Stock and Pastures.

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 229, 19 November 1887, Page 8

Stock and Pastures.

The following notes from the Otago correspondent of the "New Zealand Farmer," appear in the November number :— " The most untoward cirpumstances of tho season in connection with stock matters were the high gales, accompanied by a downpour of rain, which prevailed with slight interruptions from the Bth to the 11th. As lambing was general at this time on large stations and hill country it is feared there must have been heavy losses of young lambs, It appears strange that with so many bitter experiences sheop-farmera rarely make provision of shelter for the ewes at the most critical time, and when the weathei ispro\ erbially uncertain. Southern flockownersspeak confidently of this* season's clip of wool, whether as regards quantity or quality, but they are much c\ercised in their minds as to prospective prices The tone of the opening sales in Australia is undoubtedly discouraging, nevertheless several in our midst, experienced in the trade, hold to the opinion that New Zealand cross-bred wool of superior quality and well got up. will find a good market at tho London midwinter and spring sales ensuing. In the local markets for hcef and mutton there is no change to chronicle Fat caittlo continue difficult to quit; at very low prices indeed, and tho same remark applies to medium qualities of sheep. Piime sheep suitable for freezing ore in slightly better demand, it is presumed because of expectations of better prices hi the British markets consequent, on the acknowledged failure of the root, crops throughout Great Britain In the market for fat lambs there is material improvement, mainly because of the cessation of tho glut of indifferently fert, puny little Avretches. Highly-fed, well-grown, New Zealand bied lambs, pay the expoiter to the British markets much better as a rule than do the sheep of mature age. The former can be placed in London in the season w hen lamb is scarce and dear, and the colonial aiticle has the additional 1-ecommendatkm that it is exclusively milk and glass fed. Fiom statistics recently publisheJ, it will be perceived that the sources of meat supplied to the United Kingdom have been for some time past very much over estimated. In 1884 cattle of all kinds in the United States numbered 29,216,900, and in 1887 they had increased to 48,033,833. Concurrently, however, there was a large increase of population, and the consumption of meat in America is enormous. In 1884 the importation of cattle and meat from America to British markets were — cattle, 190,518 ; fresh beef, 1,078,430 ewt; cured beef, 384,117 cwt; while in 1886 the figures were -cattle, 119,065; fresh beef, 887,709 cwt, and cured beef of all kinds 533,289 cwt. The apparent an om ally of the material falling off in the United States supplies contemporaneously with the large increase ol cattle affords evidence that the tiade has not been profitable. It will bo understood that apprehensions need not be entertained with reference to supplies of mutton from the States where the figures show the imports of sheep to bo in excess of the exports of sheep and mutton together. From Canada there were sent to Biitish markets 63,407 caUle not classed, and 3,796 cows in 1886, but theie is no prospect of an extension of the trade as it has not pj oved remunerative. The number of sheep and lambs sent from the Dominion was 94.343 as compared w ith 39,725 in 1885 and 60,898 in 1884. " Donmaik, the compiler of the tables remarks, takes third place as a source of the supply of foreign oxen to Great Biitain, and would stand bocond were cows included in tho reckoning, but tho itnportB have greatly fallen off since 1884 when the total number of cattle' received was 27,000 more than in 1886."- From Germany the number of sheep imported in 1884 was 501,509 as against 339,719 in 1886, but Holland sent 468,373 last year as against 254,563 in 1884. The supply of cattle from Germany has gieatly fallon off, but Holland sends from 30,000 to 40,000 calves in the year. Fiom Russia the imports of beef were, in 1883, 22,000 cwt, 32,000 cwfc in 1884 and 10,000 cwt in 1885. The writer of the cuticle fiom which the foregoing particulars are quoted, points out that the supplies of foreign beef alive, and dead together, has been falling off. dining the past three years, and adds, "The fact is that the meat expoil trade from America a;,d Canada, which supply us with beef and from the mutton exporting countries also, has f«.r some time been more or less unprofitable." He therefore concludes "that it is by no means certain that a higher aveiage of piices will not be common in the future."