FIRM TONE MAINTAINED

Taranaki Daily News, 1 May 1937, Page 18 (Supplement)

FIRM TONE MAINTAINED

EXODUS Qf DAIRY HEIFERS. STORE SHEEP KEENLY SOUGHT. Thev Farmers' Co-op. in its weekly raview states that all sections of the stock business contiriue to display the firm tone ruling ' in the last . report. A change for the worse m weather conditions occurred ' over . .the week-end, but wi th the plentiful- supply -of feed' availabie everywhere this has had no- deterrent effect on - the inquiry for all classes of stock which reiriains at a higher lev'el than en-

joyed for many. years. The ■ exodus of dairy 1 heifers to outside districts . continues on a lhrge. scale, auguring well for nolders of this class of cattle - for local inquiry, indications being that values. - for .really top cattle at an early date will: show some appreciatjon. The first of the London . series of wool saies resulted in a - very satisfactory clearance at enhanced values.^ Dairy produce marktts . continue to. display a firm torie and, should this continue indications for an increase -in . the 'guaranteed price for next, season sceni definitely brignter. ' ■ An exceptionally keen inquiry exists for all classes of store sheep; the demand for ewes mated to either Southdown or Romney rams being out of all proportion to the supply available, ' with the result that any lines quoted are readily snapped up. Ewe hoggets continue to find favour at from 28s 6d to 31s for top sheep with wether hoggets at from 18s 6d to 21s for top sheep,' medium 16s to 17s 6d. Store cattle continue. to be freely inquired for, entries coming forward at saies, meeting with spirited competition. The scarcity of young cattle has been .particularly noticeable. Dairy! heifers saies since the last report include 30 choice 3ryear-old heifers for an early June lift at £9, odd trucks of 3-year heifers for immediate delivery at from £7 10s to £8 5s, . 36 good 2-year heifers for a middle of May lift at £7 10s, and odd trucks of good 2year heifers at from £7 10s to £8 for immediate delivery. Dairy heifers continue to be freely inqured for, saies including 32 good back country cows at £7 10s, 38. at £8 5s, 23 at £7 15s, and 50 at £7 10s, these all being for delivery towards the end of June. Jersey weaner heifers continue to find favour, saies of several truck. lots beipg made at from £3 5s' to £3 10s for top cattle, £2 12s 6d to £3 for more medium sorts. Yard saies at all centrds have attracted tremendous entries, a feature beirig the spjrited competition from the works for cows from dairy herds carrying condition, total clearances being effected m all cases.

The Hawera sale on Thursday attracted one of the largest yardings of cattle seen at Rawera for many years, some 700 head of cattle of all descriptions being offered for sale and every p?n being filled to capacity.' A special entry of 80 20-month heifers attracted corisiderable interest, being finally disposed of under the hammer at £5. Small 20-month heifers made £4 to £4 5s, ^0-month Shorthorn heifers £4 5s to £4 15s. Fat cattle showed a ' slight easing on the day due no doubt to the large offering and also to the fact that coming very limited, buyers not operatffig as early as previous saies. Best fat cows sold from £6 to . £6 17s 6d, forward cows £4 10s to £5 5s, store cows £2 10s to £3 10s. A special entry of dairy cattle was rather slow of sale, medium heifers selling from £5 to £5

15s, best Jersey weaner calves from £3 to £3 12s 6d, medium from £2 to £2 7s 6d. A large yarding for the time of year of sheep attracted considerable interest, one of the most spirited saies for some time resulting. Best ewe lambs sold to 30s 6d, medium from 24s 7d to 27s, extra prime fat ewes 25s to 27s 9d, extra prime - fat wethers 30s to 31s 6d, wether lambs selling from 17s to 17s 9d. A medium entry of pigs met with. a spirited sale, porkers makirig from .32s 6d to 35s, best stores from 21s to 26s, medium stores 18s to £1, weaners 7s',to 12s. The sale throughout was a 'particularly solid one", practically a total clearance. under. the_ hammer___being effected in all sections.