WAIKATO STOCK MARKET

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21437, 10 March 1933, Page 5

WAIKATO STOCK MARKET

BUOYANCY CONTINUES HIGHER LEVEL THAN LAST YEAR It is many years since such a universal state of buoyancy was apparent in the stock market at this season, and only the abundance of pasture can account for it. Sheep invariably have their innings during the summer months, but a demand for cattle is unusual and the Jatest excitement is the pursuit of Jersey weaner heifers. All classes of store stock are, without exception, on a higher level than last year, yet justification for this condition is hard to advance. The removal of our beef surplus is extremely helpful, but the season is excellent for fattening, and a great deal is again in preparation. Lambs still remain at 4jd, with 3d for wethers and l|d for ewes. , Conditions as they affect the separate sections are:— BEEF Supplies reaching the various centres are adequate for requirements and check any tendency to advance beyond the ruling limits. At the Central Yards this week an average entry was penned, with values similar to those last quoted. Competition in cow beef wns erratic and only a few pens of better quality attracted attention. Prime ox sold from 18s to 19s; ordinary, 16s to 17s; prime heifers, to 16s; prime young cows, 14s to 15s; ordinary, 10s to 12s; plain, 7s Gd to 9s. MUTTON The markets are rather meagrely supplied in this department and are in consequence firm. At the Central Yards on Tuesday a short entry assisted to raise values, which improved by Is 6d to 2s a head for both wethers and ewes. No alteration in lambs was recorded. Best wethers sold to 16s 6d; rftedium, 13s 6d to 14s 6d; light, from lis to 12s 6d ; best ewes, to 8s Gd; plain sheep, from 5s 3d to 6s 6d; heavy lambs, from 12s 6d to 14s; medium, lis to 12s 3d; light, from 9s 6d. STORE CATTLE With more grown cattle facing competition. excitement seems to have waned & little, with the usunl consequence. Forwaid cattle of good quality are, however, still capable of exciting interest, but rough lots are falling back into disfavour. For some unexplained reason the attention of graziers has turned with generous inclination to weaner heifers, ard keen competition is to be witnessed in all centres. Twelve months ago dairymen could not sell and were forced to hold. Just now, when an excellent demand exists, great hesitation is displayed and ninny refuse to be persuaded. It can at least be said thnt their drafts are in much better condition, but it is difficult, to imagine a better opportunity for selling than exists to-day. Values are:—Forward bullocks. £4 10s to £5; stores, £3 5s to .£3 15s; forward heifers and young cows, £2 10s to .£3; stores, £1 7s Gd to £2; in-calf heifers, best, £3 10s to £4 ss; medium. £2 5s to £3; weaner heifers, best, to £2 ss;.medium, 30s to 355; smaller, from 15s to 20s.

STORE SHEEP It is rare to find any slackening of demand in this section; in fact, breeding ewes appear to have strengthened, and there is also apparent a slight hardening in wether values. Store lambs in some centres seem a trifle easier, but in general strong competition is still to be witnessed. At Morrinsville on Friday Inst another fine consignment of Gisborne sheep was dealt with and the group of unsatisfied buyers seemed equally as large ns thnt which faced the earlier offerings. No difficulty was found in clearing the entire entry and nt values higher than those recently recorded. The range of these was:—Two-tooth ewes. best, to lfis 2d; medium, 12s Gd to 14s; smaller, 9s to lis; four and six-tooth ewes, lis to 12s fid; four-year ewes, 10s Gd to lis Gd; five-year ewes, best, to 12s Gd: medium, 8s Gd to 10s; others, from Gs; store wethers. 10g to lis; lowerconditioned, 9s to 10s; forward lambs, to 9s; good storeß, 7s 3d to 8s 3d; medium. Gs 3d to 7s; small, from ss. PIGS Steady mnrkets prevail in all centres, with heavy supplies coming forward. Rntes are:— Bnconers, to £2 12s; medium. £2 2s to £2 7s; light, from 375; best porkers, 32s to 375; lighter, from 255; stores. 17s to 21s; slips, 10s to 16s; weaners, 5s to 9s. GOLD AND SILVER QUOTATIONS IN LONDON (Received March 9, 8.5 p.m.) LONDON, March 8 Gold is quoted to day at £5 18s lid an ounce, compared with £5 19s 7cl yesterday. Silver is quoted at 18d an ounce spot and 18 l-16d forward, compared with 17|d and 17 15-16 d yesterday. - . Tho quotation for silver at per fine ounce is 19 7-16 d, compared with 19 5-16 d yesterday. AUSTRALIAN PRODUCE (Received March 9, 8.45 pan.) SYDNEY. March 9 Wheat.—Quiet. Quotations on country sidings 2s for bagged and 2s l|d for bulk, wlr'ch is equal to 2s 9J,d to 2s 9Jd, ex trucks, Sydney. Flour, £9 ss. Bran. £4 10s. Pollard, £6. Potatoes: Tasmania!], to £6 10s; Victorian. £4 10s. Onions: Victorian Globes, to £4. Oaten hay, £6. Maize. Yellow, 3.% 9d. Adelaide prices are:—Wheat; Growers' lots, 2s 6i-d to 2s 6J,d. Flour: Bakers' lots, £7 15s. Bran, £4 17s 6d. Pollard. £5 ss. Oats: Algerian, Is 5d to Is 6d. * ,