HIGHER LEVEL EXPECTED

Taranaki Daily News, 17 August 1935, Page 11

HIGHER LEVEL EXPECTED

BUYERS SHOWING KEENNESS. PROSPECTS IN DAIRY SECTION. Newton King Ltd. reports that although the district has again been subjected, to heavy rains, pastures generally exhibit benefit derived from the- milder conditions that have prevailed, and indicate what may be expected as spring becomes more definitely established. Anticipation of the improvement in this regard is manifest in operations in most branches of the stock market, especially the store sheep and cattle sections, and it would seem that the spring demand will create higher levels than were earlier anticipated, as values at present ruling in these two sections are, when all things are considered, all- that could -be expected at a later period. 1 The limited nature of quotations of store cattle more or less confirmed the opinion that the Dominion is faced with insufficient supplies to meet the- demand, and no doubt fear of not being able to fulfil their wants is occasioning the keenness to secure that has been displayed by graziers. However, it has to be remembered that, similar situations have been faced . before, and ps the market has improved so have hidden supplies been unearthed. This spring may prove no exception, and alarm, so early, may prove unjustified. The absence of entries of station cattle of any consequence from saleyards no doubt accentuates .the keenness of buyers, as a result of which few local quotations are wanting for change of ownership but through lack of quotations business during the week, outside the odd lots submitted at auction, has been nil. An appreciable feature of activities at auction has been the better demand that has been in evidence for the younger class of Jersey cow displaying frame and, while values have not shown any great advance, improvement has been noticeable. Regarding the yearling Jersey heifer section, it can be said that this class is. not wanting for buyers, but a decided preference is displayed for the best quality cattle. However, supplies do not seem over plentiful and as the demand shows an increasing tendency and little scope for discrimination is available general improvement for this class may be expected. It should not be long before those that are now more or less passed over find a more ready market. Good quality cattle that have been reasonably well done are saleable at from £2 7s 6d to £2 12s 6d, average to good sorts £2, lesser bred £1 12s Gd to £1 J ss. Little demand is in evidence for inferior sorts. Hold-over heifers are also popular, and from £1 5s to £1 10s

is the order for good cattle, while others sell at from 12s to 17s. Business in the store sheep section has been marked for a sharp appreciation in values for hoggets, While sales where breeding ewes ha.e been included have also shown some improvement in realisations. As with store cattle, quotations offering in this section are not sufficient to meet the demand, and it can be said that this is to some degree responsible for the appreciation of the market for, apart, from the slightly brighter outlook for wool, no other happening likely to create any improvement can be reported. Sales by private treaty include 200 average to good wether hoggets at 18s 6d, 130 medium ewe hoggets at 225, 126 medium ewe hoggets at 22s 6d. Evidence of the increasing popularity of this class was shown at a special sale of sheep at Ohura on Thursday, when some 800 sheep of all classes were submitted. The sheep were in fair condition, the breeding ewes being well forward in lamb, and the results of the sale were considerably in advance of expectations. Two hundred and two 4-year ewes mated to Romney rams made 29. s 3d, 130 6-tooth ewes mated to Romney rams 31s 6d, 96 4-tooth ewes 34s Id, 100 hold-over 2tooth ewes 255, 117 ewe hoggets 21s 6d. At the Uruti sale on Monday the offering included some 300 hoggets, which were keenly competed for, and the sale proved more or less an education to buyers who had not witnessed a sale for some time. Average to good wether hoggets made to 18s 9d, medium 16s 9d, small mixed sex hoggets 15s 7d, small to medium ewe hoggets 21s 7d. Higher levels earlier established in the beef market have been fully maintained and it is expected that yet higher levels will rule at no distant date as quotations have been depleted to a degree that suggests’ a shortage. Sales by private treaty since the last report include 24 fat P.A. heifers at £7 ss. Values for the oddments offering at auction are very firm, but few prime sorts are included. The best of the Jersey and Jer-sey-cross'cattle sell at from £4 10s to £5, while lighter sorts realise from £3 15s to £4, plain to killable £3 to £3 10s. No alteration in values in the fat sheep section can be expressed, but as each week further depletes supplies it would not be unreasonable to expect a slight improvement in values in this section. At the moment, fat ewes are saleable at from 17s to 18s, fat wethers 23s to 24s 6d, with some holders quoting aS high as 265. A feature of trade in the dairy cattle section has been the much better results that have been shown during the period when better weather conditions prevailed, and it seems obvious that this is all that is required to create a marked improvement in realisations. Little business is being negotiated privately and some heavy yardings have been handled at auction. The absence of well grown heifers encourages the purchase of the better class cow and where quality and condition is displayed keen competition is the order. Generally speaking, entries in this section exhibit signs of the severity of the winter and lack of bloom makes many lines difficult to dispose of at remunerative figures. Sales by private treaty during the week included truck lots of average to good cattle at up to £5, with lesser bred and' more backward sorts selling at from £4 5s to £4 15s. At the Hawera sale on Thursday an average entry was penned, good quality cattle well done being in strong demand. The best of the heifers close to profit made from £6 to £7, while medium ’sorts sold at .from £4 5s to £5 and others £3 to £4.

