THE PRICE OF FAT STOCK

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VII, Issue 2157, 28 November 1885, Page 2

THE PRICE OF FAT STOCK

Sheep farmers are traely having a very bad time of it, The price of wool has been exceedingly low during the past two years, and in the latter part of that period they have also obtained a very poor average for their fat stock. It is true that last winter some fair prices were realized, but that was only for a short period, during which the butchering companies bought as little as possible, so that the ruling price for the period would make very little difference for the year. The benefit was reaped by : those who had a good supply of grass, and were able to hold on, but the majority simply got no benefit at all. The 'natural' effect of an early spring, and consequent early growth of grass, is that stock all

round is in better condition than usual, and that the quantity that has been put in the market is greater, The natural outcome is that lower prices are being offered. Another point that has to be considered is that the Home prices of New Zealand mutton continue low. The extent of the fall may be estimated from the fact that o.ie runholder who attempted to sell a draft ot' shorn fat sheep, was offered three shillings less per head than last year, the difference being about twenty per cent. If the hopes of the producers

were raised by the announcement that wool had risen between five and ten per cent, it will still be found that they are losers,, because the return on a station from fat sheep always forms a most important item in the year's accounts. It is noticeable that there has been no material depreciation in tlitf price of fat cattle, and this fact may perhaps prove a consulation to many who remember flie disastrously low prices which ruled during the winter of 1884,. We are, however, afraid that there is little prospect of a recovery of'the wholesale prices of mutton, and that any advance that may occur in the pric.6 of wool will be fully counterbalanced by the depreciation in that of fat stock.