STOCK SALES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22402, 24 April 1936, Page 11

STOCK SALES

WAIKATO MARKET STEADY TONE CONTINUES GOOD DEMAND FOR SHEEP A week of rough weather in the Waikato has removed the gloss from stock in unsheltered localities, but the accompanying rain cannot fail to benefit pastures, and in particular those that have just received their autumn top-dressing. The markets are fairly steady in all branches, although rather more than this can be affirmed in the case of sheep, for which the demand appears to have strengthened. Consignments of breeding ewes from the North arrive daily and are of a rather better class than the earlier drafts. These are everywhere being popularly received and seldom fail to support the owners' expectations. It cannot be doubted that the number of ewes mated this year is vastly in excess of any previous one and with the prospect of a higher lambing percentage, a record export season must ensue. Lamb is still strong as the recent advance to BJd testifies. At this stage last year it was rising later to 7d, at which figure the season closed. In the cattle section, coarselv-bred sorts are much cheaper, but the better breeds seem to have recovered some of the ground recently lost. This week's sales disclose a keen demand for the favoured types and until a stronger evidence of winter asserts itself there seems no reason to expect any serious decline. Hope is fixed on the export more than the local beef demand, and it is for that trade that graziers are catering. Lighter, younger bullocks are therefore the type sought, with tho Polled Aiigus breed still greatly preferred. Conditions in the separate sections are:— BEEF Although the yarding* generally are not heavy they seem adequate and prevent any advance in value. At the Frankton yarda on Tuesday the demand for ox beef wag a little firmer, but female classes did not exceed current rates. Some very choice runners were penned, the best reaching £7 16s, with others ranging between that figure and £6. Heavy vealers sold between £2 5s and £3. Prime ox, to 265; ordinary, 23s to 245; prime heifer, 23s to 255; young cow, ISs to 21s; ordinary, 14s to 16s; boners, 10s to 12s 6d. MUTTON . Although most other saleyards are bar* in this section, the Frankton entry on Tuesday was heavier than usual, ewes being very prominent. The demand for these was much easier and many lots were passed. Wethers, of which there were some excellent lines, maintained the previous week's firmness and everything was readily cleared. A good entry of fat lambs faced the export buyers, whose competition was stronger and exceeded the recently advanced schedule of Bid. Best wethers sold to 30s 6d; medium, 26s to 2Ss; light, from 23s 6d; best ewes, to 20s 6d; average sheep, 17s 6d' to 19s; light and unfinished, from 15s 6d; heavy lambs. 25s to 275: medium, 21s 6d to 24a; light, from ISs 6d. STORE CATTLE Little interest is shown in cattle of any class that lack breeding, but where this it evident competition cannot be complained of. At Frankton on Tuesday for a draft of rising two-year Red Polled steers up to £6 12s 6d was given, although heavy cattle were procurable at little more money. These latter are not popular anywhere but for steers from two to three-year-old, there is a strong and consistent demand, which may endure throughout the season. Good yearlings are also in request and well-bred lines of these never go begging. Competition for dairy heifers has not yet regained its earlier vigour, although good paddock sales are frequently recorded. As usual, those in search of early calvers may be expected to show preference for cows and clearing sales which commence immediately are likely to stage many brisk competitive contests. Yearling heifers *re still sought, but few good lines reach the saleyards. JO STORE SHEEP The demand in this section never abate«for a day. Supplies of breeding ewes ar« coming to band more freely, but seldom face any obstacle to their transfer. Tho horror of ragwort has ■ promoted a warm welcome to sheep from the North, where it is said the weed is unknown, and certainly so far no suspicion of infection na» been observed. Largely on this account competition is unrestrained and high comparative values are invariably recorded. Lambs, with the keener export inquiry, have hardened and values for forward classes at Frankton this week were better than for many weeks. Ewe lambs were also firmer and all submitted found ready transWethers of a good class are not plenti- . ful The demand for stores at Morrinsville on Friday was a little disappointing, and the bulk of the entry failed to pasi. There seems little doubt, however, that a line <-f well-conditioned sheep would attract tis much interest as other classes. With export buyers paying as high as 26s at tnii stage the outlook for winter mutton xa encouraging. PIGS Good entries have been penned at all centres this week and values have been fairly steady. The F*fl«ton entry was a large one, and although heavy baconert did not quite week s high level, the lighter weights were Quite up to the current standard. The store pig_ section was no more animated than usual. Baconer® sold to £3 ss; light from £2 9s; buttermilk pigs, £2 to £2 10s; heavy porkers, to £2 7s; light, from 28s; stores. 17s to 22«: slips, 3a to IDs; weaners. 3a 6d to Ba. WESTFIELD QUOTATIONS HIGH PRICES FOR COWS KEEN DEMAND EXPERIENCED Keen competition for dairy cattle resulted yesterday in values advancing beyond the levels recorded at the Westfield stock sales during the past three years. The bench of buyers was one of the largest at the weekly stock sales for many months, and bidding was brisk throughout the day. The top price, £l3 10s for a Jersey cow, represented an increase of fully 30 per cent over the highest realisations of the previous week, when double figures were reached for the first time in many months. There was a large yarding of dairy cows and heifers and the demand was sustained throughout. Graziers were also very activo and practically all lines were cleared. Store cattle met with a good sale and the recent firm rates were maintained. Tho quotations were: — Store Cattle.—Young cows, good condition, £2 2s 6d to £3 15s; less condition, 35s to £2; others, to 32s 6d; boner and aged cows, to £3 ss; boner bulls, to £5 15s; breeding Jersey bulls, to £4; yearling Jersey heifers, good quality, to £2 6s; others, to 37s 6d. Dairy Cattle.—Jersey cows, recentlycalved, choice quality, to £l3 10s; more backward, to £9 ss; others, to £5 10s; Jersey heifers, choice quality, close to profit and recently-calved, to £7 10s; more backward, to £5 10s: others, to £4 ss; shire-cross cows and heifers, good quality, close to profit, to £8 15s; more backward, to £(5; others, to £4, ss; Shorthorn cows and heifers, good quality, to £8 10s; moro backward, to £5 15s; others, to £4; Ayr-shire-cross cows nnd heiefrs, good quality, close to profit, to £3.105; others, to £5; other cows, to £4 ss. WELLSFORD CATTLE [from our own correspondent] WELLSFORD, Thursday There was a medium yarding of cattle at the s'ale held by the North Auckland Farmers' Co-operative, Limited, at Wellsford. The quality of yarding on the whole was poor, the biggest proportion being cull cows from dairy herds. There was a good attendance of buyors, and practically the whole yarding changed hands at ruling values. Boner cows -*nd bulls were taken by exporting firms at x schedule rates, while fat cows were in domand by country butchers. There was a slightly improved demand for young pigs, best weantrs bringing up to 7s 6d. Values:— Cattle: Light-weight fat cows, £3 lis to £4 2s- kiilable cows, £2 15s to £3 ss: heavy boner cows, £'2 '2s to £1 12s; light boner cows, £1 10s to £-2 Is: cull cows. Is 6d to 25s •• Jersey bulls. £2 to £3 16s; killablo heifers, to £2 ISs; Jersey cows, due *arly r to £5 ss; Jersey cows, due August 25, and young Shorthorn cows, due early, to £5 sa; Jersey cows, in milk, to £3 2s 6d; springing crossbred heifers, to £3 10s; poor dairy cows from £2 7s 6d: Shorthorn heifers, in calf, to £3 7s 6d. Pigs: Big weaners, to 7a 6d; small weaners, 8s 6d to sfl.