STOCK MARKETS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 77, Issue 82, 7 April 1934, Page 15

STOCK MARKETS

FEILDING SALE SUPPLEMENTARY CATTLE PAIR [ Per Press Association. ] FEILDING, April 6. At the supplementary cattle fair today over 3000 head were yarded. The market for young station cattle was very firm, though bullocks were not, so keenly in demand. The P.A. breed was most sought after. The fat ca.ttle market remains good. Fat and store sheep were firm at late rates. P.A. 2i-year steers, very (good, £4 4s to £4 12s; Hereford steers, 24-year, to £4 10s; other colours, good, £4 to £4 I6s; fair quality, £3 3s to £3 19>; eighteen months steers, good, P.A. lines, to £4 6s; others from £2 2s 6d to £3 18s; 24 and 3}-year steers, very good, £6 2s 6d; Red Poll stjers, good, £4 3s; mixed good steers, £4 to £5; prime quality Shorthorn steers, £5 14s to £6 2s 6d; heifers, 24-year, £2 10s; heifers, very good, eighteen months, £3 ss; Hereford P.A. cross heifers, £2 9s; Hcreford-Shorthorn cross heifers, £2 ss; four to five-year P.A. bullocks, £5 15s to £6 3s to £6 dOs; very good Here ford bullocks, £6; four-year bullocks, good, £4 4s to £4 8s 6d; inferior, £3 ss; Jersey wearier heifers to £2 ss; eighteen mouths to 355. Fat Cattle.—Primo fat cows to £4 15s; good light prime cows, £3 5s to £3 15s; P.A. prime cows, £4 14s; light prime fat heifers, £3 15s; good light heifers, £2 10s to £2 15s; prime heavy bullocks, £6; P.A. fat steers, £4 10s. Fat Sheep.—Prime heavy lambs, 20s Id to 26s Id; good, 17s to 19s 4d; ’ prime fat wethers, 24s 7d to 25g Id; good, 23s 3d to 245; b.f. two-tooth, 25s 4d; prime fat ewes, 18s to 19s 6d; lighz I from 15s 7d. THE TAIHAPE SALE. Messrs. Dalgety and Co. Ltd. report having held their usual fortnightly sale in Taihape on Wednesday April 4, when a small yarding of sheep and ' cattle came to hand. There was a good attendance of buyers and all stock met with ready sale at prices on a par with late rates. There was a keen demand for both cattle and sheep and a total clearance was effected at the following prices. We quote: — Empty owes in good condition 18s 6d; five-year ewes r.w. S.D. rams, 18s; small m.a. empty ewes. 16s 7d; cull, halfbred ewes r.w. rams, 7s; small twotooth wethers good condition, 20s 2d; ' wether lambs, 12s 2d. 15s Id, 15s 6d; small m.s. lambs, Ils Id to 12s 3d; cull lambs, 9s lid to 10s 7d; b.f. lambs, small, 13s; small ewe lambs, 15s 6d; Rom. rams Ign. to l}gns. Old rams 5s to 10s. Cattle.—Fat bullocks, £6 10s to £7 4s, 4-ycar P.A. bullocks, £5 15s; three to three and a-half-year steers, £4, £-4 10s to £4 15s; 24-year steers, £3 5s to £3 15s; forward cows, £2 5s to £2 8s; bulls, 30s. £2 to £2 14s. Weaner pigs, 10s to 12s 6d. SALES OF THE WEEK TREND OF STOCK VALUES. The Farmers’ Co-operative Organisation Society of New Zealand, Ltd., report that Taranaki is indeed fortunate in the wonderful autumn experienced, resulting in the assurance of a plentiful supply of feed for the winter. Conditions in other parts have been far from favourable, the Waikato district especially having experienced a very dry spell, causing in many cases a shortage of feed. This, no doubt, has had some effect in retarding the volume of heifer business that, as a rule, is transacted at this time of the year on a forward delivery basis. Business in most sections during the week has been well maintained, despite the Easter period of holidays. The feature of the week has been the setback in the works schedule for both ox and heifer beef. It is difficult at the present time to gauge at what level the schedule will stabilise. It is 'Only ntural to expect a decline in values of store cattle in sympathy with the drop in *‘fats. ” All classes of fat sheep have retained the level of the previous week. The schedule for fat lambs remains at 8d for under 261b5., and at this value a very satisfactory turnover is being experienced by those who bought stores earlier in the season. Ewe mutton continues to show a hardening tendency, and from present indications, a shortage of same during the winter months is likely. Sales during the week include a line of 300 fat ewes at £1 on a spread delivery basis. Sales of truck lots have been effected from 18s 6d for lighter sorts to £1 for prime sheep. Wether mutton still commands attention with here again a not too plentiful supply in view for winter consumption. Sales of extra prime sheep have been effected at 265, but this price leaves little margin between works and butchers’ price. Truck lots have changed hands at 24s 6d, 25s to 265. A well-sustained demand has been experienced for all classes of fat cattle. A large quantity of ox- beef has been absorbed into the works with the c'hedule as it was prior to the drop at £1 a hundred. Sales of prime cows and heifers for butchers’ requirements, include a line of 36 P.A. cattle at. £5 15s, 20 extra prime P.A. heifers at £6 10s, and several trucks nf prime P.A. and Hereford heifers at £6. Sales nf ox beef for local requirements include a bne of 20 at £6 12s 6d, with further trucks at £6 and £6 10s. Nn unabated demand continues for all classes of store sheep, difficulty being experienced in obtaining quotes locally. With the decline in wool values, it is felt in some centres that values of store sheep will fall in sympathy, but, with the supply and the demand as it exists to-day and the appreciated values ruling for “fats,'’ it is considered hardly like'.y to have much effect. Sales of five-year owes include a line of 700 at £l. 200 at 18s 6d, with further lines at prices in this vicinity. Quite an enquiry exists for younger ewes at about 27s Gd for two- tooths. Sales of shorn b.f. lambs include a line of 200 at 18s, with a further line al 18s Gd. Both good ewe and wether lambs, wherever yarded, meet with keen competition. At ».his time of the year, the small lamb of any class is not wanted. In the store cattle section, quite a keen enquiry is apparent for the well-bred cow in calf, no doubt due to the success of the chilled beef experiments. Sales have been effected up to £5 10s, and include a line of 6(1 P.A. cows and heifers at £4 10s. Sales of empty P.A. cows include a line of good cattle at £4 17s 6d. The demand for dairy heifers is very spasmodic, and were it. not for the splendid feed conditions existing, inanv

holders of this class of cattle would be showing anxiety. Enquiry exists for only top cattle, and wo report the sale of two trucks of very nice quality two-year heifers at as high as £5 15s has been paid for extra choice cattle, the pick of a good selection. A keen enquiry has been evident this year for good back country herds, and we have been successful in disposing of several at from £5 10s to £6 on a forward delivery basis. A renewed demand has set in for weaner heifers. Sales include a line of one hundred to an outside buyer at 32s 6d, with a further line of fifty at 355. Although this price is below the rearing cost, holders would rather dispose of their weaner heifers than face the winter with them on their hands. Our yard sales at all centres have been well supported and the following is a summary of realisations during the week at our various fixtures:—