794 



The Live and Dead Meat Trade. [jan., 



change was more marked, and Norfolk Shorthorns made up to yd. 

 per lb. for the first time since August 3rd. This advance was entirely 

 owing to the better finish of the animals, and it would not be too much 

 to say that there have been no real first quality Shorthorns at Islington 

 during the four intervening months. On the same day the top price 

 of Herefords was only yd., and of Runts, 6fd., there being no improve- 

 ment in their condition, but a few Polled Scots were sold at 7f<2., and 

 some good Devons at y\&. 



The Christmas markets may be said to have commenced at Ruthin, 

 North Wales, on December 1st, where the numbers on offer were less 

 than half those of last year. The quality, however, was excellent, and 

 apart from prize-winners, the best Shorthorns made about yd. per lb. 

 This was a good beginning, and was followed by many similar 

 events in various parts of the country. It is, of course, well known that 

 the prices given for prize animals at Christmas shows are quite excep- 

 tional and bear little relation to the current market values, as they are 

 frequently purchased by butchers for purposes of advertisement; but it 

 may not be without interest to mention that at Corwen, in Wales, a 

 champion beast fetched £29, and another at Denbigh, ^30. The highest 

 price at Dorchester was ^33 10s., and at Hereford ^29 155. At Leeds a 

 Shorthorn bullock weighing 16^ cwt. made the handsome figure of 

 ^52 105., and at Aberdeen, His Majesty's Black Polled bullocks sold 

 at £2$ to £42 per head. 



There is nothing of the nature of a show at the great Christmas 

 market at Islington, which took place this year on December 14th, and 

 there were no prize animals and no fancy prices. This event is there- 

 fore probably the safest guide to the current values of animals which 

 have been well finished for the Christmas trade. There was a 

 considerable falling off in the numbers of sheep compared to those of 

 last year, but the total number of cattle was 2,600, against 2,630 in 

 1907, while the sheep fell from 10,210 to 6,880. The 300 Aberdeen 

 Angus wer^ fewer by about 150 than last year, and there was nothing 

 remarkable in their weights or condition, but a marked absence of that 

 overfeeding which was, in past years, carried to such excess. They 

 were, however, of excellent quality, and the same may be said of the 

 Shorthorns and Devons, but the Herefords and Welsh Runts were also 

 very good. There was a brisk trade, and all were easily sold at prices 

 much above those of recent ordinary markets, and also those of last 

 year. Some few of the Aberdeens reached S^d. per lb., but 8%d. was the 

 current top price, against y\d. in 1907. That of Herefords was y\d. 

 against 6£d. ; Shorthorns, y\d. against 6fd. ; Devons, Sd. against y\d., 

 and Welsh Runts, y\d. against 6^d. As compared with the low prices 

 current in October, it is evident that liberal feeding for the Christmas 

 market has been, this year, more profitable than usual. 



On December 21st there were only 300 fat cattle at Islington, and 

 these again sold well, allowing for some falling off in quality. Some 

 Aberdeens made Sd. per lb., Herefords yd., Shorthorns y\d., and Runts 

 yd., but no Devons were present. 



We now come to the last market of the year at Islington, which was 

 held only three days after Christmas. Considering this fact, 980 head 

 was a good muster, and they met an unexpectedly good demand. Buyers 

 for the dead meat market attended early, and all were speedily cleared 

 off. Top prices were y%d. per lb. for Scots, y\d. for Norfolk-fed Short- 



