TARANAKI STOCK MARKETS

Hawera Star, Volume LI, 11 June 1932, Page 10

TARANAKI STOCK MARKETS

WEEK OE ACTIVITY

FARMERS’ CO-OP. IiEVIEW

in its weekly review of the Taranalci stock markets the New Zealand Farmers’ Cq-01. Organisation Society, .Ltd., states that a lot of activity has been experienced in most sections. The weather has not been as favourable as it might have been, but in spite oi this fat stock on the whole are looking well. This was borne out by a consignment of some 350 dairy betters trucked to a northern -client during the week.

The inquiry for dairy heifers tentmueis and during the week the Farmers’ Co-op. has made several sales at prices ranging from £4 15s to £7. The demand tor weaner heiiers is not so keen as it was and the best of this class of stock can be bought at prices varying from £1 15s to £2 15s. The demand for daily herds lias not been so firm as it was. this time last year, but prices are on a par and sales have been made from £7 to £9. There is a keen demand for • sound empty cows, but the price (15s to 255) is disappointing. Bun cattle of all descriptions are practically unsaleable, good empty P.A. cows having changed hands at £1 to 255. Store bullocks are also very dull of sale at prices ranging from £2 to £2 10s. Contrary to expectations the fat cattle market i lias shown no improvement during the past week but the firm anticipates more inquiries in this section from outside sources shortly. The inquiry for store sheep continues, especially for in-lamb ewes and hoggets. The latter, however, are hard to procure in sufficient numbers, probably because the works are operating so freely for the late fat lambs. There is quite an inquiry also from back country farmers for store wethers but the buyers’ price does not coincide with the vendors’ ideas of values. During the week a sale was made of an exceptionally fine line of 4 at ewes at 10s Gd. *Fat wethers have changed hands at prices ranging from 12s 6d to 14s 6d for a good line. Ewes in lamb to Southdown rams have been soiling at from 9s 4d to 11s for 4 and 5-year-old sheep and up to 13s for sixtootks. Good ewe hoggets have been sold at.up to 11s 6d and mixed sexes at from 8s 6d to 9s 6d, with wether hoggets at Bs.

As the King’s birthday was on the usual sale day (Friday), the Waverley sale was held on the Thursday. Consequently the yarding was not up to expectations but most of the offering wa~s quitted at the following prices: 100 4 and 5-year ewes i.l. S.D. rams on account of Mr. W. H. Watkins, 8s 9d; empty heifers, £1 12s 6d ; boner cows, Jate rates; dairy cows, £4 10s

t o £6 10s. At the An run sale on Monday there was a large entry comprising mostly store cows. There was a., slight advance in price on previous sales. A small line of ewes in lamb to Southdown made 8s Id.

The clearing sale season, has -started but the herds have been in pool sale condition and showing little quality, shortage of feed during the latter part of the season making -itself apparent. A noticeable feature of the sales already conducted is the keen demand for top quality cattle in good condition; while buyers can still be found for poorer quality sorts the prices paid for these cattle show a more marked decline on last season’s values than do the prices paid for better quality cattle. LOAN AND MERCANTILE

The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company- Ltd. reports that very- litfle business has been done during the week in fat sheep. A few .small lines have been cleared to butchers at late rates. At the Hawera ;ale a few prime fat' woolly- wethers made up to 13s Gd, and prime fat ewe.s to Is. Fat lambs were present in small numbers and the quality was poor, most bring second grade. Prices were from 8s to 10s. Two-tooth wet he ns sold at up to lls Gd. No move has been made in the fat cattle .seeteion. Fat cattle of all sorts are a drug on the market, and the position remains unchanged. The firm had no entry of good beef at its Hawera sale. The .store cattle market is lifeless and prices remain unchanged. A few inquiries for small lots of stores have been received, but vendors’ ideas of value are above purchasers’. The demand for dairy heifers is steady, and a few lines have been disposed of during the week. Prices have been from £6 15s to £B. Local demand is- not keen yet, and most of the lines sold have gone out of the district. Several very large consignments have been railed during tne week, principally cattle that were bought on forward delivery. For weaner heifers the demand is very slack at present and no business is resulting. Vendors generally are lowering their reserves to meet the market, and this will result in increased sales. No demand exists for pigs, this being always the sla.ck period of the year in this section. Prices and demand will probably improve next month.

