MARKETS REVIEWED

Taranaki Daily News, 23 February 1935, Page 11

MARKETS REVIEWED

LIVESTOCK IN TARANAKI WEATHER AFFECTS OPERATIONS. SHEEP PRICES REMAIN FIRM. The New Zealand Lbafi and Mercantile Agency Co.-Ltd. reports:— Business during the .week has been somewhat dull owing tb the very dry conditions. Values in the sheep section of the market have remained firm, breeding ewes being the chief source of business. Good five-year ewes are firm at about 'to 21s, with a very strong demand. Now that rain has fallen a better demand can be expected for store and forward lambs, which were rather dull of sale before, a number of farmers being finable tb buy bn account of shortage of feed. Supplies of store lambs Will now be difficult to obtain, and prices are bound to be higher for the better class. Fat cattle are not in great demand. •Butchers' ate buying fat cows from the dairies at very reduced prices, and. consequently the better class of P-A» and Herefords are neglected to a certain extent. Store cattle are very hard to sell arid boner and cull cows ite being practically given away. There is also, a slump in prices of works bulls, which are realising values that have not been sb lbw for very many years. There is nb move in the weaner heifer market as yet, as Taranaki’s chief source of -inquiry, the Waikato, has been burnt up, and it will be some time before feed is sufficiently advanced tb warrant buyers ffbffl that province operating. At this time of the year there are usually a few inquiries for in-calf heif■ers from outside districts, but sb far nothing has teen done in this section of the maYkfet. Feed conditions in the Waikato account for this, as’ with the weaner .heifer. Prices for all classes, of pigs have eased, chiefly owing to the milk supply gdifig down sb rapidly/' weaners being the chief class affected. Light porkers and big stores are selfing readily, but at a reduced price. There is not a good demand for horses at 1 the present time,-it being the -off sea-, son of -the year. STEADY WEEK’S TRADING

