ENCOURAGING TREND

Taranaki Daily News, 31 August 1935, Page 11

ENCOURAGING TREND

TARANAKI STOCK SALES

REPORTS FROM AUCTIONEERS. SHORTAGE OF STORE CATTLE. ' Wintry conditions continue to prevail throughout the Taranaki district and stock in general-has little opportunity to regain bloom, states . the weekly market report of Newton King Ltd. It is noticeable, however, that where sales have been held in brighter weather a more speculative spirit prevails, suggesting that when spring becomes more definitely established animated scenes will be the order. The trend of the overseas markets for New Zealand’s primary products is encouraging enough to conclude that a favourable reflection may be expected, and one seems justified in predicting that levels eclipsing last season’s peak will result before the spring is far advanced as at the moment the primary govern-ing-feature—limitation of qualify this prediction, is much in evidence. ’

No appreciable alteration has been noticeable. Want of succulent feed is undoubtedly hindering trade but despite the delay in the advance of pastures, no weakening in the demand has been in evidence. The main feature of the week’s trading has been the magnitude of business. done with store bullocks, some 1100 having-changed hands by private treaty through the agency. This number includes one line of 450 Polled Angus, Hereford and Shorthorns. Prices in all cases have been satisfactory to sellers, and at the same time have represented an advance on those ruling at this/period last year. The scarcity of this class has permitted of little discrimination with buyers, as a result of which all breeds have enjoyed a free-sale. The sustained upward trend in the store cattle section, combined with want of quotations locally, has occasioned holders outside the district placing seemingly prohibitive values on their holdings. However, it has been observed from reports of sales of consequence that all classes are subject to keen competition,-especially yearlings ot the Polled Angus and Hereford breeds and, while the advanced rates ruling are hardly justified, it would appear that the appreciation is mainly occasioned by the fear , that as the spring advances still-high-er levels will- rule. The scarcity of station-bred cattle has turned the attention of graziers to the better class of young Jersey cow, and an appreciation in the realisations for these is the order. .Strong inquiry has also set in'for yearlings and two-year empty Jersey heifers and, while the position so. far as supplies, are concerned in this section is not quite so acute as is the order for- station cattle, it has to be admitted that both from a numerical and quality viewpoint supplies fall much short of those needed to satisfy the existing demand. The. position to-day is that few goodyearlings are-now-available at under £3. and while no keenness is displayed to purchase at this figure, present indications point to a freer market in the vicinity of this figure before long.' The position in this regard has been occasioned by the fact that little encouragement to breed’cattle suitable for dairy requirements has been offered; through the weakness of the dairy cattle market over a. period of years and, unless hidden supplies.. are. unearthed, ! the position to-day is favourable for those who continue their breeding operations. ./■ • • Little business-can be reported jn the store sheep section, '.lambing operations having held-up,-trade with ewes. There iSKbqwe-VM-j good-inquiry for hoggets of tenth perhaps ; being the. most popular, ./but-, quotations of the latter are very scarce and difficulty is experienced in - satisfying- requirements. Wether hoggets are,; however, quoted a little more freely, .’.but anticipation by holders of a further rise has occasioned an advance in quotations that makes completing dif-fic’ult;-most 'lines being quoted in the vicinity'- of *-20s. Sales include a line of 260 good wether-noggets at 20s and 186 at- 19s,' while. ewe hoggets have been sold at ; up to 255. The beef section continues on its upward trend, arid the position in Taranaki to-day suggests that local requirements will soon, have to be drawn from outside centres, as quotations of prime cattle are extremely difficult to locate. Fat cows and heifers are saleable at from £7.10s to £8 Os, and in some cases where extra good, cattle have been purchased, up to £9 has been paid. The appreciation of the market for fat sheep announced in the last report has been sustained, and holders are now a little more optimistic concerning the market. Outside centres where established markets are held indicate that the appreciation in this section is fairly general. Locally, fat ewes sell from 19s to 20s, while wethers are purchased at from 24s to 265.

