TARANAKI STOCK SALES

Hawera Star, Volume LIII, 10 March 1934, Page 10

TARANAKI STOCK SALES

REVIEWS OF THE WEEK FARMERS’ CO-OP. REPORT' In its weekly review of the Taranaki stock markets the Farmers’ Go-opera-tive Organisation Society of New Zealand, Ltd., reports that further good rains have made the dairy farmer certain of hi s autumn production, and slight difficulty is now being experienced by sheep farmers with their lambs starting to scour. Seasonal business, as is usual at this time of the year, is declining somewhat, most people having filled their requirements of breeding ewes, although there is still a demand for odd lots wherever quoted. The demand for store lambs is still steady, and prices remain firm in this section. Numerous sales have been effected in the store cattle section, with interest centring on good forward bullocks and prices showing a. hardening tendency. This is about the only class of cattle which is quoting in any quantity at all, quotations of all other sorts being most difficult to obtain. Sales have been made of forward bullocks at from £5 to £5 lbs.

Both fat cattle and sheep show a firming tendency, with, no material change to report on last week’s quotations. The works price for all classes of fat sheep remains the .same, with a hardening tendency evident in the case of lambs, and sales in the yards of this class have been most satisfactory. Fat ewes have (been sold during the week at prices ranging from 17s 6d to 19s, fat wethers 24s to 25s 6d, fat cows (good) £5 to £5 10s, and medium £4 5s to £4 lbs.

Iu the store sheep section sales have been made during the week at the following prices: Good forward woolly b.f. lambs 17s 6d to 19s, shorn 14s to 16s 6d, medium b.f. lambs (shorn) 12s 6cl to 13s 6d, medium w.f. wether lambs (small) lbs 6d to 12s 6d, 2-tooth ewes (good medium) 26s 6cl to 27s 6d, hold-over 20s to 21s, 4 and 5year ewes (good medium) 18s to 18s |6d, 5-year ewes (good) 19s 6d to 20s, ewe lambs—a line of 300 at 17s 6d and other lots at from 16s to 18s. In the dairy .section sales of weaners. continue to be made with prices on a par. Good heifers are making slightly over 30s in some cases. Odd sales of in-calf heifers have also been effected during the week, only truck lots being taken and purchasers requiring a good selection, with prices ranging from £3 15s to £4 ss, in most cases purchasers taking immediate delivery. The Urenui sale drew a very heavy yarding of all classes of cattle, which met. with keen competition and sold well, as well as a small yarding of sheep. A pen of fat ewes realised 17s 7<l. The following are some of the realisations: Fat ewes 17s 7d, m.a. ewes 16s 9d, forward conditioned lambs 16s 3d, cull lambs 8s Id, ewe lambs (small) 11s 6d, wether iambs (small) 10s 3d', m.s. lambs (sm&bl) 11s Bd, fat cows £4 5s 6d to £5, others £3 to £3 17s 6d, with store cows and hulls selling at current rates. At the Kohuratahi supplementary sheep fair and cattle sale, held on Tuesday, there was a good yarding of both sheep and cattle. Although the weather conditions were somewhat perverse, there was a good attendance of buyers. All the sheep were cleared at late rates, and a good yarding of big, fresh conditioned cattle showed an improvement on recent sales, in every case prices realised being in advance of the vendors’ expectations. A total clearance was effected. Some of the realisations were: Fat and forward 4 and 5-year bullocks £5 9s to £5 18s, fresh conditions 4 and 5-year bullocks £4 18s to £5 ss, 3-year Hereford heifers £4 9s to £4 18s, fat cows £3 to £4 11s, 5 and 6-year ewes 14s to 18s 10d, small 2-tooth ewes 21s 7d to 255, 2-tooth wethers 19s 7d and wether lambs 12s to 13s 6d. The Eltham .sale drew a moderate entry of store cattle and 1 bulls. About 75 weaner heifers were yarded, only a few of the inferior class being passed. The entry consisted mainly of wellgrown good quality Jersey heifers, the best price being 32s 6d for a line of 15 good coloured cattle on account of Mr T. Hogan. Other heifers of good size and quality sold at 27s 6d and 295. Store cattle and bulls sold at late rates. ■