FAT SHEEP RISE AT HAWERA. MANY BREEDING EWES SOLD. The Farmers’ Co-operative Organisation Society reports that a very steady week of trading has been, experienced despite the dry conditions existing in the southern part of the district. North Taranaki has been very much more fortunate than the south portion of the province as far as rainfall is concerned) hdavy rains in the early part of the week benefiting pastures considerably. - Values of dairy produce have failed to maintain the high levels ruling in the firm’s last report, butter falling back to 85s on a quiet market with the cheese market dull at 47s 6d. Perhaps the fulfilment -of the United States order, together with the Reported increased gradings of the Australian product, have had the effect of easing values slightly, although the outlook generally is much brighter than for some considerable time. Values of wool remain firm at most centres With ho ■’ appreciable rise being apparent. The beginning of the week saw a re-i. duction in schedule for all classes of fat sheep. The works value of fat ewes to-day is 145,. with best , wethers at 24k and lambs at 7jd bVer all. Fob." local requirements, sales of fat eWes have 'been affected at from 16s to 168 6d, with fat wethers to 255. Values of fat Cattle remain oh a par with those’ ruling in the last report, sales including two trucks Of extra prime P.A. heifers-at £6, three trucks of extra prime P.A. and Hereford heifers at £6, and a line of 55 P.A. heifers 'and cows at £5 12s 6d. Sales of Ox- beef include a line Of 60 bullocks at £6 10s. Despite the feed conditions generally a surprisingly good demand has been maintained for all classes of store sheep. Lambs remain in keen demand, sales since the last report including 350 woolly b.f. lambs at 17s, 250 woolly b.f. lambs at 17s, 150 extra good woolly b.f. lambs at 17s 6d; 220 woolly bi. lambs at 16s; 150 ewe lambs at 15s 9d; 110 ewe lambs at 14s. Breeding ewe requirements Continue to play a big part in the business, sales including . 280 mn. ewes at 235; 110 2tooth eWeS (medium), at 255; 100 2-tOOth ewes (medium), at 23s 6d; 250 4 and 5year ewes, at 21s; 300 s.m. ewes at 15s ' 6d; 120 5-year eWes' at 20s, with sales at all centres attracting large entries. Keen competition has been the order of the day. Taranaki values remain, however, on a slightly lower level than those ruling in other centres. Since the last report tittle inquiry has existed for Store Cattle, the usual inquiry for Jersey calves being much later than usual. . . The annual sheep fair at Tokirima took place on Monday last, when considerably more than the advertised numbers came forward. There was an excellent attendance of buyers from all Over Taranaki, also from the Waikato, resulting in a highly successful sale, and -with the exception of three lines of ewes, the whole ■ of the offering was • disposed of under the hammer. Competition was strong for good lines of breeding ewes, particularly 2-tooths, and keen demand also existed for all classes of lambs, prices in most cases being in the Vendor’s favour. Two-tooth ewes made 25s Id, 25s sd, 28s 9d to 30s 2d; 4 and 5-year owes, 2OS 4d, 21s 2d to 21s 6d; f.m. ewes, 17s, 19s Id, 19s 3d, 19s lOd, to 21s; poorer sorts, 12s 9d, 13s 6d to 16s; ewe lambs, 14s 6d to 15s 8d; wether lambs, 12s 3d to 13§ 6d; b.f. lambs, 16s 6d; cull me. lambs, 10s Id, 10s 6d, Ils Id to 12s; Southdown rams, £2 2s to £4 4s; aged Romney fams, £1 Is to £2 2s. At the Kakaramea sale oh Monday there was a good yarding of store cows and bulls, and spirited bidding resulted in a total clearance under the hammer at satisfactory prices. Forward cows realsied £2 6s, £2 12s, £2 18s, £3 4s to £3 10s, and store cows and bulls changed hands at ruling rates. A fair yarding of-store cattle and bulls came forward to the Opunake sale on Monday, with a small entry of fat lambs and a few weaner pigs. WeanCr pigs made 6s, 8s 6d, 10s 6d to 12s 6d; fat lambs, 22s 6d to 245; forward cows, £3, £3 ss, £3 10s, £3 15s to £4, with store Cattle and bulls changing hands at late rates. ■ At the Manaia sale on Tuesday there was a good yarding of store cows' and bulls and a fair entry Of pigs. In the pig section weanets made 8s 6d, 10s 6d to 12s 6d, and Stores 15s, 17s 6d to 20s. Forward conditioned cows made £2 ss, £2 15s, £3 5s to £3 15s, and store cows and bulls at prevailing market rates. I A’full’ yarding of sheep.-came; forward and was offered in torrential rain at Hawera on Thursday. Lambs were in short ’ supply, but strange to say the market showed no appreciation on late rates, despite the welcome rains. Ewes, however, firmed considerably and can be quoted at prices from 2s to 3s ahead Of prices ruling at this fixture a fortnight ago, all classes sharing in the rise. The Sale for fat cattle was dull, practically no .buyers venturing into the open on account of the weather. Stere

cattle sold Well at late rates, whilst pigs, of which there was a big yarding, sold well, all classes participating in the general rise in values. Approximately 2000 sheep were sold and a complete clearance was effected. Good forward b.f. lambs realised 16s to 16s 6d; shorn (extra good), 15s to 16s 6d; medium, 12s fed to 14s; w.f. wethbr lambs, Ils 6d to 14s; cull lambs, 8s 9d to 10s; '2-tooth wethers, medium, 17s 6d; 2-tooth ewes, holdover, 19s 3d to 19s 6d and £1 0s 6d; breeding ewes account A. G. Robertson (annual draft), 5-year-olds, 19s sd; on account C.'Marsh (annual draft) five-year-olds, 21s; account T. Cocker, 18s Id; account Williams Bros., 20s 4d; account other vendors,.4 and 5-year ewes, 16s to 2fes; five-year ewes, 15s 6d tb 19s; aged eWes With only fair mouths, 10s to 13s 6d. Forward. conditioned steers changed, hands at £4; forward conditioned heifers, £3 ss, and store cattle at late rates. In the pig section, baebners (good) realised £3 Is; porkers, 30s 6d to 335; stores, 17s 6d, 18s 6d to 22s 6d; weaners, ■6s ,6d,. 8s 6d, 10s 6d to 13s 6d, and sows £2 ss. AMPLE FEED ASSURED BENEFIT OF HEAVY RAINFALL.