in the dairy cattle section nothing other than unfavourable weather conditions is occasioning delayed action by buyers in this branch, for many cattle are undoubtedly wanted. Tire severity of weather conditions has taken heavy toll on the bloom of this class, well done cattle being conspicuous by. their absence from sale-yard entries. However, where quality arid size are displayed, keen bidding is generally the order, but those lacking these qualities are still difficult to dispose of. Little, business in this section can be reported through the medium of' private treaty and heavy yardings continue to be handled at all sale centres, but little alterations in realisations can be expressed. At Douglas sale on Monday, the quality of the yarding was a little above the average and a brighter sale resulted. Average to good quality springing Jersey cows made from £5 12s 6d to £6 2s 6d, medium £4 5s to £5, more backward and older sorts £3 5s to £3 17s 6d. Heifers were not yarded in large numbers and consisted of medium to small cattle, and sold at from £4 to £4 10s. The entry at Stony River on Tuesday included some good quality heifers that had been reasonably well done, and these were subject to spirited bidding, the best of them selling at from £5 5s to £6 ss, while crossbred cattle of average to good quality and in good condition sold at from £4 10s to £5, smaller cattle displaying quality £3 7s 6d to £3 15s. Those lacking size and condition, irrespective of their qual-ity,-were slow of sale and sold at from £2 12s 6d to £2 17s 6d. An average yarding came forward in the fat and store peris at this sale, heavy fat Jersey-cross cows making from £6 2s 6d to £6 12s 6d, lighter £4 7s 6d to £4 15s, killable £3 5s to £3 18s, young paddock cows of the Jersey and Jersey-cross breed, £1 17s to £2 ss, good, framed works cows £1 7s to £1 12s, boners 10s to 21s. The Rahotu sale on Monday drew an average yarding and a total clearance can be reported. Average to good quality springing heifers a little small made from £4 to £4 10s, lighter-conditioned sorts displaying quality £3 7s 6d to £3 15s, medium quality yearling Jersey heifers a little small £1 16s to £2, two-year empty Jersey heifers of good quality £2 4s 6d, others £1 Ils to £1 13s, paddock cows of the Jersey breed £1 11s to £1 13s, boners 10s to £1 Is.

The Hawera sale on Thursday drew a good yarding in all departments, but the inclemegit weather conditions hindered the sale in the dairy cattle section, and lower prices than the previous week s fixture were recorded.' Wether hoggets made from 19s 6d to 20s 3d, stere to for-

ward black-faced hoggets 18s, ewe hoggets 24s 9d, light fat cows ex the dairy £3 10s to £4 10s, paddock cows, Jersey and Jersey-cross breed £1 15s to £2, boners 14s to 235, average quality yearling Jersey heifers £2 to £2 ss, good quality springing heifers £3 to £5 15s, smaller, well conditioned and more backward sorts £3 lUs to £4 ss, good quality dairy cows £5 to £5 10s, others £3 to £4. Evidence of the good demand that continues for horses, especially those of the unbroken class, and genuine seasoned horses, was displayed at the Stratford spring horse fair, on Saturday. Unbroken horses were the main feature of the sale and some good realisations were recorded. Some high-class animals were also included in the seasoned class, and these met spirited bidding. Three-year fillies mqde from £25 to £4O according to weight and quality, geldings of the same age £2Z» 10s to £36, light two-year fillies £l3 10s to £l5 10s, heavy two-year geldings £26 to £3O 10s, while a good stamp of filly made £26. In the seasoned horse class an 8-year mare of good quality made £56, 4-year draught geldings £3B to £4O, aged horses £3O to £33, down to £l5. The pig'section has exhibited some fluctuation so far as realisations are concerned, over the past fortnight. At the New Plymouth haymarket Friday a capacity yarding was penned but, for some unaccountable reason, prices, especially for weaners, showed an easing of some shillings on those ruling at the previous week’s sale. Slips and large stores also suffered. Realisations were: Good porkers 32s to 345, lighter sorts 28s 6d to 29s 6d, good stores 245, smaller sorts 19s to 21s 6d, good slips 18s to 19s, others 15s to 16s 6d, extra choice weaners £1 7s 6d, good weaners 15s 6d to 14s 6d, average Ils to 12s, small 8s to 9s 6d. FRESH HIGH LEVELS FAT COW AND HEIFER PRICES. GOOD DAIRY CATTLE VALUES. The Farmers’ Co-operative Organisation Society of New Zealand Ltd. reports a steady week of trading with new high levels reached for values of fat cows and heifers locally. The weather for the most part has shown a slight improvement and, as far as South Taranaki is concerned, quite a growth has been experienced, especially on pastures top-dressed and closed early. Both butter and cheese values, which last week showed a slight easing, more than regained the ground lost, new high levels of 96s for butter and 49s 6d to 50s for cheese being reached. Both markets, especially the former, have shown. an appreciable gain on values ruling at the same period last year. The stock position of both commodities remains very satisfactory. ' Wool values continue to advance, South Island sales showing more interest in fleece wools at slightly firmer rates. Lamb and mutton values on the Smithfield market remain firrii with the outlook distinctly promising. All classes of fat stock continue to harden in values, sales by private treaty being all that quotations will allow. Sales of fat ewes, since the last report, include. 200 prime sheep at 20s, and odd trucks at from 19s to 20s, sales of wethers including two trucks at 24s 6d. Quotations of all classes of the cattle remain distinctly limited, sales since the last report including a truck of extra prime Hereford heifers at £lO, a truck of extra prime P.A. heifers at £9 10s, 36 prime P.A. heifers and cows at £7 15s, 20 P.A. heifers and cows at £7 10s.

