MANY SALES OF STOCK

Stratford Evening Post, Volume I, Issue 76, 9 March 1931, Page 8

MANY SALES OF STOCK

BUSY WEEK IN TARANAKI NEWTON KING'S MARKET REPORT "The past week has been an exceedingly busy one both in the matter of auction sales and sales by private treaty," state Messrs. Newton King, Ltd., in their Taranaki stock market report for the week* ended Saturday, March V. "We have, in addition to the usual fortnightly fixtures, conducted several supplementary sheep lairs in the back country. Generally speaking, the market has not fluctuated much e(jiiip..;ed with last week's report. Breeding ewes, if anything, especially genuine lines true to age, have shown an easing in values, and the only accountable reason for this is that requirements at this particular time of the year have been' practically filled. On the other hand, aged ewes and good-mouthed ewes, low in condition, have maintained late rates, which is evidence that dairy farmers are still operating for small lots. The latest advices to band indicate that there has been a hardening in values for wool in other centres. Should this be maintained at all the March wool sales, there TS no doubt that increased confidence will enter into the sheep business, and resu'.t in an improved maricei. The immediate future is therefore looked forward to with interest.

Cattle Market The cattle market is at a very low level ami farmers who are obliged to realise both in the matter of station and dairy cattle, receive what are, compared with previous years. Very low prices. For the latter class, the prospects are, however, much better I han what they were a few weeks ago. The following is a review of I lie individual sections. Beef This is very plentiful. Operations by freezing works up till now have been confined mostly to the sheep business, fat cattle not being sought after, and the low prices for the former, combined with the summer trade, have claimed the most attention of butchers. Best cows and heifers realised from £5 to £G; lighter, £4 to £5; and bullocks can be bought in large quantities at £1 tier hundred, and in many cases less. Fat Sheep Freezing rates vanies have remained on a par with those"of last week, and there are still large quantities of all classes under this heading available. Butchers are fulfilling requirements for small lots at a slight increase on works schedule, the following being the quotes: —Ewes,from 5s to Ts, according to weight ami age. Fat wethers, from !)s to jlv/s, according to weight and age. Store Sheep The principal auction sales held during the week have been at Douglas, Okau, Uruti, Ohura and Hawera. In our opening remarks we have stated briefly the position of the market. Individual realisations were as follow: —At Douglas: Lambs were in very keen demand at the following prices: Ewe lambs, 8s Bd, wether lambs, 5s to 7s 4d. Ewes were a somewhat neglected class on the day, the best realisations being from 4s to 5s lOd. A large offering of rams, comprising Southdowns and llomneys, sold well, the former at from 2 to 3 guineas and the latter at from U- to 4 guineas. At Okau and Uruti: At the former, 2,500 sheep were soul and at the Hitter 1,500. Quotations at these sales were: 2-toofTT ewes, 12s lOd, J2s Gd, lis 7d; 4-toofh ewes, Us 8d; 4, G and fresh-mouth ewes, 10s 2d; best 4 and 5-year ewes, 7s to 8s Gd; good-mouthed ewes, in low to medium condition, 4s (id to (is 4d; best woolly ewe lambs, 8s ltd; shorn ewe lambs, 5s Gd to tis Gd; best woolly wether lambs, 7s 7d, 7s Gd; shorn wether lambs, 'ls 3d to 5s 7d; best mixed-sex shorn lambs, 5s to Gs 3d; small to median" 4s to 4s !)d; fat wethers, lis; fat ewes, up to 7s 3d; 2-tooth wethers, 8s 3d. At ouiira on. the 4th an excellent entry of 3,500 sheep was disposed of as fol-lows:—2-tooth ewes, good, 14s to 14s 3d; 4-year ewes, 8s 4d, Ss 7d; 4 and 5-year ewes, Gs 3d to 8s; aged ewes, 3s to ss; wether lambs, 4s 8d to 5s lid; best mixed-sex lambs, 5s Yd to Gs 3d; 2-tooth wethers, Gs 'Jd to 8s; 4 and G-tooth wetners, 8s Id to 6S od. At Hawera on the same iTTTy the entry included 2,000 lambs, which worn the best selling class on the day. lwe lambs, from 8s ud to 8s Bu, wether lambs, 4a Gd to Gs Gd; 4 and 5-year ewes soiu up to Vs.

Store Cattle At the fortnightly sales boner cows make up the bulk of the entries, and freezing companies are operating i'or these at the following values. Heavy boners, from £2 5s to ~- 15s; medium, £2; light, £1 5s to a*a 15s. At Gkau on Monday last, an entry of 200 cattle was submitted, the buiK of which was sold, and this was the largest entry of cattle at a backcountry sale that has been auctioned for some time. It included a number of lines of steers and stationbred females of different ages. Most vendors met the market, which was low, the following being some of the realisations: —2-year steers, mixed colours, £2 12s; 3J-year steers in good condition, £5; oliiers, £1 its; 15-monlh steers, £2; vealers, *1 "<; (id; 25-year foiled Angus heifers. £3. At this sale there was also a large entry of boner cattle and fat and forward cow::, and these sold well. Dairy Heifers Weauer heifers are coming forward in more plentiful supply to the saleyards, and the majority of vendors are taking the prices which are offering. At auction prices for wellgrown fawn-coloured heifers have been £2 2s to £2 Ms, and heifers as well done but varying in colour, made from £] 10s to £J 15s. Small and very mixed coloured heifers, 15s to 255. Wo have, during' the week, effected sales by private treaty of several trucks from £2 5s to £3, the latter being for some particularly well-bred and well done heifers. In many cases farmers holding extra good heifers are reluctant to sell at the prices now offering. As far as we can judge, until there has been some movement in the in-calf heifer

business there is little likelihood of a further strengthening in values for weaners. With regard to in-calf heifers, sales so far recorded are few. During March and April in previous years we have effected sales of many heifers to outside buyers. The next few weeks should give us some indication of what the position will be. Pigs Due to the counter-attractions of two show days this week, the yarding at the New Plymouth Haymarket on Friday was small,' and no doubt as a result prices showed a slight increase on those of last week, weaners making 12, lis Gd, Us, while small weaners made 7s Gd to Bs.