WAIKATO VALUES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22657, 19 February 1937, Page 7

WAIKATO VALUES

A DOWNWARD TENDENCY SITUATION FOR SHEEP INSTABILITY OF BEEF No changes of consequence have developed during the week, but in a general sense tho tendency is downward. Concerning sheep it is not easy to form a correct estimate of the situation. It may be said that the early enthusiasm has vanished, yet good breeding ewes are not so plentiful as to form a glut and competition for these, although somewhat tedious, always manages to elevate them close to the opening levels. Two-tooths perhaps have suffered most and this is hardly to be wondered at, for instead of a scarcity, as was confidently foretold, there is a prominence at almost all centres. Values for these at Morrinsville on Friday were lower than' the previous week by about 4s. Very good sheep failed*to get beyond 42s 6d. It is, however, the aged classes that brinji disappointment to vendors and were it not for export competition a calamity would be faced. Exceptions arc to be met with as in the case of the Tirau fair, where an extensive entry of six and seven years ewes proved almost as popular as station lines, but at most other centres condition is the main factor in the assessment of value. It is common for fat buyers to secure from one to two thousand at a single fair. Conditions in the separate sections are: BEEF This branch shows a litflo Instability, though it is but following the custom of previous years. While there seems no probability of a proaounced decline, it Bppears likely that for the next month or two a gradual tendency in that direction will develop. Supplies at the various sale centres are inclined to exceed requirements and this naturally has a depressing influence. At the central yards this week competition derived no aid front outside buyers and was in consequence less active. Ox beef fully maintained the levels of a week ago, but cow beef generally was lower from 10s to 15s per head. Prima medium ox sold from 31s to 335; heavy and ordinary, 27s to 20s; prime heifer, 20s to 28s; prime young cow, 23s to 255; Jersey cow, 17s to 10s; rough, 15s to 16s Od. MUTTON The markets arc well supplied in this section also, but general firmness prevails. At Frankton on Tuesday wethers opened more brightly than a week ago, but tho level was not maintained. Ewes were much on the previous basis and were supported throughout by export buyers. Lambs were in fair quantity and sold readily on the schedule basis. Prime heavy wethers made to 32s 3d; medium, 27s to 295; light and unfinished, from 255; heavy ewes, to 20.S Cd . (small choice lots a little higher); medium, 17s 6d to ISs Od; unfinished, from 15s Cd; fat lambs, from 20s to 30s, according to condition. STORE CATTLE Offerings in this section are practically nil, which is unfortunate, as much could be absorbed. Boner cows still form the chief feature, but even these seem far below the volume of previous years. Competition for them is not quite so strong, though still well above the announced schedule, viz., l-ls fid. Potter bulls are still keenly competed for and here also the schedulo of 17s is merely nominal. Attention is turning to in-calf heifers and also to weaners, both of which show a hardening tendency. Good lines of the latter sell from £2 10s to £3 ss. STORE SHEEP About this time last season a decline set in and was promptly followed by a revival. What is to come this year cannot be forecast, but at the moment conditions are definitely unsettled. It looks as if farmers, instead of waiting for sheep to be brought to the district, set out earlier in search of them, for one gathers the impression that the range of buyers is not now extensive. Competition at most sales, especially in the opening stages, is difficult to excite. It is understood that heavy supplies of aged ewes from the South await despatch, but the difficulty of marketing the lines on hand may prevent further invasion. About 20g fixes ihe limit for this class. Up to such a figure thpre is a fair demand, but only goodmouthed sheep advance much beyond. Four and five-year ewes are still worth from 28s to 32s Od; four and six-tooth, 35s to 38s; twotooth, 38s to 42s 6d. Store lambs steadily maintain their ground, although recent consignments from the North can hardly have justified their costly transit. Very good shorn Romney lambs at Frankton fair this week realised 20s 6d, but this figure is rarely attained. Good average wether lambs sell from 36s Cd to 18s Cd; small, from 13s to 15s 6d; culls, from 9s to 10s Od; shorn ewe lambs, 23s to 255;- smaller, from 17s Cd; two-tooth wethers are very scarce and sell from 24s to 2Cs. ; | PIGS I Large entries continue to be handled. The ■ export decline of Vid on fat classes was expected to bo noticed at Frankton on Tues- , day, but there seemed little variation from ; the previous week's rates. The drop of 4s on .•that occasion was possibly in anticipation of the lower schedule. Heavy baconers sold i to £3 lis; light, from £2 15s; heavy porkers, to £2 12s; light, from 355; store pigs showed i , little change, good stores being perhaps , i slightly firmer.

