TARANAKI STOCK MARKETS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 84, Issue 86, 13 April 1940, Page 3

TARANAKI STOCK MARKETS

STEADY VOLUME OF BUSINESS : PRICE LEVELS UNCHANGED i A resume of the past week’s live- | stock business, reports the Farmers ! Co-op., sees a continuation of steady trading maintained thoughout most departments. With the approach oi winter it is apparent that pastures are automatically suffering a setback as far as growth is concerned and, as a consequence, sales of station bred cattle are not just as encouraging as was the position a few weeks ago. It may be said, however, that, vvitii this one exception, all other sections display their former keenness and price levels are practicaliy unchanged throughout. With the falling off ut pastures, combined with tne veiy good prices ruling for ail Jersey oddments at the moment, holders are unloading and thus the numerical strength of the various auctions has increased considerably. Works com-1 petition accounts for the bulk of the I yardings and ready clearances con-1 tinue. One exporter was "off the; scene” during the week, but this is re- • ported as only “temporary.” Last week’s advance of “one-eighth of a penny" in the export schedule for wethers has occasioned a further firming in the prices for prime quality butchers’ wethers, and indications are that prices will remain firm. At present sales are made at 26s for best 4-tooth sheep, with lighter and smaller sheep 255. Values for beef also are reported firm, both P.A. and Hereford and Jersey ‘fats’ are helped to maintain this as competition from exporters remains good. The former* sell to £9, lighter £B 5s down to £B, while best Jersey * cows sell to £B, average £7 dow n to £6, and lighter sorts down to £5 10s. Some good sales are reported in the store sheep section, with enquiry for forward wethers and ewe lambs being most popular. Quotations of good sheep are limited and change hands at from 19s to 21s for wethers with ewe lambs; from 18s to 20s for best sheep. A reasonable demand exists for young in-lamb ewes. Odd lots of lambs are now only dealt with. Values we report as unchanged as compared with those of last week. Some further sales of weaner heifers are reported, but it is only cattle of size and quality that buyers are keen to acquire. These sell from £4 to £5, and others that do not come under this heading are only saleable at reduced levels. Sales of dairy heifers have been made at £l2 for choice sorts, average to good £9 10s to £lO 10s, inferior £8 to £8 10s; dairy cows selected £ll to £l2; complete herds from £9 10s to £lO 10s according to quality. Even with the report to hand that the restriction in regard to “exports of porkers” has been lifted, the position of establishing a firmer range of values in the pig section is still obscure. The season is so far advanced. However, values show no variation from last week.