i REFLECTION EXPECTED SOON. ; Newton King Limited's stock market report for the week states that though considerable damage has been sustained throughout. the district by recent torrential rains, farmers will derive great ■benefit from them as a result of pasture ■growth having' bee'n re-kindled, /and its advance should be sufficient to ensure farmers of ample-feed supply for •the remainder of the autumn. The assistance this compensating feature will lend to the.five-stock market may be reflected in immediate operations; for activity prior to the change suggested ah increasing caution bn account of the limited nature of succulent feed. The past Week has witnessed the conclusion bf the main sheep fairs, and While the lamb- section has not retained the buoyancy .it exhibited at earlier fairs the market for the better-class of ewe has suffered no decline and prices •.at recent sales have been well up to the standard establised at opening sales;.ton the other hand a decided Weakening in : the . demand for the inferior ■ and aged ewes has been the order, and/somb.difAcuity has been experienced in their i disposal at vefidbrs’ ideas. Now that the' majority Of ’ sheep requirements have been satisfied a change to more activity in the store-cattle section is to be expected. Well-bred station cattle seem likely to meet a ready outlet but dairy classes seem destined to a slow market, for few are prepared to make commitments at remunerative prices to holders. In this regard the position Of the dairy produce markets has to be considered, and, while a receding tb -83 s and 84s is Shown in latest cables, the position to-day is much more encouraging than it Was at this period last year, but at the same time fluctuations are too frequent tb allow for a feeling of confidence to be created in the future of this industry. Quotations of dairy heifers for sale bn a forward delivery basis are now coming to hand, and most holders seem prepared, to accept a reasonable remuneration. Sales during the week include a line of 40 good quality 3-year heifers for June delivery at £4 10s. The weaner Jersey heifer market ife also slow to move. Few if any graziers seem prepared to make commitments until some definite market is established for their holdings of incalf cattle. However, NeWton King was influential in the disposal of a line of 120 average tb good quality Weaners to a northern buyer at an approximate Overage Of 25si Other private sales include 42 2-year P.A. heifers £3 2s fed, 350 5-year Owes at 19s 6d, 200 4-year eWfes at 236, 150 5-year ewes at 18s fed, 130 b.f. lambs at 16s and 100 2-tbbtb ewes at 275. Regarding export values for lamb and mutton it is hinted that a decline all round is nfear at hand, but nothing authentic is available. It has, however, been stated that, some buyers are operating bfl lambs at a reduction Of One farthing a lb., but as this is not general, the drop may be Occasioned by congestion Of space with those who have put it into effect. Values for ewe and wether mutton for home consumption have not changed, but current rumour regarding the stability of export fates creates a feeling of uncertainty, and Only immediate requirements are being satisfied. Wethers are quoted at from 25s to 265, while ewes sell at from 14s fed tb 16's, export values for both classes being slightly below these figures. Reviewing the position of the beef market, it must be said that its future is still surrounded by uncertainty. Earlier advice led to the assumption that the quota wafi to be abandoned and replaced by a levy of a half-penny per lb. but latest cables feveal that no definite policy has been established. Were a choice of the two proposals offered, the levy would undoubtedly be favoured, for more confidence would be created in graziers’ operations in the store cattle section. At the moment beef values are firm at late rates. Quotations for Well-bred heifefS range from £6 to £6 10s, while cows ate quoted at up to sgns. In the yards reasonably good competition is available for the younger well-finished Jersey and Jersey-cross sorts, and from £4 to £4 10s is the order, while Others sell at from £2 15s to £3 ss. Sales conducted Since the last report have included very small entries Of oddments in the store cattle Section, and these have sold at late rates. Sheep have constituted the entry in the main, and at Inglewood on Wednesday a • capacity yarding was handled, features of the sale being the good competition that was forth-coming for the better class of ewe, with the little support that the aged classes met. Lambs, too, were not as readily Sold as at previous sales at Inglewood. Generally speaking, however, a satisfactory clearance was effected. Four, five and six-year ewes made from 20s 6d to 21s 7d, sheep Of the same age but lesser quality and condition 18s Id to 19s Id, good quality 2-tooth ewes 30s, good framed sound month ewes 15s to 17s 3d, full to failing-mOuth Owes 13s 9d to 14s 4d, inferior and culls 7s 3d to Ils fed, prime fat woolly hoggets 265, fat lambs 21s Bd,' mixed-spx woolly iambs, good, 17s, good woolly wether lambs 18s 2d, good woolly ewe lambs 18s 4d, medium b.f. woolly lambs 13s 3d to 13s 4d, small to medium woolly ewe lambs 13s lOd to 14s Bd, medium wether lambs 13s Id to 13s lfed, cully sorts 8s Id, 8s fed to 10s Id. Rams were in good demand, and the good entry yarded Sold under spirited competition throughout. Shearling Romneys made to £4 4s and £5 ss, and older sheep of the same breed up to 2Jgns, good Southdown rams 5 to 6|gns, medium 3 to 4gns, older sorts 2gns to 2fgns, and aged £1 to £1 10s.

