RECEDING IN VOLUME

Taranaki Daily News, 24 November 1934, Page 11

RECEDING IN VOLUME

■ GENERAL POSITION OF MARKETS. MOST INTEREST IN STORE SHEEP. Newton King Limited’s stock market report for the week ending to-day states that- the districts need of rain is fully exemplified in the benefit it displays through the welcome change in weather that was experienced earlier in the week. To a week ago the position in this regard was becoming serious, as the dry spell had not only occasioned a receding in milk yield but had 'lso hindered the advancement of lambs to some degree. However, the rains have re-kindled the growth of young succulent feed, and its reflection is voiced by notes of appreciation on all hands.

In general, a receding in the volume is noticeable. Most interest is centred in the store-sheep section, and present indications point to a ready disposal of all surplus sheep when their marketing is more seriously entertained. All things considered, business in t’ ’ branch on a forward-delivery basis has been all that could be expected, and present indications suggest that those who have not wanted for, courage may have occasion to rejoice over their wisdom in purchasing on this basis. Prediction as to future values would be unwise, as the stability. of the lamb market, together with wool values, will be governing features. However, the wants seem likely to be greater than the preceding year, and as each week further depletes, available supplies, the satisfying of the demand may yet play, an important part in later realisations. 'At the moment all classes are readily absorbed, but lack of quotations hinders trade' to some degree. -

Changing by private treaty during the week includes 400 2-tooth ewes at 27s and 200 at 27s 6d, while smaller lines have changed hands at from 26s to 275. The Aria sale on Monday drew a small yarding of -shorn 2-tooth wethers, and these realised up to 21s 4d, while mixedsex 2-tooth made to 23s 2d. The store-cattle section is not wanting for inquiry, but lack of quotations occasions difficulty in satisfying it, and the benefit to pastures as a result of recent rains should result in a firm market for some time to come. The markets generally are bare of station-bred cattle and - back-country farmers continue to compete for the better-class of .the , young reject cows that are coming forward to the fortnightly sales in fair numbers, and values are firm at late rates. Yearling ' ietstiy heifers are being yarded in moderate numbers/ but few choice lots are now, available. However, despite the lateness of the season, inquiry is strong enough to absorb the offerings at values on a par, with late rates. The Aria sale drew an average yarding, which included some well-bred station yearlings. Keen interest was displayed in the offering and realisations for well-bred cattle were i: advance of expectations. Tn fact- the sale throughout revealed that there. is still a, good demand for all classes of stores. Wellbred yearling P.A. steers made from £3 Is to £3 9s, good-quality P.A. and Short-horn-cross £3 8s 6d, poor P.A. yearlings £2 .to £2 2s, yearling Shorthorn steers £2 17s 6d, 2-year P.A. steers, small, £3 12s, mixed-coloured 3-year steers £3 14s, Jersey-cross yearling steers £1 10s to £1 11s, 2-year mixed-coloured " empty heifers £1 16s 6d, yearling Jersey heifers of average" quality £2 ss, inferior £1 8s to £1 Ils.

In the fat-stock market little alteration in quotations for private treaty can be observed. Values at auction for good quality cattle are reasonably firm, but a receding in the inferior clashes is noticeable. That good-quality light cattle are preferred' was displayed in the keen competition that was in evidence for the entry of fat Jersey heifers that came forward to the Stony River sale on Tuesday. The best of these made to £4 19s, average £4 Is, light £2 18s to £3 9s. Quotations for Polled Angus and Hereford cows, ranged from £5 10s to £5 15s, while heifers of similar breed are quoted at from £6 to £6 ss. Operations in the fat sheep section by butchers display cautious . atmosphere, but no alteration in quotations has taken place since the last report. Ewes are quoted at from 15s to 16s, while wethers are available at from £1 4s to £1 4s 6d. Sales during the week include a line of. fat 4 tooth maiden ewes at 20s. The Hawera sale on Thursday drew an average yarding in all departments and a very free sale resulted. Fat shorn hoggets made to £1 2s 9d, fat woolly hoggest £1 4s 6d, store 2 tooth wethers 19s 8s to 20s sd, ewe hoggets, small, 20s 6d. Fat cows ex the dairy were keenly competed for, heavy sorts of good quality making from £5 to £5 10s, while lighter sold at from £3 12s 6d to £4, unfinished £2 15s, good-conditioned paddock cows of Jersey-cross breed £2 ss, good-framed young stores £1 8s to £1 19s, boners 15s to 20s, dairy cows of good quality. £4 7s 6d to £5, heifers £3 7s 6d to £4. These values are a fair indication, of those that have ruled'in the respective classes at both Stony River and Waiwakaiho sales, where small yardings were handled. Although there is a good demand for all classes of pigs, especially the larger sorts, there is a tendency for values for slips and weaners, with the exception of choice lots to show an easing. The New Plymouth haymarket sale on . Friday drew practically a full yarding, but values for slips and weaners were a little lower than the previous sale. Finished pigs and good quality stores met spirited competition and sold at late rates. Prices were: Porkers 35s to 38s, lighter 31s, good-conditioned stores 295, smaller sorts 23s to 255, good slips 20s to 225, others 17s to 19s, choice weaners 17s to 18, good 14s to 15s 6d, small 10s 6d to 12s 6d. STEADY TRADING WEEK MUTTON PRICES HARDENING. RAINFALL APPRECIATED, The Farmers’ Co-operative Organisation Society reports a quiet week of trading, business being confined mainly to the saleyards. Very welcome rain fell in the early part of the week, relieving the anxiety felt by many through the period of dry weather, which gave every appearance of lasting for a considerable time.. Production, which had started to show a decline, should now hold steady for a while. Prices for all dairy produce showed a slight decline during the week, this apparently being due to the new season’s arrivals starting to make themselves felt. A satisfactory feature of the market, however, is the decline in stocks in store —a factor which should have a bearing on the market at an early date. The latest cables to hahd with regard to the lamb market indicate that the plentiful supplies of domestic lambs are restricting the general sales of imported. However, a very good demand exists for new season’s shipment of Australian lamb with firm prices ruling. The sched-

