THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



369 



REVIEW OF THE CATTLE TRADE DURING THE 

 PAST MONTH. 

 However unfavourable may have been the present eeason 

 for out cereal crops, the damage sustained by excessive 

 moisture being extensive, it has certainly proved satisfac- 

 tory as regards the production of live stock. The fears 

 that were at one time entertained that we should have 

 great scarcity at almost famine prices during the winter 

 months seem to have been dispelled. Both beasts and 

 sheep have rapidly increased in weight, and improved in con- 

 dition, and the currencies have become comparatively mode- 

 rate. The abundant supplies of pasture food, the enormous. 

 growth of hay, though the quality is by no means prime 

 and the heavy turnip crop, seem to point to a more reason- 

 able state of things than has been experienced since 

 the commencement of the year. The butchers and con- 

 sumers ate, therefore, in an improved position, since the 

 former are not now compelled to invest additional amount of 

 capital in the purchase of stock or dead meat, and the latter 

 have the advantage secured to them of an improved joint at 

 a moderate price. The fall in the quotations during the 

 month just concluded, however, is considered by the gra- 

 siers as a source of evil ; but they must bear in mind that 

 very high prices invariably lead to a rapid falling off in the 

 consumption, and, eventually, to fluctuations in value, which 

 deprive them of those profits to which they look forward 

 with much anxiety. We say anxiety, because it too fre- 

 quently happens that they purchase store stock considerably 

 above reasonable quotations, and because they enter upon a 

 system of speculation, the result of which it is difficult to 

 foresee. Well, then, we appear to have passed the highest 

 range in price ; but the question to consider is. What will 

 be that range during the first three months of 1861 ? In 

 that period we must of necessity be chiefly dependent upon 

 home supplies; the importations from the Continent will 

 nearly cease, and we shall, consequently, draw largely upon 

 stall-fed animals. It seems, therefore, to follow that future 

 prices will be governed not so much by the available num- 

 ber of beasts and sheep in the United Kingdom (which we 

 believe is comparatively small), but by the increased weight 

 of each particular breed and cross. We oiirselves have from 

 time to time referred to this important feature in the pro- 

 duction, and to some extent we have condemned a system of 

 forcing stock for sale irrespective of its actual value to the 

 consumers. At the same time, however, we have admitted 

 the truth of the observation that it has paid the producers 

 remarkably well. On this point, indeed, there can be no 

 difference of opinion, but it is patent to all who have nar- 

 rowly watched the operations of our graziers during the 

 past three or four years, that the system has been otherwise 

 than satisfactory to the consumers of beef and mutton. This 

 is the view taken by a writer in the last number of the 

 Journal of theRoyal Agricultural Society of England, but to 

 which exception has been taken by a portion of the press. 

 In support of the doctrine that early maturity is the one 

 thing necessary to meet consumption, we are told that 

 " though the proportion of fat to lean meat may be some- 

 what greater than in the older pure Scots, it will be found 

 that the consumable meat is also greater," and further that 

 ".instead of keeping his beasts four or five years, the grazier 

 sells them /a< at two and a-half or three years old.'' An 

 additional argument is used to the effect that one year in 

 four is saved by early maturity, and the question is asked, 

 " Why should not a farmer force an animal which he can 

 render marketable at an early age, when by doing so he 

 makes a profit upon rearing and feeding it, and has room for 

 another on which to repeat the process .'' This is not pre- 

 maturely forcing the stock for sale." The admissions here 

 made are sufficient in themselves to prove what we consider 

 the unsoundness of the principle laid down. We have 

 here the admitted fact that crossing leads to a larger pro- 

 portion of fat to lean, when compared with a more natural 

 system. How, then, are we to contend that there 

 is more consumable meat ? True, the numbers of stock may 

 exhibit au apparent increase ; but the very reverse is the esse, 

 since everyone must acknowledge that the supplies now in the 

 hands of the graziers and feeders are much smaller than con- 

 sumption justifies. The writer — though perfectly correct in 

 his conclusions as regards particular breeds, and the power on 

 the part of wealtJiy graziers to withhold stock until perfectly 



ripe for market ; iu other words, sufliciently fat for sale— has 

 fallen into a great error, in reference to the country generally. 