TE PUKE CATTLE AND PIGS [by telegraph—own' correspondent] TE PUKE, Thursday : The Farmers' c6-operative Auctioneering Company, Limited, reports having held its regular sale at Te Puke on Tuesday. An average yarding of cattle came forward, late rates being maintained. Pigs were penned in smaller numbers, most of the yarding comprising baconers and porkers. There was a full bench of buyers, who bought keenly at a slightly lower level of value in conformity with reduced schedules. Stores and weaners were somewhat slow of sale. Practically a total clearance was effected under the hammer at satisfactory prices, which were:— Pigs: Heavy- baconers, £3 6s to £3 12s; medium baconers, £3 to £3 8s; light baconers, £2 13s to £2 18s; heavy porkers, 35s to 3!)s; medium porkers. 32s to 345; light porkers, 28s to 30s; buttermilk pigs, to £2 10s; medium stores, 27s to 30s; light stores, 21s to 2fls; slips. 20s to 235; weaners. !>s to 12s fid; rhoppers, 30s to £3 12s. Cattle: Heavy fat cows, £5 10s to £8 7s fid: medium fat cows, £1 5s to £5 10s: lighter fat cows. £3 to £3 15s; store cows, £2 5s to £3; boner cows, 20s to 30s; potter bulls. £3 17s Od to £7; mixed Jersey calves, £2 lis. MATAWHERO EWE FAIR [by telegraph—own correspondent] GISBORNE. Thursday There wore 27,635 sheep yarded for the Matawhero ewe fair. The range of values was as follows:—Two-tooths: Extra. 3Ss fid: srood, 32s 1(1 to 35s fid; fairly good, 27s to 20s. Four-tooth: Top lines, 32s 3d to .'Us 6d; fairly (rood. 26s 3d to 275. Four and six-tooth: Store condition. 26* Bd. Six and eicrht-tooth, 25s 8d to 2Ss Od. Four, six and eight-tooth, medium sorts, 22s 3d to 23s Od. Five-year: Extra. 20s;' good. 22s to 25s lOd. Six-year: 19s to 23s 3d. Five and six-year: Extra, 275; crenerally, lf)s to 22s Od. Atred ewes: All fat, ISs Od; fat and forward, lGs lOd; little condition, 10s 0:1 to 13s. KAITAIA CATTLE SALE [by telegraph OWN correspondent] KATTAIA. Thursday The North Auckland Farmers' Co-operative reports holding a cattle sale at Kaitaia on Tuesday, when there was a big* yarding of stock and keen competition from a full bench of buyers. Fat bullocks made up to £lO 10s; fat cows, £2 15s to £4 2s fid; three-year-old steers, to £8 2s fid; two-year-olds, £1 10s to ffi 10s; 18-month Shorthorn and Hereford heifers, £1 15s to £2 18s; boner cows, £2 to £2 10s; weaner Shorthorn steer calves, CI lis to £2 10s; bulls, 27s Or! to £5 13s.

TAUMARUNUI SHEEP FAIR [by telegraph—OWN correspondent] TAUMARUNUI. Thursday There was a large attendance of buyers at a supplementary sheep fair at Taumarunul, when an entry of between 5000 and 0000 sheep came forward. The sale dragged a little at times, but all lines of good quality were keenly bought up and inferior lines also cleared at ruling rates. Fat ewes, 19s Of); fat wethers, lambs, 27s 8d; forward wethers, 21 s to lifts Od; two-tooth wethers, to 235: four-tooth wethers, 25s fid: twotooth ewes. 21s to £2; four-tooth ewes, 27s to 30s Oil; six-tooth ewes. 30s fid; four and six-tooth ewes, 2Ss (id to 33s fld; four year ewes. 21s fid to 33s Od; four and fiveyear ewes, to 20s 3d; five-year ewes, to 27e !KI; five and six-year ewes, to 22s Oil; acred ewes, to 10s 3d: breeding Southdown ewes. l'/ 3 guineas; ewe lambs to 208: wether lambs, to 20s Id; mixed-sex.'to 15s Id: Southdown, to 17s fid. Cattle: Fat cows, to £5 15s: fat- steers, £4; store cows, £3 7s 6d to £5 17s fid. Pigs: Stores, to 26s 6d; porkers, to £2 lis: weaners, 6s Gd.