IN THE WAIKATO.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 280, 26 November 1931, Page 4

IN THE WAIKATO.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) HAMILTON, Wednesday. After a week of dull prices it is pleasing to record a rise in both beef and fat sheep at Frankton on Tuesday. Although the yarding of sheep was smaller than usual, there was an all-round better tone, and prices advanced fully 1/6 to 2/ per head. The quality of the beef also showed an improvement on last week's yarding, and here again better competition resulted wath increased values. Good numbers of store cattle are still finding their way to the market, but in this section competition is anything but keen. Graziers still prefer the grown steers, but young cattle and female cattle are hard to quit, although they can be purchased at prices that certainly look tempting, and cannot but ensure a good margin of profit when resold. Store sheep are practically off the market, although there is still a fair inquiry for wethers. Quotations of 5-year-old breeding ewes from the East Coast districts, which have been on the high side, are now becoming more reasonable, although the general opinion among sheepfarmers seems to be that they prefer to wait and buy their breeding ewes when they arrive in this district. The pig market has shown a further decline, and bacon pigs are at a lower ebb at the present time than they have been for some years. Conditions are as follow: — Beef.—Although the rise in beef at Frankton this week was a little bit unexpected. it is anticipated that prime quality ox will remain in the region of IS/ to £1 per 1001b for the next few w-eeks. It is a pity that there appears to be no prospect of export, as no doubt if some of the plainer cattle were cleaned up by this method nrices would soon harden. Prime ox bee. has been makinz from 22/ to 23/ per 1001b; medium quality, from 20/ to 21/; prime young cow and heifer, from 21/ to 22/; medium cow, 17/ to IS/; plain cow beef, from 12/ to 14/. Fat Sheep.—No doubt the smaller entry the cause of an advance in prices at Frankton. However, it is anticipated that both wethers and ewes will soon come down to freezing values, and will, more or less, remain steady, with prime quality butchers' sheep selling at slightly better rates. Fat hoggets and lambs £lso remain at last week's quotation. The biggest disappointment is the further drop in the price of lamb to the 5d schedule. Although this district has not got as many iambs away as was anticipated, other districts ' have exceeded all records, and a very large number of iambs is at present on the way to the London market. These arriving on the top of a heavy season from Australia make the prospects ahead difficult to anticipate, although the General opinion

appears to be that thej* will stabilise round about the 5d schedule. Prime fat wethers made up to 12/G; medium, 10/ to 11/: prime fat ewes, 7/6 to 8/6; medium, 7/ to 7/6; prime fat hoggets, up to 13/6; prime fat lambs, 12/ to 14/6. Store Sheep.—Although very little business is being done in this section there is still an inquiry for store wethers, with very few local sheep being quoted. Mogt of the sheepfarmers appear to be anxious for the results of the wool sale to be held in Auckland this week before quoting their sheep. Good 4 and 6-tooth wethers have been selling from 9/6 to 10/6; 2-tooth wethers, from 8/6 to 9/; cull hoggets, from 7/ to 8/. Store Cattle.—Although good entries are coming forward the prices realised are still disappointing to farmers, and it would be hard to imagine them getting any lower. There is still a good demand for yearling Jersey heifers, while store cows and grown steers are also popular. Four-year-old bullocks have been making from £4 10/_to £5; 3-year-old steers, from £3 to £3 15/'; 2-year-old steers, from £2 to £2 10/; yearling steers, 30/ to £2; young empty cows, £2 10/ to £3; store cows, £1 to 30/; best yearling Jersey heifers, from £3 10/ to £4 10/; medium quality, from £2 10/ to £3; mixed coloured heifers, from 20/ to 30/. Pigs.—Although good yardings are everywhere coming forward the prices receded quite 5/ per head in baconers and 2/6 to 3/6 in porkers. In fact, are now barely getting as much for their prime baconers as what they were giving for them as stores a few months ago. It is surprising that the price of stores and weaners still remains good. Heavy baconers make from 35/ to 38/; medium, from 30/ to 34/; heavy porkers, 25/ to 30/; stores, 20/ to 25/; slips, 15/ to 19/; weaners, 9/ to 14/.

MATAMATA. The Farmers' Auctioneering Co., Ltd., held its usual fortnightly stock sale at Matamata on Wednesday, when a medium yarding of cattle sold at late rates. There was an average yarding of pigs. Prices for fats were on a. par with late rates. Stores and weaners met with dull competition and prices dropped. Prices were:— Cattle. —Heavy fat cows, £4 to £4 16/; light fat cows, £2 10/ to £3 17/; killable cows, £1 18/ to £3 8/; fresh store cows, 25/ to 32./; boners, 10/ to £1; potter bulls, 30/ to £4 7/6; yearling heifers, £2 •4/ to £3 10/; poorer sorts, £1 3/ to £1 11./; springing heifers, £2 15/ to £5 10/. Pigs.—Choppers, 31/ to £2 1/; heavy baconers, 36/ to 39/; light baconers, 31/ to 35/; heavy porkers, 28/ to 31/; light porkers. 24/ to 27/; stores, 18/ C to £1; slips, IV to 15/; good weaners, 10/6 to 12.6; smaller sorts, 6/6 to 10/Sheep.—Fat ewes, 5/9 to 6/.

PAEROA. The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Co., Ltd., report as follows: — At our Paeroa sale we had a large entry of cattle and prices generally showed an advance on those of the previous sale, particularly in regard to store cattle. Springers were not in demand and prices were lower, -but beef met with keen demand, the large yarding selling at £4 to £5 12/6 for the best; others, £3 to £4; good store cows, £1 15/ to £3; boners, 5/ to £1 5/; two-year-old empty heifers, £2 to £3 3/; others, £1 10/ to £1 15/; weaner pigs, 12/6; slips, 17/.

GISBORNE CATTLE FAIR

GISBORNE, Tuesday,

At the Gisborne cattle fair on the second day beef sold as on the first. In store cattle, females only, there was an entry of 2100, with low _ prices ruling. Best quality year Unas realised 18/ to 24/; fairly good, 12/ to 15/; two years, 26/ to 33/; cows with calves, big frame, fresh condition, Hereford?, good calves, £2 17/; light condition, 35/; fair condition, 18/ to 23/; empty cows, good frame, forward. 40/ to 47/; good, store condition, 20/ to 28/; good Jersey heifers, £3 12/6 to £4 5/. There was a moderate attendance.