At Douglas on Monday entries were unusually heavy ■ in both the sheep and cattle sections, and a bright sale, especially in the sheep section, is reported. The sheep were off poor country and were of average class and in fair condition. In the cattle section weaner and empty heifers met with a ready sale, while the usual assortment of works and hold-over cattle was disposed of at late rates, cattle carrying condition finding most favour. Average quality is all that can be said of the dairy cattle penned and in this section were on a par with late rates. Mixed age ewes mated to Romney rams , made to 28s lid, 4 and 5-year sheep 265, small to medium ewe hoggets 17s 6d to 19s, weaner Jersey heifers of the crossbred type and a, little small 24s to 255, 2-year empty Jersey heifers 38s to £2 2s, works cows 20s to 255, paddock cows Jersey type 27s 6d to 33s 6d, meaty sorts £2 6s to £2 13s, killable £3, prime £5 7s, Jersey and Jersey-cross cows close to profit £4 to £4 10s, backward tc medium sorts £2 to £3 ss, medium quality springing Friesian cows £3 10s to £4, calved Jersey cows £3 10s to £4 ss, 3year springing Jersey heifers of medium quality £3 7s 6d to £4 10s, 2-year cattle, somewhat small and light in condition £2 17s 6d to £3 15s. Entries in the cattle section at Ohiira left a lot to be desired by way of breed, and were somewhat difficult to quit. Crossbred breeding cows and heifers made to £2 9s, yearling P.A. heifers £1 18s, mixed sex weaners P.A. cross £1 18s, rough steers £3.

At the Uruti sale on Monday, tho entry included a line of weaner P.A. Stoss cattle, and despite the fact that they were somewhat weedy they were keenly competed for, the steers making £2 7s, while the heifers realised £2 3s. Offerings at the Hawera and Waiwakaiho sales on Thursday consisted of the usual oddments in the store cattle section, but at both sales a slight improvement was noticeable for the better class of young Jersey cow. Realisations at this fixture ranged as follow:. Fat cows ex the dairy £4 10s, £5, lighter £3 10s to £3 15s, paddock cows Jerseys 30s to 37s 6d, works cows 25s to 28s, boners Ils to 20s, rough to medium yearling Jersey heifers 25s to 355. Some inconsistency in pig realisations has been observed during the week, prices at some centres showing a decided drop on the previous week’s figures. This was most pronounced at the New Plymouth haymarket sale on Friday when a full yarding was penned, but with the exception of killable pigs prices were some shillings lower than the preceding

Friday’s sale. Choice weaners made from 15s 6d to 17s, good 12s 6d to 14s, lesserbred 11s, slips 15s to 19s, porkers £2 Is, lighter to good quality £1 14s, large stores in good condition 27s to 29s 6d, smaller sorts £1 Is to £1 2s. MARKETS HARDENING REFLECTION IN TARANAKI. FIRMER TONE FOR DAIRY CATTLE. The Farmers’ Co-operative Organisation Society in its weekly review, reports a hardening in values of most commodities on the English market during the the week, with an upward reflection of all classes of stock connected with the same locally. The weather for the main part has been particularly mild, resulting in quite a freshening of pastures. Values of both butter and cheese have continued to display the firming tendency of the past few 1 weeks, the latter commodity especially taking a sudden rise to 49s 6d. Stock positions of both continue to improve, paving the way to more solidity in values in the future. The improved outlook of dairy markets, together with more spring-like conditions, can be attributed to the firmer tone ruling in values of both dairy cows and heifers close to profit and to the optimism of those speculating in more backward sorts. Wool values continue to remain firm with no material change on those ruling in last week’s report.

