, "you require a 3501b.'0x. to get a 601 b. hide. Probably a butcher who pays 45/- for a wether can hang it in his' shop for 355. if full allowance for skin and by-products is allowed, but variations in the value of the latter do not make much difference in the price of mutton." :

Limitation of Supplies There is no doubtf the recent rise of the bobby veal industry has had an effect in reducing the supply of store cattle. If young calves 'did not "have an immediate value it is not likely there would be wholesale destruction. More calves would be raised and more stores would be available for the vital work of pasture maintenance, even if the production of beef remained sidiary netivity. :< Of greater influence upon' the beef situation than the dairyman's veal market probably is the fact .that through the uncertainty of recent years many high-class beef herds have been allowed to run out. Few men aro breeding early maturing beef types which formerly engaged the attention of some of the large station owners. For supplies of stores the land must rely mainly upon the dairy industry, and that industry is more anxious to sell"than roar calves, only a portion of which, in any case, are of the dualpurpose varieties. It is possible the outlook for beof will bo sufficiently attractive to revive the interest of some of the larger graziers in beef cattle and bring them about the introduction of some good bulls, the mother-fed progeny of which would be too valuable for killing a 3 bobby veal, and which might become the basis of a more deliberate beef industry ttian now exists, though it is not likely there would bo production of baby veal, because that would mean the-use of land which would be better used for dairying.