A steadv demand exists for dairy cows, and several small herds have been disposed of at fair prices. There appears to be a fair demand for carted cows, and 1 at the Hawera sale the loan and Mercantile Agency sold * these at up to £5 15s for medium class animals. Sales of heifers and cows to Alorrinsviile and Hawke’s Bay have been made during the week.

NEWTON KING REPORT. The review of Newton King, Ltd., states that the toll on pastures of heavy frosts experienced during the week is evident throughout the dis triet. In consequence a disposal of | any surplus stock is essential ‘in most I quarters irrespective of the meagre i prices at which prospective purchasers are operating. Business during the week has been largely confined to the dairy cattle trade, the inquiry in this department being steadily maintained through the presence of outside buyers, the fulfilment of buying orders received together \yitn local inquiry for small lots. Culling of dairy herds is on the wane and yardings of cull cows are new smaller. The yardings will be supplemented, however, with large entries of dairy cows and heifers.

The problem of the stock market is the stagnant state of the beef section, and little optimism as to any immediate improvement is voiced 'by those who are in a position to express opinion. The feed question is causing concern with the majority of holders and many liavq, no alternative hut to accept the low prices offering. Freezing companies exhibit- little interest in this department as supplies available •exceed the local demand, and this fact has a further depressing effect on realisations, values being: Prime well-bred cows and heifers £4 to £4 10s. best

crossbred sorts £3 to £3 10s, light and unfinished £1 15s to £2 ss.

Supplies of mutton seem just sufficient to meet the local demand and values are on a par with late rates. Best wethers are quoted at from 13. s Gd to 14s Gd, light and unfinished 12s fid, best ewe.s 10s Gd. lighter 8s to 9s. Inquiry for store sheep is spasmodic' and huiness during the week lias been

of little consequence. Ewes in iamb to Southdown rams are sought at restricted limits and from 9s 6d to 11s is the order for four and five-year-olds, while younger sheep sell at from 12s Gd to 14s. Store and forward wethers suitable for turnips find good favour and lines quoted privately are readilyabsorbed at from 10s 6d to 11s 6d. 'there lias been little or no business transacted in station-bred store cattle latterly, and activity in this department cannot be expected until such time as fat cattle show an upward trend in values.

Although there have not been the [ numbers of clearing sales conducted to date this year as there have been previously, the prices ruling will be a guide to what will be a fair average during the next lew months. Bestquality young Jersey cows, early carters. have made from £7 to £ll, young Je. ■- y cross cows from £4 to £G Ids, ,Jcs ..y cows of good quality (early cal - i s and showing age) £3 to £5 10s, in poor condition and late carters £1 to £2. In-calf heifer values remain at about £7 for the best, the same as m last week. Sale entries for good quality weaner heifers have been small during the week, consequently saleyard values cannot be taken as a- guide. Private sales of marked heifers have been made at £2 10s to £3 os and of good quality- unmarked heifers at about £2. For small and mixed-coloured weaners the market is very erratic. At Douglas on Monday- mixed-sex lambs made 8s Gd, mixed-age wethers Bs, 3-J-year Friesian steers £2, dairycows (springing) £4 ss, calved £4 os to £5 os.

At Waiwakaiho on Thursday- fat and forward wethers made 12s 3d and 12s, fat cows up to £3 Is, forward bullocks £3 15s, dairy heifers in milk £5 to £6, and springing cows £4 to £6 os. Values, especially- for weaners and slips, have a rising tendency at the various pig sales, this generally being the case at this time of the year. Large stores and porkers remain., at recent rates. Quotations at the New Plymouth Hay-market yesterday were: Weaners 7s Gd to 9s 6d, very- small weaners 3s 6d to ss, extra good slips 12s to 16s Gd, light porkers 19s to 20s, %o\V- with litter of five £3 Is. *