All classes of fat stock continue to display a firm tone on the Smithfield rtiarket, with local values inclined to harden. It is difficult to account for the discrepancy in values of chilled beef as against those of the frozen article, especially in view of the preference being shown locally for the former. Since last reporting, values of fat ewes have remained firm at from 17s 6d to 18s 6d, sales including two trucks of prime sheep at 18s. The inquiry for wethers is rather- spasmodic and sales have been made at up to 14s 6d. Fat cattle continue to display a firming tendency, sales including a line of 30 prime cows and heifers at £7 with quotations very limited. A further early appreciation in values in this market seems likely. As far as store sheep are concerned, business in this section remains limited, due entirely to lack of quotations. Landing in most districts has begun in earnest, with the result that quotations of ewes will be obviated for a few weeks. Both ewe and wether hoggets are difficult of quotation, holders of the latterraising their quotations up to 20s, with as yet business difficult enough to transact at this figure. * Business, in the store cattle section has been of some magnitude during the week. Sales by private treaty include 200 5 and 6-year P.A. bullocks at £6 10s with a further 50 rising 3-year steers at £5 15s.

All classes of dairy stock continue to display a firm tone, really “top” heifers every - day becoming more difficult to procure. Sales since the last report include 12 good 2-year heifers to a South Island buyer at £5 10s, 12 good 3-year heifers at £5, 14 good 3-year heifers at £5 ss, together with odd lines at from £4 15s to £5 10s.

Large entries at all centres continue to nteet with strong competition as was shown at Inglewood on Wednesday, just on 100 selling under the hammer at enhanced values on recent rates. Yearling heifers continue to find favour with here again “top” cattle becoming more difficult to obtain. Values of “top” cattle remain firm at from £2 10s to £3, smaller sorts 35s to £2, holdovers 27s 6d to 30s. All classes of pigs continue to meet animated competition, large entries coming forward at all sales. Best porkers changed hands during the week to £2 SS, light porkers 30s to 355, large stores 25s to 28s, smaller stores 18s to 225, weaners 12s Gd to 16s. At the Waverley sale last Friday a fair yarding of store cattle and a good yarding of dairy cattle came -forward. The following were some of the realisations: Dairy cows £3los, £4,'. £4 10s, £5, dairy heifers £4 15s, £5, £5 5s to £5 10s, fat cows (a line of nine disposed) £5, forward P.A. cows and heifers £4 7s, forward conditioned steers £5 2s, store cows 15s, 23s to 365, bulls to 30s. At the Okaiawa fixture on Monday a medium yarding of dairy and store cattle came forward for auction, the former meeting a very hard sale and the majority of the offering being passed in. Store stock sold well at late rates. Realisations were: Three-year springing heifers £5 2s 6d to £5 ss, calved heifers £2 10s, £3 15s to £5, boner cows 15s to 235, works cows 27s to 30s, 37s to £2 10s, fat cows to £5.

At the Stratford sale on Tuesday there was a large yarding of dairy cows and heifers together with a moderate yarding of store cattle. There was a good attendance but only high-class heifers and cows in good condition were keenly sought after. Following were the realisations: Good 3-year dairy heifers (close to profit) £5 15s, £5 10s, £5; good twoyear dairy heifers, £5, £4 10s and £4; springing dairy cows, in good condition, £6 ss, £5 10s and £5; calved cows, £3 15s and £3 10s; calved heifers, £5 10s

and £4 10s; store cattle selling at late rates. ’ ' .

The Stony River sale bn Tuesday drew an average yarding of all classes of cattle and a total clearance under the hammer was. effected.; A brighter' market was shown for dairy cattle, especially with any showing well down and in good condition. Realisations, were: Fat cows to £4 Ils 6d,' lighter sorts to £3 19s; paddock cows to £2 ss; store cows to £1 7s; boners 16s to 19s; empty heifers to £1 18s;. dairy heifers to ; £4; dairy cows to £6. ■' :■•■■■■ ;

At the Inglewood sale on Wednesday a large-yarding of all-classes of'cattle came forward wi|h another ■ Jafge entry of dairy cattle. A total clearance under the hammer was effected. Close up cattle met spirited competition and showed an appreciable rise on late rates. Realisations were: Fat cows to £4 13s; lighter sorts to £3 17s; paddock cows £1 17s 6d to £2 4s; store -cows £1 4s to £1 Ils; boners 15s to £1; dairy heifers to £7; dairy cows to £7. At the Manaia sale on Tuesday a large yarding of exceptionally good dairy and store cattle came forward, an extremely brisk sale resulting with prices ranging a little above late rates. Mr. Fred Reardon again yarded a fine line' of dairy cows and heifers, which changed hands at prices ranging to £6 10s for heifers which had calved. Other calved heifers realised £4 ss, £4 15s, £5, £6 to £6 10s; springing heifers, £3 15s, £4 15s, £5, £5 10s to £5 15s; springing cows £3 10s, £4 10s, £5, £5 -15 s, £6 to £7; calved cows £5, £5 ss, £5 15s to £6. A large entry of store cattle changed hands at late rates.