VALUES IN WAIKATO

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22901, 2 December 1937, Page 9

VALUES IN WAIKATO

MARKET UNCERTAINTIES INFLUENCE OF WOOL PRICES « . HEAVY SUPPLIES OF PIGS ' Although all graziers were prepared for a. decline in wooi r not ninny sntici*pated the collapse that was witnessed, it is impossible to gauge accurately what the ultimate effect on the. sheep market trill be and Quitfi likely that its unsettling influence may extend to cattle as well. Stock business in general is somewhat out of joint, aud v although there seems no valid reason for fearing or expecting depression, there is unquestionably a feeling of uncertainty as to the future stability. It will most likely be found that the fault is not with the prospect abroad so much, as with our own internal- relationship. - i>tore stock values locally during the past year or two have reached abnormal heights, and as has been frequently pointed out everimproving markets overseas are required to justify them. It is not so much that ( Jd to Is for wool, or «30s to 3os for chilled beef are low values as the fact that more is needed if the purchases of the past year are to bo profitable. Unfortunately a great many farmers have only recently changed from dairying, and" it is on these that the adversity will press most harshly. Expensive land and expensive sheep cannot endure ill-luck at the selling end. Conditions in the separate sections are:- — , BEEF ' This branch still maintains steadiness, although for second grade a weakening 1 tendency is operating. At Frankton this week the entry was again light, and the bnlk of it gave little trouble to transfer. Prime ox sold from 37s to 30s; ordinary, 34s to 365; prune heifer, 33s to 355; prime cow. 30s to_32s; Jersey cows, 20s to 225; rough cows, 17s to : lus. •• ;■!>■ MUTTON Another good entry was dealt with at tha central yards this week and, fortunately, without further decline. In some» cases wethers seemed a little firmer, but -gradually quotations were similar to those recently current. Lambs did not meet with the usual demand. Prime wethers sold from 26s 6d to 2Ss; medium, 20s; plain, from 23s (3d; best ewes. 20s to 21s; plain and unfinished, from l<s to lite. Shorn hoggets sold from 23s to 265. STORE CATTLE That there is still a demand for station cattle was evidenced at ilatamata last week, when an extensive offering, mainly steers, was submitted. With ralues up to £lO lis available for bullocks it is clear that faita is not seriously shaken. All other steers sola equally well, at comparative rates, .three-years-old ranging from £8 lis to £9 12s» two-year from £0 10s to £8 Is, and yearlings from £5 to £5 t>s. For ordinary classes of cattle the market is erratic, although m Jersey heifers there has been quite a revival. A heavy entry of about_i4oo at Te Awamutu a few days ago faced willing competition and practically everything was clear. The top price was £5 10s. Boners are declining, being now based on a 15s schedule. Bulls are nominally 18s, but competition • for them is extxwnely keen. J3TORE SHEEP As might be expected this section does not possess much interest and until matters adjust themselves business will be difficult to transact. Unfortunately, from the purchaser a viewpoint, forward buying of ewes has been freely engaged in, and although it is impossible to assess what the decline, will to, it can hardly be less than 5s below the standards of a year ago. . PIGS . Heavy entries are being handled in all centres. At Frankton this week the demand was not quite so keei. Baconers did not suffer greatlv but pork was easier by 2s to 3s a head. Top-weight baconers sold to £3 17s, medium from £$ 3s to £3 10s, light, from £2 ISs; buttermilk pigs, £2 13s to £3 2s; heavv porkers, to £2 15s; medium, from £3 4s to £2 10s; light, from 3Ss; large stores, 33s to 375; smaller, from - '2Ss; good sups, 23s to 2Ss; small slips,' from 19s:_good I weaners, 17s to 21s Gd; small, from 10s. i i PUTARURU QUOTATIONS Dalgety and Company, Limited, reports that a small yarding of sheep and a medium yarding of oattle came forward at its Putaruru saie. A few pens of fat cattle sold at late rates, while boner and store cattle did not reach' prices ruling at other centres. Medium Shorthorn cows brought' £5 ISs to £7 ss; heavy Jersey cows, £6 to £7 7? 6d; light, £4 10s to £5 17s Gd; heavy boners, £3 Gs to £3 19s; others, 31s to £3; potter bulls, £3 5s to £5 15s, according to weight and condition. Sheep: Fat shorn hoggets, £1 Ss; medium fat shorn ewes, 16s. Pigs: A medium yarding, which sold under keen competition before a good bench or buyers and at prices well up to late market rates. and in some cases a little in advance of ruling rates. Light baconers, £2 17s to £3 2s; heavv porkers., £2 10s to £2 10s; others, £2 to £2 9s; good stores, 3Ss to £2 7s; medium ' stores, 33s to *3Gs; others, 25s to 31s; slips, 23s Gd to 29s 6d; weaners, 14s to 22s 6d.

PRICES AT -CAMBRIDGE' An average yarding of cattle and a full yarding of pigs came forward at the Cambridge sale held by . Dalgety and Company, Limited. Cattle sold »t full late rates, while pigs met with an average demand, and prices realised were firm on recent sales. Stores and weaners eased slightly on late rates. Heavy fat Friesian cows brought £7 19s to £8 ss; ordinary fat, £0 15s to £7 os; ordinary fat Jersey cows, £5 to £6; tillable Jersey cows, £4 to £5; store Jersey cows, £3 to £4; boner cows, £2 to £3; heavy Friesian potter bulls up to £lO 15s; others. £5 -to £5 12s; light bulls, £4 to £5; springing Shorthorn cows, £7 15s to £S 10s; Jersey, £6 10s. Heavy porkers brought £2 6s to £2 Ss; medium, 3Ss to £2 2s; light, 30s to 3Ss; sows to farrow, £3 ss; medium store pigs, 30s to 345; small, 25s to 30s; best slips. 20s to 255; small slips, 15s to 20s; best weaners, 10s to 18s; medium, 12s to 16s.

BUTTER-FAT. PAYMENTS

ADVANCES TO SUPPLIERS NO CHANGE IN RATE . [FROM OCR OWN CORRESPONDENT] . HAMILTON, Wednesday After considerable discussion and ft. division on an amendment, the executive of the South' Auckland. Dairy Association to-dav resolved to fix the uuiform advance payments for butter-fat until the end of the current dairying season at the same figures observed to date, namely, Is Id per lb. for finest grade for butter-making, and -Is 2Jd ppr lb. for first grade for cheese-mak-ing. It was pointed out that the expected increases in wages costs would bo not more than from l-10th to id. per lb.