CATTLE FAIR.

Wairarapa Age, 21 October 1937, Page 7

CATTLE FAIR.

DALGETY & CO., LTD. Messrs Dalgety and Co., Ltd., report having held their second Spring Cattle Fair a.t the Masterton saleyards yesterday, when a full yarding of all station cattle came forward to a large attendance of buyers, who were present from Manawatu, Woodville, Pahiatua, Martinborough and local districts. Grown bullocks in forward condition were keenly sought after and found ready sales at late rates, while lower conditioned steers were harder of sale. This was noticeable in the young and female cattle. Fully the advertised numbers of fat cattle were penned and good quality beef cattle sold readily at late rates. We sold heavy fat bullocks on account of Mr. H. J. Nitz at up to £l3/10/, while the fat cow section was topped at £ll/3/ for a pen of well finished cows on account of Tikitapu Station, a consignment of quality cows on account of this station averaging lOgns. In the store section we offered on account of Weraiti Estate an exceptionally good line of 54 P.A. bullocks ‘in forward condition which changed hands at £ll 1/, this being the top pricfe of the day for store cattle. A choice pen of 3-yr. P.A. bullocks on account of Mrs. J. C. ftigley made £lO/15/, and similar pens sold on account of Messrs G. Moore and Sons made £lO/3/ and on account Mr. H. J. Nitz £lO. The following is a range of our prices:— Fat cattle: Heavy fat bullocks, £l2 7/ to £l3/10/; prime fat cows, £9/10/, £lO to £ll/3/; medium fat cows, £7 7/6, £7/15/, £B, £B/5/ to £9; light fat cows, £6/7/6, £6/10/, £6/15/ to £7/5/; do. fat heifers, £7/10/ to £9/15/. Store cattle: Grown bullocks made from £lO to £lO/3/, £lO/5/ and up to £ll/1/; 3-year-old steers, P.A. r £B/10/, £B/12/ to £lO/15/; 3-year-old steers, Hereford, £B/7/6 to £B/15/; 2-year-old steers, P.A., £7, £7/5/, £7/12/ to £7 17/; 2-year-old steers, Hereford, £7 10/ to £7/15/; yearling P.A. steers, £4 10/ to £5/7/6; 3-yr. empty P.A. heifers,. £6, £6/5/ to £6/9/; 2-yr. empty P.A. heifers, £5, £5/5/ to £5/15/ and £6/5/; yearling P.A. heifers, £3/12/6 to £4/1/; store cows in good forward condition, made £4/10/ to £5/12/6 and £5/14/; lighter sorts, £3/10/ to £4. F.C.D. COMPANY, LTD. The New Zealand Farmers’ Co-op. Distributing Co., Ltd., report:—We had an exceptionally heavy yarding. There was a large attendance but owing to the shortage of feed bidding was not nearly so spirited as at the previous fair. Fat cattle sold readily at late rates, but with the exception of a few lines of very forward 3 and 4-year-old steers there was a decided drop in prices for store cattle. This was particularly noticeably in yearlings and female cattle and a number of lines were passed at auction. The majority of these were subsequently sold and the bulk of our entry was cleared at the following prices:—Fat cows, £lO/15/, £9/17/6, £lO/10/, £8 15/, £lO/17/6, £6/15/, £6. £7/15/; fat heifers, £4; runners, £3/15/; 3-yr. steers, £B/16/, £B/5/, £7/11/, £7/5/; 2-yr. steers, £B, £7/10/, £7/7/, £6/10/, £6, £5/10/; 3-yr. P.A. heifers, £6/8/; 2-yr. P.A. heifers, £3/17/6, £4/6/, £4 9/; 2-yr. Shorthorn heifers, £4/9/; 2yr. Hereford heifers, £3/17/6; Red Poll yearling steers, £6; P.A. yearling steers, £4/15/, £5/5/, £5, £5/17/6; P.A. yearling heifers, £3 to £3/18/; Hereford yearling heifers, £2/2/6 to £3 18/; Red Poll yearling heifers, £3/6/; cows with calves at foot £2/2/6 to £3 18/. WEIGHT STEPHENSON & CO., LTD. Messrs Wright Stephenson and Co., Ltd., report:—We held our second Spring Cattle Fair at the Masterton yards yesterday, when a very big entry of cattle came forward. Our entry comprised 1043 head of all classes of cattle. Except for fat cattle and grown bullocks in forward condition, the market suffered a definite check. The absence of growth in the Wairarapa, especially on hill country, has made buyers very cautious. Conditions . have been practically the same in other districts, with the result that outside buyers were not operating with anything like the freedom of our first spring cattle sale. The lines most seriously affected were yearling steers and female cattle. At our last cattle fair yearling steers met with very animated competition and £6/10/ to £7 was paid for the best lines, while yesterday it was hard to get £5 for good well gr,pwn cattle. We consider store cows were back 30/ to £2 per head. Young female cattle were also hard to quit. Bullocks sold well and vendors were well satisfied with prices. Fat cattle also remained firm and butchers were keen for supplies. Following are realisations:— Fat bullocks, £l4/10/, £l3/10/, £l2; light, £11; fat heifers, £B/6/, £B, £7 17/6, £7/12/6; medium to light do., £6 6/; fat cows, from £7/10/ to £6 for forward condition.

Station lines: P.A. steers, £5/17/6, £5/10/, £5, £4/15/; Hereford steers, £4 14/, £4/11/, £4/7/6 to £4; Hereford heifers, £3/17/6, £3/15/, £3/13/, £3 4/ to £2/10/ for light small; P.A. heifers, £4. £3/18/, £3/16/, £3/10/ to £3 2/6; P.A. 2-yr. steers, from £B, £7/16/, £7/8/ to £6/6/; P.A. bullocks, from £8 10/, £B, £7/15/ to £7/7/. N.Z. LOAN & MERCANTILE. The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Co., Ltd., report:—At the second Spring Cattle (Fair held yesterday entries came forward well up to advertised numbers and the yarding was submitted to a good attendance from local and outside districts. Prices for young cattle were easier by about £1 per head while female cattle were cheaper by a similar margin, the recent dry spell of weather and resulting lack of growth of feed being the influencing factor. For grown cattle, however, prices remained about on a par with prices ruling at the previous fair and the demand in this section was good. Many pens of young

cattle remained unsold, vendors refusing to accept the lower prices offering. Fat cattle, of which there was a good entry, sold well at late rates. Wo quote prices as follow:—Best yearling steers, £6, £5/10/ to £5; smaller do., £4/11/ to £4/7/; small P.A. yearling heifers, £3/12/6; Hereford do., £3 17/; small 2-yr. steers, £5/12/0; store

P.A. cows, £4/12/6; fat cows, £9/10/, £B/15/ to £8; fat cows, ex-dairy, £6 to £5; mixed coloured cows with, calves, £3/15/. Sheep: Shorn fat wethers, 30/; woolly do., 40/6; woolly fat ewes, 30/6; lighter do., 26/; woolly hoggets, 26/; ewes and lambs, 18/ (all counted). Pigs: Well grown weaner pigs, 25/.