LIVE STOCK MARKETS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 100, 1 May 1933, Page 4

LIVE STOCK MARKETS.

CONDITIONS IN TARANAKI. NEW PLYMOUTH, Saturday. General lack o£ confidence ia detrimental to stock trading, and the wintry and wet conditions that set in during the week hastened the closing of autumn business Most farmers laid in good supplies of hay and ensilage, which is most fortunate, as it may be that an early winter is following a long growing season. Apart from auctions, trading has been spasmodic. Even dairy cattle have been receiving little attention from the middleman, in spite of past custom. There are unofficial reports that a further decline in the freezing beef schedule is imminent. Little alteration fn prices has been noticeable at. ai'ction, but private quotations will need amendment if the rumour has foundation. Well-bred cows and heifers have been quoted at up to £5, with few sales at that. Local requirements aie being filled as follows: —Prime well-bred cows and heifers, £4 10/; lighter, £3 157 to £4; good young cows from dairy herds, £3 10/; lighter, £2 10/ to £2 15/. Hook values for ewe mutton advanced %d per lb, wijh a corresponding local trading appreciation. Prime ewes for local needs, to 9/G; and medium to good bringing 7/0 to 8/0. Wether and lamb schedules remain as before, best wethers worth to 14/; lighter and unfinished, 12/ to 13/; prime lambs, 12/ to 13/; light and unfinished, 10/ to 11/. Store sheep are inquired for, with quotations higher than buyers' ideas. Lambs are sought in small lots by dairy farmers, and good competition to a point is the order for yardings. Odd sales of station-bred cattle continue. Saleyard entries mostly consist of* oddments, accounted for by works' buyers; meaty cows arc worth £1 10/ to £1 15; aDd boners, 15/ to 25/. Good inquiry is reported for two-year empty Jersey heifers, but few are offerinc;. Odd auction lots sell at from £1 15/ to £2 5/, with keen competition. No improvement is reported in the demand for weaner Jersey heifers. Yard entries consist of small and inferior-bred, prices ranging from 15/ to 30/, according to quality. , Trading in dairy heifers has been limited to small lots, and has been spasmodic. Increased trade from outside acquirers is expected, however, from now onwards. Most holders have not been released of their supplies, and quotations are expected to be competitive with those of outside centres. One truck lot of tops are sellable at up to £5, and £5 10/ i'or larger selections. Weak demand and frequent passings featured the first horse fair at Stratford, when 50 were offered. There are indications of a keen demand for useful farm sorts in early spring. Little alterations occurred in pig prices. Large stores, suitable for early fattening, meet most attention, but weaners are dull of sale, with low prices J Yesterday's New Plymouth sale witnessed a full yarning and a total clearance. Porkers, £1 14/; unfinished. 23/ to 24/; good-condi-tioned stores, 20/6 to 21/6; smaller sorts, 15/6 to 17/; slips, 8/ to 10/; choice weaners, 6/ to 7/6: medium, 5/; small, 2/6 to 4/.