LOAN AND MERCANTILE REPORT

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

LOAN AND MERCANTILE REPORT

The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company Limited reports. A firm tone prevails for all classes of fat sheep and advices from other provinces go to show that a scarcity of all classes prevails. Very few fats arc coming into the wards, and it appears that butchers for a while will have to buy more beef. This fact should stimulate the beef market, to some extent. Values this week for fat cattle have been on a par with the previous* week's pricos, and any fall in prices is not expected as the shortage of fat sheep must tend to improve the toeief market. Supplies are not. excessive, in Taranaki, and local demand will probably keep prices at about tine same level as now. A very keen demand is apparent for all classes of store sheep; ewe hoggets are unprocurable in Taranaki and are worth well over £l. A scarcity is reported all over New Zealand. Wieither hoggets are also hard to obtain, and have advanced in (sympathy witlh ewe hoggets. Ewes and lambs are doing remarkably well owing to the mild weather, .and. feed is coming l away rapidly, so that early draftings of fat lambs can be looked for. , The store cattle market has changed somewhat, such cattle realising higher values than wene anticipated a month ago. Very few lines are offering and buyers are plentiful. The demand seems to be mainly for younger cattle, owing to back country farmers having sold their older stock and replacing with younger animals. The inquiry for yearling heifers has slackened a little, but this is only temporary- Yearling heifers are selling at lower values in the Wjaikato and surrounding districts, and this fact has a bearing on the market, as buyers from the north arc not prepared to pay the prices asked in Taranaki. Really good top cattle are not plentiful.

Dairy heifers have been pretty well combed over and there are not many top cattle available. Buying is confined to purchases at yard salts. Considerable numbers are coming forward to these sales, but are mostly medium to poor quality. Best heifers close up are selling at from £7 10s to £B, medium sorts £5 to £6 and backward and inferior £3 to £4 10s.

Most dairy co.w sales lately have been rather "sticky," but the quality is not very good. Any good young closeup cow is realising good money, and prices are likely to keep up as feed is rapidly becoming more plentiful.

Large yardings of pigs are coming forward and are being cleared at fairly satisfactory prices. A good demand still exists for horses, but prices havo eased a little. Private sales during the week have been: Fat ewes 18s to 20s, fat hoggets! 20s, fat heifers to £3 10s, springing heifers £4 10s, to £7, calved heifers £6 10s to £7, calved cows £5 10s to £0 10s, draught horese £25 to £37