WAIKATO MARKET

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23879, 1 February 1941, Page 5

WAIKATO MARKET

BUOYANT CONDITIONS RESULT OF HEAVY RAIN INTEREST IN SHEEP FAIRS Further heavy rains have been experienced throughout the Waikato and feed is now plentiful in all districts. As a result, conditions remain buoyant in practically n't sections of the market. At the present time chief interest centres io the sheep fairs which are now being held in all the main centres. The market for store lambs, which opened strongly, has continued buoyant, and, if anything, prices have firmed slightly. Luc lambs are in keen request, and compared with current values for two-tooth ewes this class is selling particularly well. Breeding ewes are now coming forward in larger numbers, and. although a large proportion of the line from the Last ('oast, which was scheduled for the Morrinsvillc centre last Friday, was delayed by adverse weather, quite a number of local find southern lines were penned. Both at this centre and at local lairs there has been a good demand at prices coinparing favourably with those ruling at the same fixtures last year. The opening ram fair in this district was bold at the 3lorrinsville centre on Wednesday and good prices were obtained for quality pens. With ample feed available, the market for grown store cattie has remained firm, but at one or two sales young cattle have been a shade easier. Boner cows and potter bulls sell at practically unchanged quotations. Beef. The market for fat cattle has remained firm nt pnicticnlly ull centres. Onlj moderate entries for this time of the year have been penned and this has had the effect of keeping values steady. At the centra! Yards on Tuesday ox beef was entered in slightly smaller numbers and on the, whole the qualify was good. Competition was steady throughout and prices remained fully firm. Cows and heifers came forward in full average numbers to meet with a steady demand and here again values were equal lo those obtained last week. Extra prime bullocks made .113 to Ct3 10s; prime, £ll 10s to .(.'l2 10s; light prime, to A'l I ; extra prime young cows and heifers, .£9 to ,19 lis; prime. .17 to X'S JOS; light, to £7. Mutton.--!n the fat sheep section, wethers havo sho.vn a firming at some sales, but values for ewes have failed lo improve. Prices for this class, except for choice, butchers' lines, are now practically on a par with export rates, and there does not appear much likelihood of great improvement in the near future. As in the fat cattle section, entries this week have been moderate for this time of the year. At the Frankton sale on Tuesday wethers met a keener demand Ihan at the previous sale, with the result that price; showed a slight firming. Ewes, however, were not. in keen request and values showed no improvement. A small penning of fat lambs sold at unchanged rates. lieavy prima fat wethers, 2(is to '-!.s (id; medium. 23s (Id lo 25s (id; light, to 235; heavy fat ewes, 14s <U! to 15s 3d; medium, 12s to 13s (id; light, to lis. Pigs.—Smaller yardings of fat pigs are coming forward at practically all centres. .Most farmers appear t.> have disposed of their surplus porkers, which were offered in exceptionally large numbers at the first few sales this year, and are now frying to carry on the balance to bacon weight. Competition lor baconcrs remains keen at prices up to t'l 15s. while at some sales this week value,' for porkers have shown a slight firming. Quotations for stores and wcancrs show little alteration. Baconcrs sell from €3 12s to .PI 15s; heavy porkers and butter-milk pigs" .13 Ms to 13 ios; medium porkers, x-i" 'l2s to i'2 His; light, £2 2s to ,C2 Ss; smalt. 35s to £-■ MARKET AT PUKEKOHE Small numbers of dairy cattle and good entries of beef and boner cattle were receiver! at the weekly I'ukekoho stock sale of Alfred Buck land and Sons, Good dairy cows a:id heifers sold freely at-late rates, the ilMunnd for beef and boners was keen and values were firm. Fat pigs d'd not include many top-weight baconcrs, but prices were well m;>inlained. Weaners again eased in value except for a few pens of extra good quality. Dairy heifers, to €lO 15s; dairy cows, 1:3 lOs to .€lO i2s Oil: heifer calves. .€'-'-5s to £'4 Os; fat steers, ,t'S 15s to .€l3 12s (id; fat cows and heifers, ,C 5 Ids lo ,€9 ss; boners, ,C2 15s to .€5 ,-»s; potter bulls. .CI Ids to .€11; haconers. i' 35s to .CI I2s: porkers, ,€ 1 12s lo €3 3s; maiden Largo Black sows, 7s;ns to itgns; Large Black hoars, sgns to Sams; weaner Large Black sows and boars, l'-jiins to pedigree Berkshire sows, to (ign«; stores, iss lo €1 9s; slips,"los to 1; sly weaners, Is to :17s. OPARAU SHEEP FAIR Prices were at late rates at Dnlfrety and Company's sheep fair at Onarau, the yarding necessitated repcntiing in a number of cases. Good shorn Romnc.v wether lambs. 15s to His 111; medium. 12s (id to 13s 3d: small and cull lambs, Os 'id to Ids 9d; medium shorn l'omney owe lambs. 20s to 22s 4d: small, 15s to ISs; good-conditioned two and four-tooth wethers, 2ds to 21s 3d; good average five-year ewes. 20s to 225; two-tooth ewes 2Ss lo 29s 9d; four and six-tooth ewes, 22s lo 23s 4d; mixed-aged ewes. 15s to '18s; cut and aged ewes, 5s to 103 (id.