BRISK TRADING PERIOD

Taranaki Daily News, 20 July 1935, Page 11

BRISK TRADING PERIOD

PRICES DEFINITELY IMPROVING. BOBBY CALF QUOTATIONS RISE. The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile 1 Agency Company, Ltd., reports a very brisk period of trading, with prices in most classes distinctly improving Pastees are decidedly improving for so early in the year and in any part of the district where paddocks have been closed for a while there is a good growth .of grass. However, conditions bn the average dairy farm are wet and soft and both ensilage and hay are still being fed by the dairy farmers to their stock. A pleasing feature to dairymen this year is that the works have increased the price for bobby calves to over double that of last year. London reports that both the cheese and butter markets are quiet. New Zealand choicest salted butter is quoted at 89s to 90s and cheese at 44s to 44s 6d. . h Cables recently reported in the daily papers disclose that a very satisfactory voluntary mutual agreement has been arranged between the British Government and the New Zealand and Australian Governments dealing with the meat quota, which will prove very beneficial to the lamb, mutton and beef trade. The prospects for wool seem to be exceedingly bright, and this statement is supported by the latest report from London on the recent opening wool sales, which reads: There was a good attendance at the opening, of the wool sales to-day, competition by home and Continental buyers being keen. As compared with last sales’ closing rates, prices are higher 2d to 2%d per lb for greasy merino, Id to lYad per lb for scoured merino, Id per lb for fine crossbred and %d per lb for medium and coarse greasy crossbred and crossbred slipe. The opening catalogues were' representative. Private sites in the paddock have been numerous and representative. Quotations for two-tooth wethers are scarce, but this week the firm disposed of a line of -200 at 20s each. Two-tooth ewes and mixed age ewes in lamb are still quoted on the high side and prospective buyers are very reluctant to be tempted to buy. A line of ewe lambs sold at 20s 6d. Fat ewes show practically no improvement in price, although sales were made as under: A line at 19s. 25 at 18s and 120 at 17s 6d. Sales of Other fat sheep include lines of fat wethers at 22s and 22s 6d.

The beef market is hardening all the

time and the firm disposed of lines of 20 fat cows at £5 10s and 20 heavy prime P.A. cows at £7. Beef will certainly reach higher figures by the time the spring months are encountered. Sales of store cattle in the paddock include 44 two and a-half year to four-year Polled Angus, steers at £5 5s 6d, 35 two and a-half-year to three and a-half-year Polled Angus steers at £5 5s and 16 two and a-half-year to three and a-half-year Polled Angus steers at £4 15s. Now that the clearing sale season has ended sales of dairy heifers in the paddock and in the yards are considerable, and prices have a very strong upward tendency. By private treaty a number of lines "of both two-year and three-year in-calf heifers were sold. Two-year-olds have been purchased at £5 2s 6d to £5 10s and three-year-olds at £4 15s to £5 10s. At the Douglas sale last Monday there was a mixed yarding of stock and a particularly good entry of dairy cattle. Competition was, keen amongst a good bench of buyers, 76 ewe lambs made 19s 2d, 37 wether lambs 15s, store cows 27s to 31S. Choice young Jersey back-country cows, early calvers, realised £4 to £5 and others £2 10s to £3 10s. There was an average yarding of stock at Stratford on Tuesday, when fat cows from the dairy sole for £4 6s, store cows £1 2s 6d to £1 Bs, and 13 mixed coloured yearling heifers realised 28s. Young average dairy cows made £3 10s to £4 10s and small backward in-calf heifers £2 10s.

At Hawera on Thursday there was an excellent sale in all sections, except the sheep, most of which were not a very good class. Pigs were in strong demand and prices were much" better than a fortnight ago. Slip pigs made 17s 6d to 18s, inferior sorts 12s to 12s 6d and small stores 23s 6d. In the dairy section good two-year-old Jersey heifers sold exceptionally well; a pen of four springing Jersey heifers and two calved heifers on account of Mr. K. C. Duckworth topped the sale. His springing heifers realised as high as £7 15s and his calved heifers sold up to £6 10s. The whole consignment averaged a little under £6. Young guaranteed sound dairy cows close to profit were purchased at £4 15s to £5. In the store pens works cows made 29s to 31s; fresh-conditioned cows £2 5s and fat cows ex the dairy £3 14s, and fat hoggets 24s 6d. Horses are keenly sought.