WEATHER IN WAIKATO

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23228, 23 December 1938, Page 7

WEATHER IN WAIKATO

HARVESTING DELAYED HEAVY CATTLE SUPPLIES OUTLOOK FOR LAMBS Another week of unseasonable) weather has been experienced, and harvesting operations have been further delayed. However, although a quantity of hay has been lost, those fanners who did not shut up their paddocks until late will be able to wait for more favourable conditions before cutting, without the crop deteriorating a great deal. Market conditions have not shown much alteration during the past week. Most saleyards have been well supplied with both beef and mutton for the Christmas trade, and prices haje remained firm, lioner cows and potter bulls also have been coming forward in good numbers, and have been readily absorbed by export buyers. A line of 1600 two and four-tooth wethers was offered at the Morrinsville sale, but competition was lacking and the line was passed in. This was not a true indication of the market, howover, as the quality of the sheep was very poor. Several lines of storo lambs were offered at the Frankton auction on Tuesday, and although the prices realised were several shillings below those for similar sheep at this time last year, vendors met the market, and buyers appeared prepared to do business within restricted limits. Best shorn whito face lambs mado to lis 6d and woolly black face lambs to 10s 9d. Shortly after the Christmas vacation the sheep fairs will be commenced, and it is anticipated that large numbers of store lambs will be offered. With ample feed available it appears that this will be a good year to buy lambs, as on present prices there is a good margin between store and fat values. The export schedule for fat lambs has remained unchanged for the current week. Conditions in the various sections are: — BEEF Beef has been forward in good numbers at most of the main centres, and values have remained firm. Export buyers have been operating freely in tho paddock for chilling cattle, and this has had the effect of keeping salcyard values very firm. One of the largest yardings of beef for some time was submitted at the Te Awamutu market. Ihe quality was first-class, and a total clearance was effected under keen competition from a full bench of local and outside buyers. Prime steers made £l2 to £l3. and lighter prime from £lO 15s to £ll 12s Gd; prime Polled Angus, Hereford and shorthorn cows and heifers from £8 os to £0 17s Gd, lighter, £7 5s to £8 2s Gd. At the central yards on Tuesday the entry was not as large as sometimes comes forward for the Christmas sale. The bulk of tho yarding of ox beef comprised medium weights, which sold under steady competition at full late rates. Heavy prime steers realised from £l3 to £l4 10s; medium weights, £ll 10s to £l2 15s. A small entry of cow and heifer beef also sold at unchanged values. A large entry of calves was penned. Competition for prime runners and heavy vealers was keen, but small and unfinished sorts were decidedly easier. MUTTON While prices for mutton have not shown any improvement, it is worthy of note that this is the first week for some considerable time that a fall has not been recorded. A larger entry than usual was penned at the Morrinsville sale, but a good inquiry existed, and a total clearance was effected at full late rates. For the second week in succession a capacity yarding of fat sheep of all classes was penned at the central yards on Tuesday. Prices for both fat ewes and wethers were unaltered, while prime hoggets were a shade firmer. A large entry of fat lambs was keenly competed for by butchers and exporters, and values in this section were in advance of those ruling at the previous market. A few pens of outstanding lambs made most satisfactory prices from 26s to 28s Od Heavy prime wethers made 20s Gd to 22s Gd, prime; 18s 6d to 20s; light prime. 17s to 18s; fat hoggets, 16s to 19s; prime young ewes, to 16s, heavy fat ewes, 13s to 14s Gd; lighter prime, 10s to 12s Gd; prime lambs, 22s to 255; lighter prime, 19s to 21s PIGS Large yardings of fat pigs have been offered at all centres. Buyers competed freely for both baconers and porkers, and late high values have been fully maintained. Buttermilk feeders, who have been putting off lines of baconers, have been active in the market for replacements, and the class of pig required by these buyers has been selling at a premium. A good enquiry also exists for large stores, and here again prices have been in vendor's favour. At the central yards on Tuesday buyers paid £2 to £2 7s for wellbred pens. Baconers make £3 3s to £3 15s; hoavv porkers and butter-milk pigs £2 14s to £3 Is; medium porkers £2 8s to £2 12s. light, 3Ss to £2 5s BUTTER-FAT FOR CHEESE DIFFERENTIAL PAYMENT EFFECT ON PRODUCTION [BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION] WELLINGTON, Thursday The relationship between butter manu. facture and cheese manufacture is referred to in the annual report of the Primary Products Marketing Department. "After pointing out that the differential marginal payment in favour of butter-fat supplied for cheesemaking is intended to compensate suppliers to cheese factory companies for the comparatively lower returns from by-products and for the costs of tho delivery of milk, the report states that there is evidence to support the contention that the price margin has been effective in arresting the steady decline in cheese production during tho past five years. Figures are given showing that in the two seasons immediately preceding the introduction of the guaranteed price procedure the decreases in cheese production were respectively 10.62 per cent and 7.68 per cent. I 1 or the 1936-37 season the increase in cheese production is 3.12 per cent and for the 1937-38 season the decrease is 3.12 per cent. ' "When it is considered that in respect of butter the decreaso for tho 1937-38 season is 7.59 per cent, it can fairly be claimed that the present price margin of 2d a lb. butter-fat in favour of cheese has assisted to maintain cheese production," says tho report. COUNTRY STOCK SALES NORTH AUCKLAND VALUES [FROM OUR OWN COKWKSPONIIKNTI WH A XGAIIEI, Thursday Dalgctv and Company, Limited, reports a full yarding at Ohaeawai. and although a number of lines were passed in, bidding was keen, prices being on a par with late rates. Sheep: Mixed sex lambs, 12s 2d to 13s; backward springing cows. £3 15s to £1; backward springing heifers, £3 17s Gd to £4 17s Gd; medium fat cows, £5 3s to £•(,; lighter sorts, £4 Ss to £4 17s; twoyear steers, £4 13s to £4 17s; yearling Polled Angus steers, £4 Is to £4 7s; two-year empty Devon heifers, £3 IGs; yearling Jersey heifers, £'_' 5s to £'2 7s; yearling Polled Angus heifers, £3 Is to £3 8s; empty cows, £;i Is to t'li lis; boner cows, £2 2s to £5, according to weight. The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Limited, reports that more than the advertised number of cattle camo forward at Waireia. The majority of the cattle sold at advanced prices, especially the bigger sorts, which showed quality. Smaller sorts and those of inferior quality were not sought. The greater portion of the yarding changed hands. Best steers, two to three-year-old, Devon, £7 3s; Hereford, £7 <Js; smaller sorts, CO to £0 IGs; two-year Shorthorn steers, £5 2s Od to £0 10s; 18month llereford-cross steers, £5 2s (id; Hereford herd bulls, logos; light fat cows, £5 12s (id to £0; boner cows, £1 10s to £2 17s (id. Walter Wakelin reports having held his usual fortnightly sale at Whakapara, when an averago yarding met with a good demand. Dairy cows made from £4 to £5; springing heifers, £3 10s to £5; fat cows, £4 to £~ 10s; two-year empty heifers, to £3 10s; two-year Shorthorn uteers, £5 Is to £6 os; yearling Shorthorn heifers, to £2 ISs; cows and calves, £3 5s to £5 l%s; bonor bulls, £3 17s Gd to £5; weaner pigs, to 18s Gd.