1909.] The Live and Dead Meat Trade in June. 339 



THE LIVE AND DEAD MEAT TRADE IN JUNE. 

 A. T. Matthews. 



Fat Cattle. — The month opened with a good demand, and at 17 

 markets held in the first three days first quality Shorthorns averaged 

 8s. 3d. per stone, which was a fractional advance on the latest May 

 quotation. During the week which followed there was a more decided 

 upward tendency, for no fewer than 13 out of 26 markets reported higher 

 prices, while the remainder were firm with a good demand, these reports 

 referring to cattle of any breed and not to Shorthorns only. Supplies 

 continued good, and, with a few exceptions, the quality was excellent for 

 the time of year, Usually at this season there occurs a sudden falling 

 off in the supply of house-fed cattle, their places being taken by imma- 

 ture animals from the grass. Confining the report to Shorthorns, the 

 average value at 22 markets went up to Ss. $d. per stone for first quality 

 and ys. Sd. for second. The London price was Ss. $d., but five markets 

 quoted Ss. gd. These were Ashford, Basingstoke, Newcastle, Newport, 

 and Preston. The lowest were Dorchester, Ipswich and Norwich, the 

 range between highest and lowest being no less than gd. per stone. Best 

 quality Herefords at Hereford, Salford, Shrewsbury, and Wellington 

 (Salop) were uniformly quoted at Ss. gd., or *]\d. per lb. Devons 

 averaged Ss. <\d. at four markets, and Polled Scots Ss. Sd. at five 

 English markets. 



The next week a similar state of things prevailed with regard to the 

 supplies, and grass-fed bullocks were present at many markets with 

 very good apparent finish. These must have been in very forward 

 condition on going to pasture, but some complaint was made of their 

 weighing badly after slLughter. Trade was very steady during the week 

 ending on the 17th, the average price of Shorthorns showing a further 

 slight advance, it being Ss. 6d. at 23 markets for first and 75. Sd. for 

 second quality, London, Ashford, Basingstoke, Bristol, and Newcastle 

 reaching the highest quotation at Ss. gd. per stone, the lowest of the 

 week being Dorchester at Ss. 2d. Best Herefords the same week were 

 quoted at four markets at an average of Ss. Sd., Devons at six 

 markets at Ss. yd., and Polled Scots at seven English markets at Ss. gd. 



The markets during the week ending on the 24th showed a con- 

 siderable falling off in the proportion of stall-feds, although at 

 Islington on the Monday there was still a very good supply from 

 Norfolk. Smaller intrinsic value from this cause would more than 

 account for the slight average decline at 22 markets of about id. 

 per 14 lb. At Ashford, Basingstoke, and Newcastle the maxi- 

 mum of Ss. gd. for Shorthorns was maintained, and only at 

 Shrewsbury and Peterborough did first quality fall below Ss., the 

 general average being Ss. 4J. It is not often that Aberdeen-Angus 

 bullocks, direct from Scotland, are offered at Islington except at 

 Christmas, when there is always a good show. Those representing this 

 breed at ordinary times are chiefly bred in Ireland and fed in Norfolk, 

 and have to be quoted as second quality. On the 21st, however, there 

 was a consignment of 40 from Aberdeenshire, and these were quickly 

 secured at Sd. per lb. or gs. qd. per stone. The trade for fat cows was 

 also very good in London, and on the same day one salesman sold 



