WAIKATO VALUES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22390, 9 April 1936, Page 7

WAIKATO VALUES

LITTLE CHANGE OCCURS KEENNESS STILL EVIDENT BREEDING SHEEP SOUGHT No changes of importance have taken place in the Waikato stock market during the week. With the easing in the volume of sheep, cattle have increased and tax the capacity of the saleyards in most centres. While there is not the virr. that characterised operations a month ago, considerable keenness is still evident, and now that a lower basis of value has been recognised, sale negotiations are becoming less difficult. Boner cows continue to form a big proportion of each offering and competition for these is well maintained. Their replacement in due time will afford a serious problem, and although at the moment the heifer demand has slackened, there can be no doubt that a feverish period lies ahead, for it is certain an equivalent of the "wastage does not exist in the district this season. Breeding sheep are as strong as ever and many of the lots now freeh accepted would have drawn scant attention a month ago. Consignments from the East Coast appear to have ceased, but lines from the North arrive daily and invariably meet with a good re-

ception. Conditions in the separate sections are; — BEEF All markets are well supplied and generally a declining tendency exists. A heavy entry at Frankton did not sustain the value* of the previous week, ox beef especially bein<j well under that quotation. With so much offering from the dairy farms there seems little probability of improvement for the next month or two. Yealers and runners were offered in fair numbers, bat values were hardly up to thoie recently current. Ox beef sold to 265; ordinary, 23s to 245; prime heifer, 24s to 265; young cowi, 19s to 225; ordinary cow, 13s to 15s; bonerß, 9b to 11«. MUTTON In the Frankton entry this week, which wag an average one, wethers predominated, but their quality throughout was excellent and commanded brisk bidding. Ewes were in shorter supply than usual and, like wethers, slightly improved. Lambs were very prominent and sold freely at about the schedule basis. Best wethers reached 80s 3d; medium sorts, 25s to 275; light, from 225; heavy ewes, from 17s 6d to 19s 6d; medium lCs to 17s; plain, from 14s; best lambs, to 255; medium, 20a to 21s 6d;- light, from 17s 6d STORE CATTLE Cattle of all classes are being freely marketed at present and in general are meeting with fair competition. The excitement certainly has disappeared, but well-bred lines never fail to uncover a host of eager seekers. The autumn fairs .have now concluded and those who have neglected to fill requirements may find, as _in the case of sheep, a difficulty in obtaining them, for when cattle go oS the market at this stage they are seldom faced again until tempted by the spring demand. Dairy heifers have been offered in fair quantities, but failed to ' win the popularity they gave promise of. There seems, however, every reason to expect an early revival and likely enough a standard of value that will cause general surprise. ■> STORE SHEEP Supplies are fast dwindling and good line* are extremely rare. Demand is still eager and anything with breeding possibilities*, . however remote, is warmly competed for. Lambs, except the most forward classes, have declined. Ewe lambs have maintained their ground, in fact, there is a tendency in—this class to improve. Wethers are scarce and seem likely, with the better outlook for mutton, to advance in value. Ratus over all are similar to those recently quoted.

P.IGS Good entries are still being handled and generally rates are steady. At the central yards this week a better demand was faced for all fats, baconers reaching £3 5s for top weig'ntß, with porkers up to £2 6s. Lighter sorts of these ranged from 30s to 38s. In the store sections the demand is not strong. Good stores sell to 255. slips from 13i to 17s:' weaners, 6s to lis. ARTIFICIAL FIBRES MENACE TO WOOLGROWERS ADVICE TO AUSTRALIANS MELBOURNE, April 8 Leaders of Victorian wool interests conferred -with Mr. R. Wilson, a representative of British manufacturers, who described the menace of artificial fibres and urged that £50,000 a year should be provided for five years by Australian growers for a publicity campaign in Britain. The British trade, he said, would contribute pound for pound. SHEEPSKIN PRICES Dalgety and Company. Limited, has received the following cablegram from its London office: —At - the London _ sheepskin sales, competition was general, with a good attendance of buyers and a fair selection of skins. The home trade. America and the Continent were operating. As compared with the closing rate 9 of the last series, fina halfbrods and fine combing crossbreds both were par to rather higher. Lambs skins were firm at unchanged prices. Other descriptions were irregular. The change, if any. is in favour of buyers. Of an offering of 3519 bales about 75 per cent was sold. Quotations:—Merino:- Three-quarter to fullwoolled. lid to 13d; quarter to half-woolled, 7sd to 8!d. Crossbred: Three-quarter to full - woolled fine, 9d to 14d: medium coarse. 71d to 10Jd: quarter to half-woolled fine, 7d to lOd; medium coarse. 6{d to 9fd; short and shorn, 6d to 73d. Lambs. 7d to JUd.