All classes of store stock remain very, difficult of quotation. Quotations of ewe hoggets as- high as 30s are reported, with wether hoggets as high as 20s. Sales of . store bullocks of some magnitude is reported at up to £6 15s for five-year bullocks. .. . ■

Business in the-, dairy section has ..been practically confined to the yards where values have been slightly easier, due to the Jnclement weather conditions. The Inglewood sale on Wednesday, however, attracted a large entry of dairy cattle which met with a very ready sale at up to £6 10s. YEARLING HEIFERS. A keen, inquiry has existed during the week for good quality yearling heifers, sales by private > treaty including 60 cattle at £2 ss, 45 Jersey-Ayrshire cross heifers at 355, and odd trucks at 35s to £2 7s 6d. Sales at all centres have been well supported, large entries of dairy cattle coming forward. At the Waverley sale on Friday, August 23 a good yarding of dairy cattle and a fair, yarding of pigs was submitted. Competition was good throughout and a satisfactory clearance resulted. Realisations were: Fat cows, £5 to £5 17s ,6d; store cows, 31s, 35s to 38s; dairy cows (close to profit), £5 ss, £5 10s, £6, £6 10s, £7 to £7 ss; dairy heifers (close to profit), £5, £5 10s, £5 10s, £6 to £6 ss; more backward sorts, £3 15s, £4, £4 10s to £4 15s. An offering of 60 wether hoggets realised 17s 9d, and 50 ewe hoggets, 23s Id. In the pig section weaners changed hands at Ils 6d, 15s, 16s 6d to 18s.

At, the Okaiawa sale on Monday a medium yarding of both store and dairy cows came forward, both meeting a ready market, a total clearance being effected under the hammer. Realisations were: Spring cows, £4; calved heifers, £5; springing heifers, to £6; boner cows, to 255; works cows, to £2; fat cows, to £5.

There was a good yarding of store and dairy cattle at the Stratford sale on Tuesday. In the store cattle section good young holdover covzs came forward and met a ready sale. In the dairy section there was good competition for well grown heifers and there was a marked rise in the prices paid for calved cows. The following were some of the realisations: Calved cows, £5 15s, £5 7s 6d, £5, £4 12s 6d; dairy heifers (good), £4 ss, £4 10s to £4 15s; others, to £3 12s 6d. The Stony River sale on Tuesday drew a good yarding of all classes of cattle and, with the exception of the dairy section, a total clearance under the' ‘hammer was effected. The continued cold weather had an adverse effect on the demand for dairy cattle, which did not meet a ready market, but in the store section late rates were well maintained. Realisations were: Yearling heifers, to 365; fat cows, to £5 14s 6d; lighter sorts, to £5 6s; paddock cows, to £2 14s; store cows, to 30s; boners, Ils to 18s. At' the Manaia sale on Tuesday, a large yarding of store and dairy cattle came forward, a good sale resulting in the former, section, the dairies meeting with a “sticky” sale on the poorer lots though good quality cattle sold very well. Realisations were: Springing heifers, to £7;. calved heifers, to £5 15s; springing cows, to £5; calved cows, to £6 ss; boners, to 255; works cows, to £3; fat cows, £4 ss, £4 10s, £5 7s to £5 Ils; weaner pigs, to 18s 6d; stores, to 15s; porkers, to 32s 6d. At the Inglewood sale on Wednesday another very large yarding of all classes of cattle came forward and a good clearance under the hammer was effected in all classes. A keen demand is still evident for dairy cattle close to profit, and in the store section, fat cows and paddock cows met a more ready market. The inclemency of the weather was shown in the appearance of the cattle, but a most satisfactory sale in all sections resulted. Realisations were: Yearling heifers (best sorts), to £2 8s; others, 36s to 39s 6d; empty heifers, to £2 2s; weighty Jersey cows, to £4 ss; others, £3 12s 6d to £4: piddock cows,, £2 4s to £2 9s; store cows, 26s to 355; boners, 11s to 17s; dairy cows, to £6; dairy heifers (best), £5 5s to £6; medium

sorts, £4 10s to £4 17s 6d; others, £2 10s to £3 15s; m.s. hoggets. 21s to 24s 2d: wether hoggets, to 19s 3d. There was a moderate yarding of store and dairy cattle at the Eltham sale held on Wednesday. There were some particularly good dair. heifers offered and bidding was very keen throughout, prices realised being well in advance of those of previous sales. Realisations were: Choice dairy heifers, £6 ss, £6, £5 10s; medium heifers, £4 10s, £5 to £5 ss; others, £3 10s to £4; good dairy cows, .£5 to £5 15s; store cattle selling at late rates.