LIVE STOCK MARKETS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 127, 31 May 1937, Page 11

LIVE STOCK MARKETS

WEEKLY REVIEW The Farmers’ Co-op. in their weekly review o£ the stock markets state that business for the time of year is all that can be desired. Sales of dairy heifers to outside clients continue, the difficulty of obtaining top 2 and 3-year heifers now becoming somewhat acute, interest, however, being shown in the forthcoming series ot heifex fairs to be conducted by the society throughout the district together witn a fairly large number of clearing sales.

Dairy produce values on the home market continue to display an upward tendency, cheese being the highest level reached for many years, butter reaching a higher figure than enjoyed for some considerable time, every indication of the guaranteed price being exceeded over last season seeming assured, and this should prove of benefit to the dairy farmer when the assessing of the price for next season takes place. Tne announcement of the difference in price between butter and cheese increase to a margin of 2d aroused considerable interest. This should have the effect of preventing the swing over from cheese to butter. Weather conditions locally have not been all that could be desired, feeding out in many places having commenced now in earnest, the plentiful feed supply available a short time ago having disappeared very rapidly. The congestion at the freezing works has eased somewhat, more interest being displayed in the large yardings of boner cows that have come forward at various centres for auction. Fat Stock. —All classes of fat sheep remain firm in value. Sales of best fat ewes have been effected from 24s to 25s 6d with best fat wethers from 29s to 31s. Due to the hold up in chilling operations the supply of beef available at the present time is somewhat ahead of the demand with the result that a slight easing tendency has been noticeable in most quotations. Best tat cows and heifers are available to-day from £7 5s to £7 15s. Store Stock.—All classes of store sheep remain keenly sought after, young ewes mated to either Romney or Southdown rams being keenly enquired after, the difficulty being to obtain suitable quotations. Good ewe hoggets continue to find favour from 29s to 32s with best wether hoggets from £1 to 225. Here again quotations are distinctly lacking. The store cattle market remains somewhat quiet. Quite a deal of interest continues to be displayed, intending purchasers being inclined to adopt rather a “wait and see” policy. Quotations continue to be few and far between locally any cattle coming forward at auction meeting with fairly spirited competition. Dairy Heifers—Really top dairy heifers to-day are becoming distinctly scarce, the market being particularly firm. Sales include 17 extra choice 3-year-old heifers at £lO, 300 good 3year heifers at £7 ss, 39 good 2 and 3year heifers at £7 7s, and odd trucks of top heifers from £8 to £9—more medium sorts from £6 15s to £7 ss. Weaner heifers enjoy a spasmodic enquiry, sales including a line of 41 put together at an average of £2 17s 6d, top cattle ranging from £3 5s to odd sales at £4, more medium sorts from £2 10s to £2 17s 6d. Yard sales at all centres have continued to attract large entries of store cattle, the easing of the congestion in the works creating freer competition at all sales, satisfactory sales resulting in practically all cases.