TARANAKI STOCK MARKETS

Stratford Evening Post, Volume II, Issue 353, 9 September 1933, Page 8

TARANAKI STOCK MARKETS

AUCTIONEERS' WEEKLY REVIEW

NEWTON KING'S REPORT Newton King Limited's stock market report states:— Spring seems to have definitely asserted itself, and ideal growing conditions prevail throughout the district, as a result of which pastures show a much better appearance than is usual at 'hi: period. Graziers with large holding.; a,' already planning operations to cope with the anticipated spring growth, and in view of the seeming shortage of station

cattle it would occasion little surprise if other classes found early favour from this direction. Stock Values g 'Morally have not altered perceptibly during the week, although a further advance in overseas markets for butter to 100 s is reported in latest cables, and this, together with the sustained nature of the recovery of the market, lends colour to the suggestion that a bstter standard has been definitely established, and places a much brighter outlook on the future of the dairying industry. Unfortunately values in the dairy cattle section have fluctuated to some degree during the winter, and many holders have shown losses on their outlay, but lack of size and condition has for the most part been responsible, as a reasonably good market has been in evidence throughout for cattle in good order. The current month generally witnesses a better demand in this section, but little improvement is yet noticeable. Many requirements are yet to be fulfilled, and as the season advances supply and demand will undoubtedly be a governing feature of values, and those who have mated their supplies to meet the late demand should have occasion to rejoice over their choice. Export demand has accounted for little of the beef supplies, and as a consequence the market seems more than amply supplied for local requirements, with the result that no improvement in values can be reported. Best young cows and heifers are Worth £5 ss, lighter prime £4 10s and fats from dairy herds £3 to £4 sa. Supplies of mutton seem adequate to meet the local demand and little variation in prices is noticeable. Wethers sell at from 20s to 22s Gd, while ewes meet a ready sale at from 16s to 18s. Fat hoggets continue to met a good demand, but only smalt lots are offering. Prime sheep sell at up to 17s and lighter and plain at 14s Gd to 16s. In the store sheep section the markets nre practically bare, it being evident that a fairly good clearance has been effected of the usual odd lots that are

marketed at this period, and trade during the week has been of little account. It is as yet a little early to expect any forward delivery "business locally with either lambs or ewes, but a revival of this trade is already reported in Hawke's Bay and other districts and it seems likely that changing on these lines will be of some magnitude in the next few weeks as the general improvement in wool values, together with the firm tone of the overseas markets for lamb and mutton, has inspired confidence in all operations v/ith regard to store sheep.

So far as store cattle are concerned, the satisfying of requirements is left to the oddments that come forward to the fortnightly sales. These are to some degree disappointing, young paddock cows and good-quality yearling Jersey heifers being perhaps the most popular. A strong inquiry exists for grown bullocks, one buyer having purchased 350 head, including a number of mixed cattle at an approximate average of £3 15s per head. There are many holders of this class ready to sell, but they are faced with some difficulty in obtaining replacements at an outlay in proportion to that which is offering for the cattle being held. Quotations of grown bullocks range from £3 15s to £4 ss, with few purchasers prepared to operate in advance of £4.

Some improvement in the market for good-quality yearling Jersey heifers has been noticeable during the week. Tops are rarely offered at auction, and where anything approaching the best quality is included in the sale entries keen competition is the order and prices show a tendency to harden. The sale has been made of a line of choice heifers at £4 2s, while good cattle have changed hands at from £3 10s to £3 15s. Values for the other classes in this department have shown no improvement, inferior and light-conditioned cattle being, if anything, dull of sale. Hold-over cattle are keenly sought, and the supplies available seem insufficient to meet the demand, with the result that good quality sorts have shown a little appreciation in value. The best sell at from £2 to £2 ss, average to good cattle £1 15s to £1 17s 6d and inferior 15s to 255.