At the Mana.ia sale a medium yarding of cattle was submitted, with a small yarding of sheep. Wearier heifers realised 19s, store cows £1 5s to £2 and fat cows to £3 12s 6d. Bulls sold at late rates. In the pig section weaners. realised 10s, 6d, stores 18s and porkers 37s 6d. For the Hawera sale one of the largest yardings of fat lambs ever experienced came forward, over 1500 being penned. A total clearance was effected at satisfactory prices. Fat lambs (prime woolly) realised 24s to 24s 6d, medium 22s 6d' to 235., shorn (best prime) 19s to 20s>, medium 17s 8d to 18s, fat ewes (best) 17s to 18s, medium 15s 6d to 16s 6d and fat wethers 23s 6d to 24s 1 . An entry of 1000 store lambs came forward, and a total clearance resulted at prices firm on late quotations. Good medium woolly b.f. lambs brought 14s to 16s, shorn forward b.f. lambs 14s to 14s lOd and medium store iv.f. wether| lambs 10s 6d to 13s 9d. A good yard-' ing of cattle came forward, mainly, store cows. The entry of fat bullocks were extra prime and was disposed of! at £7 15s. Forward stores made £5 l ss, fat cows' (medium) £4 5s to £4 16s, forward cows £3 5s to £3 19s, store cows £1 10s to £2 10s, vealers 31s to 345, and bulls £2 10s to £5 19s. In iveaner heifers the quality of the yarding was poor, only hold-overs being offered and these sold at from 10s to 245. A large entry of pigs met a good market. Baeoners realised 37s to 41s, good stores 14s 6d to 18s and| weanersi 9s 6d to 12s.

LOAN AND MERCANTILE The report of the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company. Ltd., states that prices of fat sheep all round have hardened steadily and supplies are getting .scarcer. A feature of the market is the way in which vendors are marketing their fat lambs in the yards. Each yarding shows an improvement on the last and works buyers are very active. Ewes and wethers are becoming hard to obtain and very few are being yarded.

Prices are better all round for beef, and buyers are paying more attention to fats out of the dairies. Butchers are only operating from hand to mouth, but despite this the future of the market looks decidedly hotter.

All classes of .store sheep are still selling very readily. Fattening ewes and wethers are in good demand, and are commanding good prices. It appears as though fat ewes and wethers are going to be dear in the winter and spring, and buyers of stores are evidently appreciating this fact. Store lambs are still in demand and are selling well. In sympathy with the hardening of beef cattle prices for good forward store cattle have also advanced, and

there is now a good demand. A fair number of weaner heifers, have been sold' lately, mostly to go out of the district. The firm shipped this week a large line of 120 to go north, and very favourable comments were passed upon it by those who eaw them. Buyers;’ limits are not high, and it looks as though vendors will have to meet the position or else hold until the spring. There has not been much business transacted by local buyers. A number of dairy heifer® have been sold at current rates. The firm disposed of 100 to a northern buyer this week, but, as with the weaner, buyers’ limits are somewhat restricted and most vendors are quoting t-oo high. A rise in the butter-fat prices will no doubt improve matters in this section of the market.

Quotations for dairy herds are now being received, but in nearly every case vendors are quoting too high. Butter-fat prices govern this market entirely, and vendors cannot look for high .prices for their cattle whilst fat is so low.

A good demand continues for pigs and lair numbers still continue, to come forward to the yards. Private sales during the week have been : Weaner heifers 30s to 355, incalf heifers as quoted, store wether lambs 12s 6d to 15s and shorn h.f. lambs (small) to 15s. At Kakaraanea sale a fair ya.rding came forward and good prices- were obtained, a total clearance being effected. Fat cows ex dairies sold at up to £3 12s, store cows £1 5s to £2 and bulls £3 to £4 18s.

NEWTON KING REPORT Hie report of Newton King Ltd. ■states that seasonal conditions have been such that a good demand exists for most classed of stock, and the rain experienced during the week is likely to assist the present buoyancy. Overseas reports indicate that business in most industries has made a sustained recovery, which is reflecting an improvement in retail trade, and the general opinion is. that a, better tone has been established in most business relating to the Dominion’s exports. Tt cannot be said, however, that the prices ruling at present for dairy produce are likely to create anv enthus iasm for the purchase of dairy stock Generally at this period a strong demand is in evidence from the middleman, but to date little inquiry has been made from this quarter. There has, however, been a reasonable inquiry direct from dairymen and some changing at seemingly low figures has been completed. Sales since the firm’s last report include a line of 30 good quality 3-year-olds for June delivery at £4 12s 6d. and 50 average quality 2-yea.r-olcls for immediate delivery at £4 4s, truck lots of choice 2-yea.r heifers have been sold at a little in advance of this figure. On the other hand, the export schedule- for all classes of fat stock is firm, that or beef having .shown a distinct 'hardening tendency over the past fortnight, and its; movement has created a determined purchasing tone with graziers, a marked appreciation in values for all classes of station and fattening cattle has resulted. Freezing buyers are operating fairly free It on all classes of beef and some surprise has been occasioned by their almost sudden interest in second quality cattle, such as heavy reject cows from dairy herds .which have shown a slight improvement in value as also have meaty cows from the same quarter. Values for local consumption have not altered perceptibly since the last report, best cows and heifers being worth up to £5 15s, lighter prime £4 10s to £5. heavy young cows from dairy herds £3 15s to" £4 ss, and aged and lighter sorts £2 10s to £3 ss.

