LIVE STOCK MARKETS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 97, 27 April 1933, Page 4

LIVE STOCK MARKETS.

EXPORT VALUES LOW.

LAMBS SELL FAIRLY WELL,

DROP IN BEEF SCHEDULE

Since last report there have been on marked changes in the export markets. Dairy produce is still being marketed under slump conditions in Great Britain, and at the moment there are no indications o£ an early improvement. Meat from the Dominion is being disposed of at Smithfield at about recent rates, and consumption is satisfactory. The beef market, however, is very weak, and local export operators have again lowered their schedule rates. The local freezing works ai;e busy handling large quantities of pigs and cattle, the latter mostly boners. In this connection it i 6 unfortunate that congestion of space still compels the freezing companies to limit the quantities of cattle that can be taken in. Owing to the intervention of Anzac Day the weekly fixtures at Prankton and Westfiekl were each delayed one day. Of conditions in the country our Waikato correspondent says:— The market during the week has again been very quiet, and now that the colder weather is setting in the wonderful growth which has everywhere been in evidence over the Waikato during the autumn will receive a check. Without doubt this has been a wonderful autumn for dairying purposes, and many farmers will have difficulty in drying off their herds. There is practically nothing fresh to report from the week's operations, except perhaps the drop in the freezing schedule tor cattle. There was a better yarding of beef at Frankton this week, that is as far as quality is concerned, but prices showed practically no improvement. Export companies have announced a new schedule of 16/ per 1001b for prime ox beef at Southdown or Westfield, and 12/ for second quality. Prime cow beef, for which 10/6 has been the ruling price, is practically unwanted, and, although the boner schedule at 6/6 remains unchanged, boner bulls have suffered a severe setback by a reduction of 9/ per 1001b. Not only are these reductions serious enough, in themselves, but the worst feature is still the congestion at the works, and large quantities of cattle are being grazed while awaiting their turn to be slaughtered. Dairy farmers have also numbers of cull cows yet to go out. These cows have been milking better than was anticipated earlier in the year; this is no doubt due to the flush of feed, and with the low prices ruling for butterfat dairy farmers have retained them as long as possible before culling out. It is expected that most of these cull cows will have to be replaced by heifers, so that no doubt the dairy section will sooner or later show sisns of briskness. There is little or no business doing in the sheep section. The butchers' trade absorbs practically all the fat ewes and wethers offering, and also the bulk of the fat lambs. Only a few odd trucks are'finding their way to the works. Store sheep of all classes appear neglected. This is no doubt due to the fact that very few are offering. file yardings of pigs are keeping up remarkably well, although the price is showing an all round decline. WAIKATO VALUES. Of conditions' in the Waikato -our Hamilton correspondent says:— Beef.—Smaller yardings of ox beef are coming forward, and .prices, \yith the exception of good quality light weight cattle, are very little in advance of freezing quotations. Good quality cow and heifer beef has not been quite so plentiful, and prices for same have remained firm. Prime ox beef has been making 15/ to 16/ per 1001b; medium quality, 13/ to 14/; prime young cow and,heifer, 14/ to 15/; medium quality, 11/ to 12/; plain beef, 9/ to 10/. Fat Sheep.—A good entry of fat sheep again came forward to Frankton this week, and prices, especially for ewe mutton, remain quite equal to last week s quotations. Wethers, however, have not shown the increase in price that was anticipated, and the best price obtained for prime heavy wethers was 14/6. Medium wethers realised 12/ to 13/, while prime heavv fat ewes made up to 10/, with practically no good fat ewes under 8/ to 9/. A good entry of fat lambs again brought slightly in" advance of . the freezing schedule, heavy lambs selling up to 13/, medium 11/ to 12/. Store Cattle.—Practically no stationbred cattle- have been yarded during the week, as the yardings comprise chiefly boners and oddments of young cattle. Jersey heifer calves are still changing hands, but at prices which are not up to recent quotations. A little better inquiry appears to be setting in for in-calf Jersey heifers, but so far sellers do not appear to be anxious to face the open market, and thereby establish a standard of value. A few sales have taken place by private treaty, and the best prices obtained are from £5 to £5 12/6 for a line of 60 choice heifers. Other sales are from £4 to £4 10/, while heifer calves liave been selling from 25/ to 30/ for the best, with smaller calves from 15/ to £1; empty cows in fresh condition, 30/ to £2; store cows, 23/ to 35/; boners, from 16/ to 30/. Store Sheep.—This section has assumed very small proportions. In fact, practically no store sheep are yarded at any of the sales. There is an inquiry for breeding ewes, although any that have been submitted t»o auction during the last few weeks have not been up to standard. However, if. » supply of genuinely farmed good ewes was offered, it is anticipated thev would find a ready sale. Forward wethers are worth 11/ to 12/; two-tooth wethers, from 10/ to 11/; small wethers, 8/ to 9/; good woolly lambs, 7/ to »/; good shorn lambs, 6/6 to 7/6: , medium mixed sex lambs, 6/ to 7/; small lambs, 5/ to 6/. Pigs.—There was again a drop of from 4/ to 5/ per head in fat pigs at Frankton this week, and with the long dairying season the supply has kept up longer this year than usual. Stores and weaners are also dull of sale. Heavy baconers have been making from 38/ to £2 3/; medium, 34/ to 37/; heavy porkers, 26/ to 30/; medium, 23/ to 25/; stores, 12/ to 15/; slips, 7/ to 10/; weaners, 3/6 to 6/6. NORTH AUCKLAND. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) WHANGAREI, this-day. The North Auckland Farmers' Co-opera-tive report having held its monthly stock sale at Maungakaramea yesterday. There was a large attendance of buyers, and prices were slightly in advance of late rates. Quotations were:—Dairy cows, £3 10/ to £5; backward, £2 10/ to £3 5/- prime fat ox. £5 5/ to £5 10/; prime fat cows, £3 10/ to £4; boner bulls. £1 II to £2 19/; weaner Shorthorn calves, 9/ to 15/; sows,' to farrow, up to £3; porkers, 8/ to 15/. MATAMATA. The weekly Matamata 6tock sale was held by Dalgety and Co.. Ltd., on Wednesday. Cattle met with fair competition, prices having a firming tendency. A good yarding of pigs came forward,, consisting mostly of light baconers and porkers. No alteration in rates were recorded. Prices were:— Cattle.—Fat cows, £2 5/ to £2 9/; lighter sorts, 35/ to £2 2/; boners, 24/ to 34/; steers, 2%-year, Holsteins, £2 10/ to £3; inferior yearling heifers, £1. Pigs.—Medium and heavy baconere, 39/ to £2 1/; light baconers, 36/ to 38/; heavy porkers, 28/ to 33/; medium porkers, 25/ to 27/: light porkers, 20/ to 25/; small porkers, 16/ to 18/'; choppers. £1 8/ to £1 10/: stores, good sized, 15/ to 19/; slips, 12/ to 16/; weaners, good, 10/ to 12/; others, 8/ to 11/; weaners, small, 5/ to 7/. Sheep.—Fat and forward lambe, 7/7. ,