Large entries of dairy cattle have been handled at all f/ile centres during the week, but the general standard of the offerings has left a good deal to be desired. For the most part the entries of heifers have consisted of small and lightconditioned cattle, for which there is little demand; in fact sales held since the last report have lacked the animation that w<»s noticeable some few weeks back and, if anything, lower values have been the order. The, small numbers of good-quality cattle included in the yardings meet good competition and values for these are well up to late rates. Good-quality cattle of size and in good condition realise from £6 5s to £7 ss, average sorts in good order £5 5s to £5 15s and small, inferior and light-con-ditioned £3 to £4 ss. The entries of dairy cows for the most part consist of the usual rejects, and values range from £4 10s to £6 10s for gocd young cows, while others change hands at little above boner price.

At the Stratford sale on Tuesday a good yarding of all classes was submitted, and practically a full clearance was effected under the hammer. Dairy cattle were somewhat dull of sale but anything showing quality met a reasonably good demand. Wethers made 20s 4d, m.s. hoggets 12s to 13s lid, works cows 15s to £1 10s, fat cows £4 10s to £5, sound empty cows £1 17s to £2 ss, yearling heifers £2 3s, £1 19s to £1 9s, JerseyFriesian cross yearlings £1 13s, works bulls £1 15s, in-calf dairy cows (good), £6 to £6 ss, medium £5 10s, poor £3 7s 6d, calved cows £5 15s to £6, springing heifers (good) £5 7s 6d to £6, medium £4 10s to £5, poor £3 15s to £4 ss, calved heifers £4 15s, £5 ss, £3 15s to £4 ss. The Urenui sale on Monday drew a large yarding of dairy cattle, which.was supplemented by an average entry in the store pens. The entry of dairy cattle consisted to some degree of small and inferior cattle, for which the demand was weak, and prices showed a receding or

earlier sales. Good cattle, however, sold quite well, best heifers making from £6 5s to £7, average sorts £5 to £5 15s, small cattle of-good quality £4 5s to £4 15, inferior £3 to £3 12s 6d. dairy cows £2 10s to >M 5s according to age and quality. wether hoggets 15s 2d, extra prime fat cows £5 2s, good-quality sound empty cows £2 2s 6d to £2 13s, paddock cows £2 2s do £2 16s, lighter-conditioned sorts 30s to 3Gs, boners 14s to 275,

The IngleWood sale on Wednesday drew a large yarding in all departments, but dairy cattle Were again dull of sale and only good sorts met a ready market. Heifers at profit from tested herds made £5 15s to £6 15s, average cattle £4 15s to ::, 30s, others £3 to £4 2s Gd. dairy cows

v-i'-ge quality) £5 5s to £6, Inferior £2 ;u £:• 10s, ewe hoggets (good) to 17s, average 15s Gd to 15s 7d, wether hoggets 15s to 16", mixed sex hoggets 15s lid, small ewe hoggets 14s 7d, fat wethers 17s, fat wether hoggets 17s 3d, fat cows £3 4s to £3 17s, 2-year empty Jersey heifers £2 Us to £3. sound empty cows (choice) £2 10s to £3 ss, others £1 7s to SI 17s Gd, paddock cows £1 10s to £2, boners 12s to 255, good-quality yearling Jersey heifers £3 10s, average cattle £2 19s to £3 ss, small cattle of good quality £2 10s to £2 15s, good quality holdover heifers £2 6s, average sorts £1 15s to £1 18s, others £1 ss. At the Rahotu sale on Thursday there was an average yarding and practically a total clearance was made. Good quality dairy cattle met a good demand, choice heifers making from £7 2s 6d to £7 10s, good sorts £5 15s to £6, small cattle displaying quality £4 15s to £5 10s, good dairy cows £6 to £7 10s, average sorts £5 to £5 ss, inferior £3, good quality yearling Jersey heifers' £3 12s, good hold-over heifers £2 to £2 4s, others £1 14s, heavy fat cows from dairy herds £3 10s to £4 ss, paddock cows £2 4s to £2 6s, others £1 15s.

Good yardings of pigs are being submitted throughout the district and a strong demand is in evidence for all classes, slips and large stores being perhaps the most popular. The New Plymouth Haymarket sale yesterday again drew a capacity yarding and all classes were keenly mmoeted for. Prices showed a little appreciation of last week's figures. Good porkers made to 325, lighter sorts 27s to 28s, unfinished 255, large stores 21s to 235, slips 17s to 18s, best weaners 15s 6d to 17s, medium sorts 14s, small 10s.