PASTORALISTS SWITCH

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21736, 27 February 1934, Page 5

PASTORALISTS SWITCH

CHILLED BEEF AND SHEEP TURN AWAY FROM DAIRYING MARKETS DICTATING TREND Developments in tho beef industry are being watched closoly by dairying interests, which believe that success in establishing a regular chilled beef trade with tho United Kingdom will be of indirect benefit to butter producers. If tho fat stock industry can bo revived as a separate unit of production, there will bo fewer suppliers in tho dairying industry and payable prices will be restored. In tho same way, tho dairying industry will benefit, as sheopfarmers find it expedient to concentrate on wool and fat lamb production. Cases have already been reported of sheopfarmers disposing of temporary dairy herds' and again confining themselves wholly to the sheep industry. This can only be done where and when it is convenient, and no wholesale chango-ovcr can bo oxpectcd. Tho prevailing strong demand for ewes for breeding purposes is indicative of the wish to build up flocks and share in tho revival of tho wool aud fat lamb trades. Prime Cattla Sought Tho beginnings of a movement toward re-establishing tho fat stock industry have been seen, but the position is not as forward as in the sheep industry. Prime cattle required for tho chilled beef trade are being widely sought, and thin demand has been reflected in prices on the local market. In addition, better prices for frozen beef in England havo stimulated trade. These factors have an important bearing on prices, and they were largely responsible for the improvement in values for primo beef at the last Westfield fat stock sale. Primo ( ox beef sold to 24s per 1001b., a level it has not reached for some years past. Much will depend on the progress made in the chilled beef trade, but already buyers are looking for suitable stock for rearing purposes. Inquiries aro being made at farms for young store cattle suitable for holding, and appreciation in prices for these has been shown. Station-bred calves, which have previously been sold as vealers, are being held this year and reared for tho beef trade. Through tho Lean Years Tho dairying industry may pride itself on having carried tho beef and sheep industries through tho lean years, but the cost to itself has been groat. In tho immediate post-war years, the rearing of beef for export was an industry in itself, but, as Argentina extended its chilled trade, tho beef producers' interests were merged largely with dairying. Land that could fatten beef was used to produce butter-fat, and to a largo extent grazing lost its separate identity. Tho breed that produced the best fat cattle did not necessarily make tho best milkers, with the result that the present demand for a suitable stock for chilling is hard to moot. It is estimated that two or three years must elapso beforo the dairying industry will benefit fully by tho reestablishment of tho other industries. In tho meaptimo the producers are faced with a continuance of unpayable prices and tho possibility of British for a quota on exports. TAUPIRI PIG SALE GOOD YARDING SUBMITTED [from our own correspondent! TAUPIRI. Monday Tho New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Limited, reports as follows on its pig Bale at Tatipiri to-day:— Another good yarding of all classes of pigs came forward, a total cloaranco being effected in the fat section. As in other centres, tho demand was not so keen for stores and weuners. Quotations: —Choppers, to £2 10s; breeding sows, to £4 £!a; heavy baconers, £2 19s to £3Gs: medium baconers, heavy porkers, £2 3s to £2 10s; medium porkers, £1 ltis to £2; light porkers, £1 8s to £1 158; good stores, 18s to £1 Cs; poorer stores, 14a to 17s Gd: slips, lis to 15s Gd; good ueaners, 10a to 13a Gd; inferior weaners Ga to Bs. NEW PUBLIC COMPANY AUCKLAND REGISTRATION Tho following public company has been registered in Auckland:—Vacuum Power Corporation, Limited, iron founders, mechanical engineers and manufacturers of engines and milking machines, to adapt agreements with James Treloar, of Hamilton, for the purchase of certain inventions. Capital: £25,000 in £1 shares. Subscribers: H. Denton, L. J. Keys. C. 0. Gibbx, K. H. Wilson, D. A. Goldio and W. G. Watkins, 250 shares each; 11. C. Wiles, 50 shares. COMPANY WINDING UP Phoenix Press Company, Limited (Auckland), Mr. R. W. Lock, liquidator. STOCK SALES DEMAND FOR SHEEP [by telegraph—OWN correspondent] OPOTIKI. Monday There was a yarding of 5000 sheep at tho monthly stock snlo at Matawai. Most of the sheep wore in splendid condition. The quality of tho offering, generally, was par. ticularly good, especially in tho lamb (section, in which thero were two outstanding pons, ono from Mr. C. 11. Boj-b, of Motu, and ono from Mr. A. A. Fraser, tho latter being well-grown and carrying a lot. of condition. Tho salo was keen, with most of tho competition coming from Opotiki buyers. Top price for mixed aged breeding owea from Messrs. Ilonson and Green was lGs 4d. Other prices were:—Two-tooth ewes, medium quality, 17s to £1; smaller, 15a to 10s-; straight linos of Hiree-year-old ewes, to 15s; good well-grown shorn rape lamba, 14s 3d to 15s Gd; smaller, lis to 12a; cull lambs, 7a to 9a; shearling Romney rams, up to 31gna. VALUES AT PUTARURU [from our own correspondent! HAMILTON, Monday Dnlgety and Company, Limited, report having hold their usual Putaruru sale on Friday. The whole yarding was quitted at satisfactory prices. Quotations: —Sheep: Ordinary fat owes, 15s to 15s sd: fat wethers. 22a; P.P.M. ewes. 14s; aged cull ewes, 7a 3d to 9s lid; b"st stoic lambs, 14s to !.4s 6d: others, (is 51 d to 10s. Cattle: There was a full yarding of cattle, which met with keen demand. Good fat cows, £3 14a to £4 (is; lighter. £3 to £3 7s Gd; ordinary fat cows. £2 to £2 10s; fresh conditioned cows, 30a to 37s Gd: store cows, 20a to 32s Gd; small weaner calves, 20s to 2Gs; bulls, £2 7a to £4 7s. Pigs: Light porkers, 32s Gd to 37s Gd : small. 21s to 28s; best stores, 17s Gd to 225: slips, lis to Jsb; weaners. 'Ga Gd to 12s Gd.