CATTLE IN DEMAND

Northern Advocate, 13 June 1935, Page 6

CATTLE IN DEMAND

DAIRY SORTS OFFERED. MARKETS ON THE IMPROVE. tSpeclaZ to "Northern Advocate "1 AUCKLAND, This Day. Continued firmness in the London butter trade is the brightest feature in the export position at present. The price of New Zealand choicest salted is now up to 95/, and in view of recent forward dealings at much higher rates, still further advances may be looked for. Unfortunately, stocks of cheese are still too heavy to enable this line to reflect the improved position of but* ter. The meat trade at Smithfield was rather quiet last week, but recent values were retained. Reports of the world’s wool market continue to favoyr better prospects for next season’s wool.

In the country a confident tone on the part of farmers is evident. Encouraged by the improved position of the butter market, 1 farmers are bidding more freely for dairy cows, and up to £8 is being given given for prime quality close to profit. Stimulated by the brighter wool outlook, and the favourable pasture conditions, graziers are competing keenly for store sheep. Of conditions in the" country, a Waikato correspondent writes: “During the week a noticeable improvement has taken place in the dairy section. In-calf heifers, which up to the present time have been moving very slowly, are coming more into favour, and a better tone exists. Clearing sales are also bringing forth better averages, and it seems an established fact that buyers of dairy stock show strong preference for genuinely, farmed young dairy cows. At all such clearing sales, there is invariably a large attendance, with usually brisk bidding, and herd averages are quite equal to, and, in many cases, in advance of expectations.

“A better tone has been noticed in the beef section. At the present time yardings are not over-large, and the demand is liable to absorb all cattle offering. Exporters are still keen buyers of ox beef for chilling purposes, also boner cows, of which good quantities are still coming forward. There is also a good demand for store cattle, although a few lines of station bred cattle are being submitted to auction.

“The sheep section remains much the same as last week. Shorter supplies of fat sheep have been yarded, but there is every indication /that adequate supplies, especially of wethers, are being held by graziers. “There is a keen demand for all classes of sheep, especially for breeding ewes genuinely farmed, but the number offering can hardly satisfy the demand, and it is likely that farmers in their excitement to secure their requirements will disregard values and purchase at almost any price.

“The pig section is showing ‘signs of slackening off, and it will not be long before export buyers will cease operations for the season.”