.1910.] Live and Dead Meat Trade in June. 337 



THE LIVE AND DEAD MEAT TRADE IN 

 JUNE. 



A. T. Matthews. 



Fat Cattle.— Between the last week in March and the 9th June the 

 average price of prime Shorthorns advanced from Ss. ^\\d. per stone 

 to 95. 43d., an increase nearly approaching i\d. per lb. The highest 

 point was reached about the latter of these two dates, since which 

 there was some decline, but scarcely more than could be accounted 

 for by the ordinary circumstances attending the season when the stock 

 of stall-fed bullocks is exhausted and the supplies are drawn from the 

 pastures. There are a few markets, notably that of London, that 

 continue to draw considerable numbers of stall-feds from Norfolk to a 

 later date than others, and it was noticeable, during the week ending 

 June 23rd, that the quotations at these places actually showed an 

 advance, while nearly all others declined. This points clearly enough 

 to the conclusion that the drop in average values which set in during 

 the second week was chiefly owing to the intrinsic difference in value 

 to the butcher between stall and grass-fed cattle. The average price 

 of Shorthorns for the month in about twenty-three English markets 

 was 95. 2\&. per stone for first, and Ss. qd. for second quality, which 

 shows an advance on the May figures of 3^. and 3d. respectively. 

 The average for Herefords was 95. 33d., for Devons 95. 2^d., and for 

 Scots gs. 6d., these being the prices for first quality only. 



Veal Calves. — The trade in veal calves continued steady and feature- 

 less. The average price of about twenty-six British markets began at 

 S^d. and j^d. per lb., losing Id. by the end of the month. The dearest 

 markets were in Wales and Scotland, where g\d. and even lod. per lb. 

 was touched, no English market exceeding 8f<2. in the third week. 



Fat Sheep. — The markets have been fairly well supplied, and trade 

 was of a very even character during the first three weeks, but towards 

 the close there was a weakening tendency. Atmospheric changes have 

 been sudden and frequent, with much close, thundery weather, which 

 made buyers very cautious at times. The averages, however, work 

 out very similarly to those of May, and when we consider that there 

 is a larger proportion of heavy sheep as the summer advances, it may 

 be taken that real values were very well maintained. Prime, small 

 Downs were in good request, and sold well throughout in proportion to 

 heavy sheep. The general average for these choice sheep in English 

 markets was a fraction over Sd. per lb., that for second quality yid:> 

 and ewes 5§d. The averages for Longwools were exactly \d. per lb. 

 less than for Downs for all qualities. The London market was well 

 over the general average for nice, small sheep, but towards the close 

 coarse, heavy sheep were sold at relatively very low prices. 



Fat Lambs.— Farmers throughout the country would seem to have 

 been drawing heavily on their stock of lambs during June, London 

 being especially over-supplied, and again appearing amongst the very 

 lowest of all British markets for lambs. The trade became gradually 

 worse during the month, the averages declining Id. per lb. each week. 



