WAIKATO STOCK MARKET.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21098, 4 February 1932, Page 7

WAIKATO STOCK MARKET.

SHEEP SELLING FREELY. GOOD DRAFTS FROM GISBORNE. . Although not unseasonable, the sdry weather is causing concern. Dairymen are the chief sufferers and it is doubtful if any change now would bring back the herd - yield to anything like normal, irrespective of weather, sheep. A3 they invariably do at this season. 3ell freely. Drafts of Giaborne e>wes arrive daily, mostly in tiptop condition, and for these values seem to have hardened a little. The regular Waikato fairs have practically concluded. Values throughout have been much on last year's >■ basis. The markets will now be dependent on supplies from the East Coast and these no doubt will continue to arrive until the end of this month, when the requirements of the majority will be filled. It is interesting to note that the North Island killings of ewe mutton for the quarter ended December 31 totalled 134,571 carcases. against 53,281 for. the corresponding period of 1930. The month of January must have greatly swelled the figures arid large 3-applies are ready for despatch imme- - diately space ia available. "Wether mutton killings for the 3ame period also exceeded last year's figure by 60.000 carcases. Conditions as they affect the separate branches are:— BEEF. At the central yards this competition was much weaker for all classes, with. . a consequent decline in values. Prime oxsold from 10s to 17s; medium quality. 13s to 14a. No heifer beef was penned. Prime cows sold from 10s to 12s; plain quality. 7s to Bs. MUTTON. ;; The market is not over-supplied and I values in consequence remain fairly steady, i At the central yards this week goad com- ! petition existed for wethers, and ewes were supported by freezing buyers to their full" ~ ! limits. Best wethers sold to 13s 6d; plainer sheep, from I2s; best ewes, to 7s; freezing sheep, 4s 3d to 5s fid: best lambs, to lie; medium, from 8s to 9s 6d. STORE CATTLE. Apart from the oddments,_ very little -- business is passing. A test of the market will be made nest week, when a large : draft of station-bred stears now on. the way from Gisborne will be offered. It is very difficult at the moment to say what cattle- r of this description are worth. Nominal values are:—Grown steers, £3 5s to £4: 25-year. £2 5s to £3: 18-months. £1 to £1- •• 15s; fresh young cows. iU. to £1 ss: Jerseys, 12s 6d to £1; store cows, 10s to 15s; Jersey" heifers, in calf, best. £3 to £3 15s; medium. £2 to £2 10s; small, £1 to £1 10b; heifer calves, best, 15s to 20s; smaller, from as. STORE SHEEP. Some important lines of Gisborne sheep have been dealt with during the vreek and vendors were apparently well satisfied with the reception given them. There is evidence of a steady demand as usual for ewes o£ all ages, although it is doubtful if this ' margin between five-year-olds and younif sheep is as wide -as in previous years. Values all over are unquestionably better than those quoted 1»*1 week and the dry spell exerts no advertu influence. "Wethers, although still popular, are not quite so eagerly sought, and lambs are subject to fluctuation, which it is difficult to account for. Values in the hill districts are not far short of those ruling in the dairying centres. Current values are:—Two-tooth ewes, best, lis to 13s; medium. Ss fid to 10s; small, 7s t,o Ss; four and sis-tooth ewes, best, 10s to lis; medium. Ss 6d to - 9s fid: four-year, best. 9s to- 10s; medium, 7s fid to 8s fid; five-yea. 8s fid to 9s fid; medium, fis Sd tof7n 9d: sotindmouth, 3s fid to ss; agedjand poor, from 2s; forward wethers. 8s fid to 10s: stores. 7s to f?s: store ewes. 2s fid to 3s fid; rare I nmbs. fis to 7s: good store lambs. 5s to 5s Of]: m6<liuTT!. 4s to 4? 9d j small, 08 to 3s Cd: culls, from 2s fid. PIGS. "Larue offerings are customary in all centres. Prices are similar to those recently quoted. Baconers s«*ll up to 3Ps; medium, from 30s; best porkers, to 2Ss; medium, from 18s.