FEED PLENTIFUL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23482, 20 October 1939, Page 14

FEED PLENTIFUL

ACTIVITY IN WAIKATO DEMAND FOR STORE CATTLE SPRING FAIRS OPEN A very favourable spring is being experienced and feed is now plentiful in all parts of Hie district, with the result that there is a strong inquiry for store eatt'-J Quite a number of spring cattle fairs have hen conducted in this district during the week and in.all cases there has been a large attendance of buyers. A particularly buoyant sale was experienced at the Oparau fair on Monday. A feature of these sales is the strong demand which exists for grown steers and big-framed young cows and heifers, but in some cases younger cattle have not sold as readily in proportion. This is inainl.A due to the fact that chilling operations will probably be suspended for tlic duration of the war and this class of cattle were previously purchased mostly."to'finish off as chillers. The market for yearling Jersey heifers shows no sign of weakening and at the Te Awamutu sale a pen of outstanding quality realised £7 7s 6d, with other good-lines selling from £5 upward. Dairy cattle continue to meet with a firm sale, but as it is now late in the season for this class of stock good quality cattle are hard to obtain. However, buyers are prepared -to pay good prices for good cows and heifers close to profit, or recently calved. In the store sheep section there is a firm demand, but at present only small lines are coming forward. Store hoggets and ewes with lambs at foot are practically the only classes offering in this section and these are readily purchased by graziers at recent firm rates. Conditions in the separate sections are: — BEEF Fat catlle tire coming forward in medium numliers ami prices generally have remained firm. At most of the country sales the snpjil.v is only .sufficient for Die local demand ami recent quotations have been fully maintained. A heavy yarding of hotli ox and cow beef was penned at (lie Te Awamulu cenlre and met with steady competition from loral and southern butchers. A slightly larger, offering of ox beef was submitted at the central yards on Tuesday and on the whole (lie quality was again first class. Competition was steady throughout and although in odd cases values for heavy steers were a shade easier, light to medium-weights fully maintained recent quotations. In the female section the demand was again keen throughout and values were unchanged. Extra prime ox was quoted lo .'llls per lOOib; prime ox, ,'ils to rifis: extra choice young cow and heifer beef. 37s to U!)s per loolb; prime cows, U'_'s fid lo 3."is per lOdlb. MUTTON Prices for fat sheep luive tended lo firm at most sales litis week. Very small entries have, been penned at the country sales and in some cases local buyers have been unable to fill (heir requirements in their own districts. Supplies of fat sheep in sight do not appear large and present prices may hold for some little time yet. An average yarding of fat sheep was penned al the central yards on Tuesday and the bulk of the entries comprised shorn sheep. .Local and outside buyers competed freely for all clusses and prices showed an improvement on those ruling at the previous sale. A .smaller penning of fat lambs again sold readily. Prime woolly wethers are worth ti'Js to :JTs; prime shorn wethers, 'JSs lo .'Ms (id; light shorn. 25s lo *_!Ts (id; prime maiden woolly ewes, to 33s (Id; prime woolly ewes, '-'."is to 2!)s (id prime shorn owes, 'JOs to Is; light, to IJ)S. rir.s All classes of fat pigs conlinue to sell under a firm demand at full lale rates. Lartrer entries are now coming forward at practically all centres. Local curers compete steadily for baconers, while competition from buttermilk feeders and farmers is largely responsible for ma in In miner prices for porkers at the present level. Large stores are still keenly sought, but prices for weairers were, j inclined lo ease at the central yards on Tuesday. Baconers make £3 to £1 '2s; heaw porkers and- buttermilk pigs, £2 ]."is to £3 3b; medium porkers, £2 lus to £2 14s; Jigut, £2 5s to £2 9«.