LOSS TO FARMERS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22005, 11 January 1935, Page 10

LOSS TO FARMERS

STORE CATTLE EASIER LARGE NUMBER IN MARKET EFFECT OF DRY WEATHER [from our own correspondent] PUKEKOHE, Thursday The influence of the dry weather was apparent at the stock sale at Pukekohe to-day. The shortage of feed is compelling farmers to reduce the number of livestock on their farms, and as an outcome the auctioneers were faced with very big vardings. A large proportion of the beef cattle were unfinished, graziers being unable to carry them on until they were prime. The number of pigs received was 1209. Only once has this been exceeded, when, some five years ago, 1307 came forward. Many of to-day's entry were unfinished porkers and young pigs, which, with the decreasing milk yield, dairy farmers could not continue to feed longer. Values naturally receded under the stress, there being comparatively few buyers in the fortunate position of having feed to spare and thus of being able to risk purchasing additional stock. However, a fairly general clearance was made at relatively low prices, except for fat stock, which sold well.

Last month, large store pigs, ready for the fattening pen, were selling at £1 Bs, but to-day the top price was just half this sum, the market going only to 14s. Cows in milk changed hands to-day at the sacrifice price of 15s, so weak was the demand. The best of the cows at profit brought only £3 ss. Last year in January the price range for dairy cows and heifers was £2 to £5 17s 6d.

This was typical of some of the values which farmers had to accept. No doubt some of the lines which sold so cheaply will find their way up North, where more generous rainfall has been experienced and an abundance of feed is available.