NEWTON KING REPORT

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 15 June 1935, Page 7

NEWTON KING REPORT

DAIRY CATTLE MARKET WEAK

Outside the slight advance in the English market for dairy produce, little inducement is offered for speculation in dairy cnttle, states Newton King, Ltd.’s report for the week. This section generally occupies pride of place at this period, but apart from fair inquiry that exists for top quality early calvers, the tone of the market must be classed as weak, and those who are forced to market their supplies through want of sufficient feed are faced with values which in most eases must represent a loss tor their labours. Opinion is, however, expressed that the future of the butter market has better times in, store, and the predicted; improvemen earlier announced in autli oritative quarters is anxiously awaitei by holders of in-calf heifers. Regarding other classes, it can be said that a fairly buoyant tone is displayed. Store sheep, especially hoggets, are in good demand', and dairy farmers who purchased small lots earlier in the year are now receiving a substantial remuneration on their outlay. Breeding ewes, while somewhat slow to advance in favour, are expected to meet a better reception from now on, as each week witnesses freer changing of quotations. Wellframed lines of full-mouth ewes are saleable in the vicinity of 25s and buyers are ready to negotiate at this money, but trade is hindered for want of quotations in keeping "with this figure. Wethers are seldom quoted and fittld or no inquiry is encountered. Sales in this branch include 530 m.a. ewes at 26s 6d, 118 f.m. ewes at 255, both lines mated to Southdown ram, 100 fat and forward wethers 21s 3d, SO extra good ewe hoggets 235, 160 good wether lambs los, smaller lines of wether lambs changing hands at from 13s 6d to 14s.

STORE CATTLE SECTION. The store cattle section enjoys it» share of the buoyancy that reigns, but, as with store sheep, lack of quotations of station-bred cattle, especially the younger classes which are most freely sought, limits trade. At auction, oddments constitute the offerings at the fortnightly sales, reject cows and fail entries of yearling Jersey heifers predominating. Of the former, works competition accounts for all except those suitable for fattening and these are subje'et to spirited bidding from graziers and from £2 to £2 15s is the order according to condition, while boners and meaty sorts sell at rates on a par with last week’s figures. Regarding the yearling heifer market, the inquiry continues to be spasmodic, and, as with their older sistdrs, only top) quality cattle ure sought. Sales since the last report include 20 choice heifers at £2 ss, 36 good cattle at 355. At auctioli the entries leave a lot to be desired by way of quality and size, and only those displaying quality excite competition. A general range of values is as follows: Average to good sorts 27s 6d to 325, smaller sorts of quality 253, quality hold-overs 18s to 10s, while cross-bred and inferior sorts are duli of sale and sell at from 12s 6d to los. Sales of station cattle include 22 P.A. and Hereford cows in forward condition at £3 los, 20 store cows of the same breed at £2 os, 31 m.s. P.A. weaners at £2 ss. CHILLED BEEF EXPORT. Regarding the beef section, considerable interest is being displayed in the initial North Island shipment ol chilled beef, which is to be shipped during next week. The consignment will consist of some 240 head, and its condition, on arrival at the English markets will undoubtedly have a great bearing on the future of the beef market locally, and there seems no reason to doubt that the results will have a favourable reflection. Supplies for local consumption do not seem over-plentiful for the winter supply, and those in a position to express opinion consider that an advance in realisations is near at hand. At the present time the oddments offering at auction are subject to keen bidding and realisations show a hardening tendency. The best of the cows ex the dairy sell at from £4 10a to £5. aveiage sorts £3 los to £4, while the aged and plainer cattle realised from £2 10s to £3 ss. Most of the business with the better-bred cattle is done through the medium of private treaty, quotations for cows of the Hereford and Polled Angus breed ranging from £5 5s to £G, while heifers are quoted at from £5 n os to £6 ss. t in the mutton section, a somewhat. "timid atmosD’ien is exhibited and. while to great receding in values .5 noticable, the market shows a weakening tendency. Possibly the expected influx of empty ewes is the reason for the caution exhibited by butchers m their operations, as the marketing ot these will, in all probability, occasion a receding in values. At. the moment, wethers are saleable at from 23s 6d to 24s 6d, while ewes sell at from l<s to 18s, with occasional outstanding sheep realising in advance of the lat ter figure. CLEARING SALES.

The outstanding feature of the clearing sales conducted to date has beer the good demand that has been m evidence for good quality young July and early-August calvers. Realisations lor these have been well up to expectations, bat those Tuling for later sorts have been somewhat disappointing. At Mr J Lander’s sale held at Ohanga in conjunction with the Farmers Coop on Wednesday last, an average attendance gathered to witness the dis-

persal. The cows were a good quality lot and camo forward in good condition. Young July calvers were the most popular, and realised from £8 to £9, August calvers £5 10s to £7 10s, according to quality, aged and: more backward sorts £3 10s to £4 10s. Horses were also in keen demand, a 5-year-old draught gelding making £SO, while a 6-vear-old mare was sold at £4O.