ule for lamb locally remains firm with, if anything, a hardening tendency.. Reports with regard to the position of the wool market remain conflicting. Values are inclined to show a slight easing tendency, with a firm market ruling at the reduced level of prices. The European situation remains a disturbing factor in this market. Values' for all classes of pigs remain firm, all classes meeting keen competition wherever yarded. Values for both ewe and wether mutton remain firm with a hardening tendency reported. Sales of fat ewes include truck lots at from 14s to 16s for extra prime sheep and wethers at from 23s to 24s 6d. Values for all classes of fat cattle remain firm with a more plentiful supply available. Best prime fat heifers make to £6 10s and best prime fat cows to £6, with fat cows and heifers from £5 10s to £6. All classes Of store sheep remain in keen demand, quotes off the shears of young sheep coming on to the market. Sales of two-tooth ewes off the shears range from 26s 6d to 27s 6d, with twotooth wethers ’ 19s 6d to 20s 6d. Ewes with lambs at foot command attention. A line of young sheep with b.f. lambs at foot changed hands at £2, with a line of five-year ewes with b.f. lambs at foot aS 335.

Sales of lambs on a forward delivery basis include 300 shorn medium m.s. lambs at 14s 3d and 200 woolly wether lambs at 14s. t

During the dry weather the demand for most classes of store cattle eased somewhat, but with the beneficial rains a further demand is likely. Sales during the week include 80 P.A. cows at £3 10s, 40 3-year P.A. steers at £4 12s, 50 2-year P.A. heifers at £2 18s, and 50 yearling P.A. heifers at £2 6s. The demand for Jersey yearling heifers has eased somewhat during the week, fewer quotations coming to hand. As is usual at this time of the year, yardings at all centres show a decline.

At the Waverley sale on November 16 a total clearance was made. Store cattle made 30s to 355, paddock cows £2 5s to £2 14s and yearling heifers 36s to £2. At the Auroa sale on Monday there (vas a good yarding of store cows and a total clearance was made. Store cows made 18s, 225, 265, 30s; paddock cows £2, £2 4s, £2 Bs, £2 12s, fat cows £3 Is, £3 15s, £4 12s, £4 18s. At the Stony River sale on Tuesday a good yarding of all classes of stock, with the exception of dairy cattle, came forward, and practically a total clearance under the hammer was effected at late ruling rates. Realisations were: Fresh conditioned cows to £3 15s, lighter sorts to £2 17s 6d, sound bulls to £4 15s, works bulls to £l, springing heifers to £4 ss.

At the Inglewood sale on Wednesday a large yarding of all classes of cattle came forward and practically a total clearance under the hammer was effected. Cattle that did not meet the vendors’ reserve were mostly disposed of after the sale at satisfactory prices. Twenty horses wer*' submitted and met with a ready demand, a five-year gelding on account of Messrs. Barron and Manning realising £4O and an unbroken twoyear filly £36, while four yearlings realised an average of £2l. Prices were: Yearling Jersey heifers to £2 ss, holdover yearling heifers to £1 17s 6d, sound empty cows £1 ss, cows and calves £1 7s 6d, fresh ’ conditioned cows to £3, lighter sorts to £2 14s, sound bulls to £3, ewe hoggets to 26s 4d, wether hoggets to 23s 9d, springing heifers to £4, springing cows to £5 2s 6d.