At the Urenui sheep fair on Monday the full advertised entry came forward, and while the majority of the entry consisted of the aged alid inferior class of ewe, the outstanding feature of the sale was the good competition that was forthcoming for young ewes. Four and fiveyear ewes made from 21s 6d to 23s 6d, average 2-tooth ewes 255, mixed age ewes 20s lOd, aged sound mouth ewes 12s 8d to 13s Bd, culls 6s 6d to 10s, fat wethers 235, fat ewes 14s 3d, 2-tooth wethers, small, 19s 3d, good 21s to 22s 4d„ good wether lambs 14s to 14s Bd, average m.s. Woolly lambs 14s 3d to 14s Bd, medium wether lambs 12s to 12s 9d, others 9s to 9s 9d, small ewe lambs 10s 9d, shearling Romney rams 2 to 3gns, aged 2(k to 30s. average weight fat

Jersey Cows £3 10s to £3 12s, lighterconditioned and older sorts £2 10s to £2 16s, boners 14s to 16s, weaner Jersey heifers 17s 6d. At the Stratford sale on Tuesday lambs were yarded in fair numbers, and a good demand existed for lots suitable for dairy farmers. The entry in the store cattle section was small and sold on a par with late rates. Quotations were: Shorn wether lambs, small 10s 9d to Hs 6d, medium b.f. lambs 14s, fat woolly lambs 20s to 225, sound-mouth ewes 14s 9d to 17s 9d, aged ewes 10s Id to 14s Id, shearling Southdown rams 2| gns, fat ■ Jersey cows £3 7s 6d, goodframed young store Jersey cows £1 to £1 Bs, boners Us to 12s 6d, potter bulls 10s to 15s. While no alteration has taken place in the export schedule for pork, there is a Weakening in the demand for most classes, large stores in good condition being practically the only class that excites keen bidding. At the New Plymouth haymarket sale yesterday a smaller yarding than usual came forward. but a slow sale was the order and prices were about bn a par with those ruling at last week’s fixture. Small stores made to 18s fed, good slips 15s tb 16s, others 12s 6d to 14s, choice weaners Ils 6d to 12s, good 8s to 9s 6d, small 6s fed to 7s 6d.