1908.] Live and Dead Meat Trade in November. 717 



THE LIVE AND DEAD MEAT TRADE IN 

 NOVEMBER. 



A. T. Matthews. 



First Week. - From nearly all the markets reports of want of condition 

 in the animals exposed for sale came in with even more emphasis than 

 during October, and the scarcity of well-finished beasts was still more 

 apparent. Trade was irregular. At some places the best cattle sold readily 

 at previous prices, amongst them being Leicester, Bristol, Hull and Peter- 

 borough, but at Ashford, Hereford, Ipswich, Leeds, Newcastle and Darlington 

 lower rates had to be quoted. At Ipswich and Norwich the best Shorthorns 

 realised 8s, 3d. per 14-lb. stone, no other market, except Ashford, recording 

 more than 8s. Wakefield was as low as js. yd., which was the same as 

 London, Leeds being the lowest on the list at ys. 6d. The sheep trade 

 was characterised by great dulness, but when we examine the actual 

 quotations there does not appear to have been any serious or general 

 decline. Taking, as usual, those for first quality " Downs," we find that 

 London, Hereford and Wolverhampton declined \d., Ipswich and Newcastle 

 \d. perTb., while Longwools at Ashford also made \d. less ; against these 

 we have to place an advance of \d. at Peterborough and Norwich. At 

 Islington, on the 2nd, the few finished beasts of any breed were fully 

 as dear as the week before, but there was more difference than usual 

 between first and second quality, as the latter were cheaper by quite \d. 

 per lb., which caused a gap of \d. per lb. between the two qualities 

 instead of the usual farthing, as quoted when supplies are coming forward 

 in their normal condition. It is quite certain that ordinary graziers have 

 lost much this season through sparing the oilcake, the use of which would 

 have paid them a liberal profit. It should not be forgotten that market 

 reports in referring to the values of first and second quality are chiefly 

 alluding to relative condition, and Shorthorn bullocks which were sold at 

 Islington at ^\d. per lb. would, if well fattened, have made \d. per lb. more, 

 or ^os. on a bullock weighing 800 lb., and, as the extra weight gained 

 would have paid for the cake, the 50^. would have been all profit, besides the 

 value of the manure. The mutton trade at Islington on the same day was 

 much depressed, and although there was a fine show of Hampshire Down 

 tegs of exactly suitable weights for the London demand, even these were 

 sold with difficulty at 8d. per lb., while fine quality wethers of 80 lb. did not 

 exceed y\d. 



The chief feature in the dead-meat trade this week was the sudden and 

 heavy fall in American chilled beef. For several weeks this article had 

 been very sparingly offered, owing, it was stated, to speculation for a rise in 

 English, and the top price advanced to y\d. per lb. for hind quarters, which 

 was quite out of proportion to its .usual relative value. During the week it 

 suffered a reduction of i^d. per lb., and was a slow trade at 6d. Scotch 

 beef was a little cheaper at 6\d., but English and port-killed were firm at 

 $\d. per lb. Carcase mutton was again at a discount, Scotch tegs barely 

 realising yd. per lb. and the best English 6%d. Veal was cheaper than 

 in October, nothing fetching more than yd., and very good calves were 

 procurable at b\d. per lb. Pork partially recovered from the panic prices 

 of the previous week and fetched from ^\d. to 6d. per lb. These prices 

 relate to those ruling at the London Central Market. 