Values, in the fat .sheep .section show little alteration on late rates, although further improvement is looked for by 'holders: Each week is witnessing a slight advance in quotations, more .especially with regard to fat ewes. Butchers’ requirements have been satisfied during the week as follow : Wethers 24s 6d to 25s 6d, and ewe? 17s to 18s 6d. For the most part business since the last report has been confined to that conducted under the hammer, and some heavv yardings have been handled. The demand in the store sheep section is steady, genuine 4 and 5-year-old eives continuing to meet a reasonably good demand, but from 20s to. 22s .stops most buyers. Lambs continue to be in strong favour, tlie numbers offering being someivhat less than usual at this period. Dairy farmers’ competition accounts for tlie majority of the smaller lines, at from 10s to 13s according to condition. Rape feeding sorts are keenly competed for and a slight improvement in values is noticeable. Wethers are also meeting a free sale, bub no improvement in realisations for stores is noticeable yet. Private sales include a line of 300 woolly wether lambs at 15s, 250 aged ewes at 15s, 300 4 and 5-year ewes 21s. 400 2-tootli aethers 21s and 320 good sound-mouth ewes 17s. A fair number of small lines of lambs have changed bands at from 14s to 16s according to condition.

In the cattle section a. good inquiry exists for bullocks, especially the for-ward-conditioned .sorts, and wherever this class is yarded, keen competition is the order. A line of 20 Hereford and Hereford cross cattle in store and forward condition, changed hands at £6, while some 20 Shorthorn 3)-year cattle sold at £5 10s. A line of 47 . fat and forward- bullocks made £6 ss. I There is some indication of an im- . piovement in the demand for Aveaner Jersey heifers, but- some difference of opinion as to values is inclined to hold up trade, few buyers being prepared Ito purchase at prices in advance of ' 30s. Sales during the week have, lioAvovor, included a lino of 40 extra choice heifer-s at an average of appro'imatelv 355. At the* Inglewood supplementary sheep fair and cattle sale 1500 sheep !of all classes came forward, supplemented by a. good entry in the cattle section. Genuine 1 and 5-year ewes met a reasonably good demand and sold at from 20s to 21s Id. -Good sound-month ewes made 15s Id to 17.5, mixed-age ewes 17s 9d, cull ewes 11s 3d. 2-tootli AA'ethers 20s to 20s 6d, lightconditioned in.a. AAothers 16s 9d, good owe lambs 18s, rape Avethor lambs 15s J d. medium m.s. lambs 12s sd, culls 8s 9d to 10s Bd, extra prime fat lambs 275. average sheep 20s. Keen competition Avas the order for fattening cattle, line of P.A. cross coavs realising £2 16s, forAvard Jersey coavs £2 5s to £2 17s paddock cows £1 17s to £2 2s, Ik lit fat Jersey-cross coavs £3 to £3 Vs heavy potter bulls £4 10is to £5 Is. lighter £1 17s to £2 14s. average omilitv 2-year in-calf Jersey heifers £3 15s, shearling SouthdoAvn rains £2 2s to £3 3s, inferior £1 Is. ! A, fair entry came forward to the Stratford sale' on Tuesday, the entry including some good Southdown rams, I for’which keen competition Avas offer-] ing. tho best making from 3if to 4). guineas and others 2:1 guineas. Realisations in other departments were on a par with late quotations. A line of 2-vear Jersey heifers changed hands at from £2 9s to £3. light fat Jersey coavs I oo lf's to op i2s, forAvard coavs (Jersey sorts) £2 3s to £2 6s, Aveaner Jer-j soy heifers (average sorts) 24s to 295, i small marked- weaner Jersey heifers 62, meaty works coavs £l. 19s to £2,! boners 255, woolly eAve lambs (fat) 20s 3d, fat 4-tooth ewes 20s 6d, fattening ewes 9s to ills 3d.