 A few isolated instances of rapid production and good prices 

 are not applicable m a general sense. On various occasions 

 we have seen stock disposed of in the Metropolitan Cattle 

 Market of enormous weight and perfectly fat — the offspring 

 of the new system ; but those auimals, few in number, have 

 formed serious exceptions, when the total supplies are taken 

 into account. Take, for example, the exhibition of 5,000 

 beasts and 25,000 sheep on any given day during the whole 

 of the present year : what proportion has been really prime 

 consumable meat ? Certai'ily not more than 500 of the for- 

 mer, and leas than 4,000 of the latter. And what have these 

 contained ? A large admixture of fat in the carcase, and a 

 trifling quantity internally. The butcher, therefore, has fre- 

 quently paid enormously high prices for auimals which have 

 yielded fully two-thirds less internal fat than he could reason- 

 ably have calculated upon under the old, but now apparently 

 much condemned system. To keep pace witb it, however, every 

 grazier is anxious to secure an immediate profit. Stock of all 

 kinds— too frequently in vretched condition — is prematurely 

 disposed of, and prices are kept at an unnatural range. Be 

 it observed, we care but little about numbers in any particular 

 market ; we want more meat and less fat — we require that 

 which is useful for general consumption, not that which is 

 rejected as refuse. When it can be proved conclusively, by 

 the state of our markets, that we are receiving out usual pro- 

 portion of consumable food — viewed in respect to numbers, 

 which we are certainly not receiving now — we shall be pre- 

 pared to admit that the premises here laid down are singularly 

 incorrect, but not before. Hides, skins, and offul are very 

 useful commodities ; but we apprehend that the production of 

 such should not be the principal aim of our breeders. Let 

 them rather strive to produce two-thirds really consumable 

 stock, compared with the aggregate numbers disposed of, and 

 we shall then have reached a period when consumers will 

 more fully appreciate the value of production. 



Notwithstanding that the weather has been changeable, and 

 that the pastures have continued in a damp state, both beasts 

 and sheep have fared remarkably well. The general health of 

 the stock has been good, and very few losses have been ex- 

 perienced iu any of our leading districts. The supply of food 

 for winter use is no v very large, so that no scarcity can be 

 apprehended ; we, however, have our misgivings in reference 

 to the quality of the root crops. They are very abundant ; 

 but we feat that the want of a temperature sufficiently high 

 to develop their usual properties will operate against the crops, 

 as regards their nutritive or fattening properties. 



The importations of foreign stock into London have con- 

 tinued on a liberal seale, but, with the exception of those from 

 Holland, both beasts and sheep have come to hand iu very 

 poor condition. This must be evident, as regards sheep, when 

 we state that the arrivals from Germany (about 20,000 head) 

 have been disposed of at from ISs. to 2l8. each. Some of 

 those from the Low Couutries have realized 638. each. The 

 arrivals have been as under : 



IMPORTS INTO LONDON IN SEPTEMBER. 



HEAU. 



Beasts .. .. 8,120 



Sheep 36,381 



Lambs 1.039 



Calves 2,200 



Pigs 3,188 



Total 50,928 



Comparison of Imports. 



Beasts. Sheep. Lambs. Calves, Pigs. 



1855 7,161 22,744 613 1,646 2,266 



1856 7,084 20,605 3,000 2,772 1,559 



1857 7,346 24,090 198 1,953 20,67 



1858 5,999 25,488 717 2.735 2,472 



1859 6,966 37.783 1.358 1,744 1.895 



The total supplies of stock offered for sale have been as 

 follows : 



HEAD. 



Beasts 27.080 



Cows •• .. 500 



Sheep and lambs 144,450 



Calves 3,309 



Pigs 2,922 



