STOCK MARKET REVIEW

Taranaki Daily News, 6 October 1934, Page 11

STOCK MARKET REVIEW

NOT MUCH CHANGE SHOWN f-ATISFACTION ‘WITH BULL FAIRS. STRONG DEMAND FOR FAT CATTLE, w The Farmers’ Co-operative Organisation Society of New Zealand, Ltd., reSrts that a steady week of trading has ten place, with little change to report In the markets or in the outlook generally. * The cheese market has firmed ilighlty, white and coloured being quoted at about 48s 6d with the possibility of a firming tendency. Butter has steadied and there seems a possibility that prices may remain steady with a hardening tendency... ... These is little change to report m the overseas markets, pork and bacon being firm with prices good and the outlook reasonably good. The lamb market is slow but there is a good undertone and soni’e confidence “is displayed in the future. The meat market, as a whole, of course, is 'overshadowed by the conversation between the two Governments in regard to quotas and it is very difficult to make any forecast as. to what the future may hold. The boisterous weather prevailing during the week has brought with it welcome rains, and provided Taranaki gets its share of warm weather, the whole province "can look forward to an abundance bf feed: ' ' . The main attention during the week has centred, of course, in the bull fairs and realisations so far have been satisfactory, the prices realised being perhaps slightly in excess of what might have been expected under the circumstances. It is abundantly evident, however, that farmers are at last alive to the fact that careful selection of, a herd sire is of paramount importance, and the results' of the sales so far show that butter-fat, allied to constitution and character in a bull will command a ' much greater -figure than either constitution alone or butter-fat alone. , Those hulls of robust type with' quality and butter-fat backing, so that they could, be used for calf'marking, were commanding a far greater figure than those -without butter-fat backing. Tn the fat: cattle section, supplies are still very short, with prices firm and supplies of well-finished cattle very difficult to get. The supply of local farmers fat cows ex the dairy herd is now almost negligible, and local fatteners are finding -it hard to-keep up with the demand. Sales made during the week include:— Fat heifers £5 10s to £6 .15s (fight), £7 to £7 10s (good), £7 15s to £8 (prime),’fat cows £5 10s to £6 15s (medium), £6 10s to £7 (good medium), £7 10s to £8 (good prime). The demand -for fat sheep has eased and prices kave come -back accordingly. Sales of fat ewes have been made at 2&, 23s and 24s Gd, with the average price at about 23s for good sheep. Fat wethers are accordingly difficult to sell. Prices are only nominal as little business-has been transacted in this section. Attention in the store" sheep section has been directed to forward delivery, buying, , but vendors have a most optimistic view of the..lamb market, and no business of any consequence has been transacted. Inquiry exists -for good fines of ewes for January delivery, but here .again, vendors do not know what to ask and, there is too wide. a.gap between vendots and purchasers for any business to result at the present time. A number of sales of ewes with lambs at .foot , have been effected, .the average price for ewes with 100 per. cent.? of lambs.at foot being. 28s 6d to 32s M depending on the age of the ewe-and . the quality, of. the pro-

geny« >.< /' rr.-" In .the -store- cattle . section, the. chief interest ••in < Taranaki. ja r centred -in the Jersey pearling heifer,: and- two or three big lines have been put together by outside buyers during- the week. One line of 90 changed hands at approximately £2 155,. another, big line,at. £2 12s 6d, with smaller lines at from £2 5s to £3 2s 6d. Station cattle are inquired for all over the province, but quotations in Taranaki are almost impossible to obtain and purchasers have to look to outside centres to supply their requirements. Here, again, prices in outside centres seem very high and the purchaser from this province has.the added difficulty of freight to contend with. However,’there sems to be some optimism in regard to the future of the. beef market, and it will be interesting to see whether this io justified. Sales of very forward, cows have been made up to. £4, with others at £3 .to £3 10s. A line of bullocks changed hands at d 35 10s, With others at £5 and £5 ss. The sale is reported of a big line of three-year-old steers at £4 17s. A' good line ,of 100 yearling heifers (P.A.' and LJ Hereford) changed hands at £2.12s 6d and yearling steers at £3 15s. Tn the dairy section, prices have firmed With supplies bf good cattle very difficult to find, practically. only tail-ends coming forward. The pig market is steady with increasing supplies, a firming tendency , being apparent. At the successful Hawera horse fair last Saturday .prices showing perlftps a slight easing on the fair held a month ago for the .heavier sorts, good unbrokettS and Waggon horses still in very keen demand. The- sale-of thoroughbreds was disappointing, some exceptionally wellbred fillies being almost given away.

At the Opunake sale on Monday, considering the very adverse Weather ■ conditions, a good yarding came forward and satisfactory realisations were made. Springing heifers (good) realised' £6 10s,- £7-,. with calved heifers (good) ,at from £5 5s to £5 10s, others from £4 15s to £5 15s, springing cows making about the same money. Small lines of yearlings sold, at £2 Is. Beef was again in 'keen demand and bidding was brisk, fat cows realising £4 10s to £4 19s, forward cows and heifers £3, £3 10s to £3 18s, good paddock cows £2 2s to £2 12s 6d, store cows changing hands at late rates. The weather conditions limited the entry of pigs to a small yarding which sold well at late , rates.

The Manaia sale and bull, fair drew one of the largest- yardings for . some time. Included in the offering were dairy cattle, store cattle and bulls which were yarded in large numbers. The first offering of bulls for the district was the centre of much interest. Top grade bulls changed hands at six guineas and eight guineas, with others'at five guineas, a few pedigree two-year bulls on account of Messrs. Sheat and Son selling for 10 ln the dairy section, a large entry changed hands at the following prices: Springing heifers £5 10s, £5 15s to £6, calved heifers £4 15s,- £5 to £5 10s, dairy cows £7, £7 5s to £B, others £5 15s. In the store cattle pens, some very fresh, good-conditioned cows were submitted for sale as well as a few prime fat young dairy cattle. These were eagerly sought after and prices remained at a high level. Prime fat cows changed hands at £7 ’to- £7. ss, ..fat and forward cows £5 5s to £5 15s, less forward sorts £3 Ils to £4, paddock cows (good) £2 6s to £2 10s. A small yarding of pigs sold at latb rates. The Ha.wera Jersey Cattle Clubs pedigree bull fair was a most successful sale. The firm’s entry of the 110 bulls consistedof 64, of which it was able to dispose of 51. Prices.of good yearnings ranged from 10 guineas to 20 guineas, and good two-yegr-olds from 15 to 25 guineas. At the Hawera sale an exceptionally heavy yarding of pigs came forward and met a ready sale at late rates. The store cattle pens were all filled, a good sale resulting for forward paddock cows and fat-.cows. The specially advertised fat cows comprising light fat P.A. heifers sold at £3 15s and medium cows at £7. A good yarding of dairy cattle came for-

ward, good sorts close -to profit meeting a ready market'at £5 to,£6, but-back-ward or inferior sorts were very difficult to sell and quite a number changed hands at £3 to. £4., A few . pens of yearling- heifers sold well,' prices ranging.. from £2 to £3, A small yarding of fat sheep, came .forward and a; total' clearance was. effected, prices being: Fat we- . thers 26 to 27s 6d, fat ewes 22s to 235, fat hoggets 20s 6d- .to 245. In the store pens, good paddock cows hiade 25s to 355, fat cows ex dairy £3 10s to £5 10s, empty two-year .heifers 35s to . £3, 15s, two-year P.A., and Hereford heifers £4 2s 6d. In the pig pens,'4oo pigs were, yarded and with the exception Of a few pens a total clearance was effected, with a keen demand for sows to farrow.