TARANAKI STOCK MARKETS.

Hawera Star, Volume L, 1 December 1930, Page 7

TARANAKI STOCK MARKETS.

LAST 'WEEK’S SALES. NEWTON KING’S REPORT. Reviewing last week’s stock sales in Taranaki Newton King, Ltd., state: The consequent result of the wintry conditions that are being sustained leaves little to the imagination so far as the pastures are concerned. The spring growth on the coast and lower levels has nob, however, been hampered to the extent that- it has on the higher country, and the returns shown by those farming on fhe latter class are much below those anticipated. The results at the opening wool sales at Auckland were below expectations, and this will undoubtedly have its effect on the sheep market, and, with the instability of the butter market that is in evidence, there seems little hope of a revival in prices; in fact, generally speaking, pessimism is shown with regard to future prices. Quietness prevails throughout the district and sales in the paddock are not readily made, the hulk of the business being transacted under the hammer, the position in each section being as follows: Values in the beef section hold their ground to some degree, although heavy-weight cattle are not so keenly sought after as the well-finished lighter class, and with the preference that is being shown for lighter weights, heavy bullocks have declined a little in value. Good young cows are in ready demand and prices for these remain firm. Paddock sales for the best ox beef range from £l3 10s to £l4 10s for lieavysorts, while lighter cattle range from £l2 to £l3. Best prime fat cows and heifers find a- market at up to £ll 10s, lighter £0 to £lO. In the yards failnumbers of well-finished cows are submitted and change hands at up to £lO for well-bred and finished sorts, while Jersey and Jersey-cross cattle realise from £7 to £8 10s. Prices for fat sheep'are on the wane, but with the unsuitable weather for shearing that has been experienced, quotations of sheep off the shears in North Taranaki are not plentiful and good numbers are being drawn from southern supplies. Prices for wethers range from 20s to 21s 6d, while those for ewes are from 13s 6d to 15s 6d. The volume of business being transacted in the fat lamb section falls far short of previous seasons, which is solelv accounted for by the unfavourable" conditions, resulting in few lines being ready. The opening price of d is still available where suitable lambs are offering, but a reduction may be put into effect at any date. The works schedule for fat ewes and wethers is from 10s to 11s for the first-mentioned class, and from 18s to 19s for the latter, but as yet little interest is being displayed by works buyers for these two classes. Little activity can be reported in the storesheep section, hut now that some guide as to the, season’s wool prices is available and export values for. mutton have been announced, prospective vendors will perhaps reduce their quota-I tions within striking distance of the' views of prospective buyers. However, 1 with the reluctance, that is being shown by buyers to operate on a forward delivery basis, business of consequence is not anticipated until the fairs come around. During the week a few odd lots in this section have conic under the hammer and values obtained have been as follows: Good 2-tooth ewes off shears 20s, others 16s to 17s 6d, 2-tooth wethers 14s to 16s, 4-tooth wethers 16s to 17 s, fullmouthed ewes, with lambs at foot 21s to 23s 6d. In the store-cattle section business confines itself to the yards, but few lines of account are yarded, and the oddments that come forward are .selling at late rates. Paddock cows find a ready market and good prices are the order for this class, best sorts making up to- £5 10s, while others change hands at from £4 to £4 10s. Fifteen-month Jersey and Jerseycross heifers have not improved in favour during the week, and the majority of holders of this class have liow mated their supplies and will await the autumn market. There are, of course, fair numbers being yarded, but, generally speaking, the yardmgs consist of the smaller class, with small numbers of well-grown sorts included. Prices for cross-bred cattle of size and condition range from £4 os to £4 15s, while smaller sorts realise from £3 to- £3 10s, hold-over cattle of the best quality £3 to £3 ss, others being dull of sale and making from £1 10s to £2 ss. Few dairy cattle are offering and little inquiry exists, and prices are in sympathy with the butter market, good heifers making from £8 to £9, others £5 10s to £7. Pigs were yarded in moderate numbers at the New Plymouth Haymarket sale on Friday and prices were practically on a part with those mentioned in our last report and a clearance was effected at the following rates: Well-done weaners in good condition 23s 6d. smaller sorts 18s to 20s, good slips 29s 6d.

FARMERS' CO-OP. REVIEW. The Farmers’ Co-op. Organisation Society of New Zealand, Ltd., report on the sales of the last week as follows: The marketing throughout Taranaki, in sympathy with the 1 all in wool values and the uncertain outlook in regard' to fat stock prices > holding at their present level, have i 11 rthei receded, and business in the paddock has been brought almost to a standstill. Weather conditions also have been most unfavourable and feed, in the back country especially, is more backward than usual. Fat Cattle.—There is still a demand for well finished sorts. Bullocks £l2 Gs to £l3 os. cows £8 10s to £lO 10s. •Store Cattle. —The demand is conlined to empty cows and heifers and forward bullocks, which are at present in short supply. Sales were made during the week as follows: Empty Shorthorn and Hereford heifers £6 3s to £6 17s Gd. forward emnty cows £5 12s Gd to £6 2s 6d. lower conditioned sorts £4 to £5 2s Gd, 4 and 5-year bullocks £7 los to £8 15s, 3-year .steers £6 to £7 2s Gd. Dairy Cattle. —Best cows to £l2, best heifers £7 10s to £lO 10s. Only small numbers coming forward and demand restricted to good quality cows right oil the drop. Yearling Heifers. —Some sales lepnrted this week of extra good heifers £5 1-js to £G 2s Gd, medium .sorts £4 2s to £5. and hold over heifers from £2 17s Gd to £3 10s, with an increasing inquiry for hold over heifers, but vendors are at present not prepared to sell at the prices offering. Fat Sheen. —Market slightly easier. Prime wethers 20s to 21s. medium IPs to IPs Gd. crime ewe?. 13s Gd to los 6d. medium 13s In 13s. h.f. hoggets ('prime') 17s to IPs. Stern Sheen.—-Market depressed and D-'iles hard to make. A few forward tales of grod ewes have pone through at nriees for 6-tnoth and 1-year-oM ewes r —cod 1 Ins gd and for 4, and o(?tves "IPs Grl and 1.4 s 6d, vi+Ji •January and February delivery. We made sales as follows: Two-tooth wethers 11s Pd to 11s. 4-tnntli wethers

(forward) ilz 6d to ic>s 6d. i dnd £k tooth medium lcls 9d, ttore ewes (shorn) $s to 10s. Pigs.—The market is showing an easing tendency.