GISBORNE SHEEP SURPLUS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 17976, 31 December 1932, Page 6

GISBORNE SHEEP SURPLUS

FEWER FOR THE WAIKATO VERY SMALL DEMAND LIKELY SALES TO SOUTHERN DISTRICTS The big annual trek of Gisborne sheep to the Waikato will not be in evidence to nearly the same extent as in past years, when the close of the holiday pried signalled the departure of many mobs for the north. Inquiries made to-day revealed the fact that very few sheep are being got ready for the Waikato tins season. A number of sales were made during the past few months, and these will be put on the road shortly alter the holidays are over, except for a lew that have already been sent to t.icir northern destinations.

Flock owners who have not already sold appear reluctant to risk the open market. -Many of the Waikato farmers who undertook the grazing of sheep and the fattening of lambs iiave forsaken their new venture in favor of dairying since the collapse of both the wool and meat markets, and this may account for some of tile indifference shown in that district towards the purchase of breeding ewes. However, now that the butter and cheese markets have also gone below a profitable level, many many be. tempt ed to return to sheep in the hope that wool will be the first of the primary products to recover.

During Hie iast two months, forward business was done with tbe Waikato at 6s to 6s 6d for five-year ewes, with a small lot of two-tooths at 10s to 11s, the latter line lias already reached its destination. Some two-tooth ewes were also sold to Hastings at 10s to 11s, while Christchurch buyers secured lines at 10s and even up to 13s in an odd instance. Hawke’s Bay lias also purchased a nun, tier of wethers, many of which are at present on the road. The ewes will lx. despatched to Hastings in January, while the Canterbury lots are expected to he shipped in February. Gisborne stock agents have been attempting to negotiate further business with the Waikato, but the difference in the ideas of values is the Stumbling block at present. Gisborne sellers have been asking 7s lately for certain lines of four to five-year ewes, but the only satisfaction one firm could get was that it might be possible to interest buyers at ss. ' i

The problem of how to dispose of the remainder of the seasonal surplus has net yet been satisfactorily solved. The same problem faced flock owners some years ago when Hie Canterbury shipments, which reached over 100,000 in oio year, fell of? markedly. At that time, however, the Waikato came in as much larger buyers of Gisborne stock than hitherto, and absorbed what Canterbury failed to lift. Hawke’s Bay has taken more sheep this season than for the past two years, when drought conditions prevented the absorption of sheep from oilier parts. The Hawke’s Bay demand. however, is mainly for wethers.