TARANAKI STOCK SALES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 85, Issue 34, 10 February 1941, Page 3

TARANAKI STOCK SALES

SHEEP I AIK SERIES. VALUES OTHER SECTIONS UNCHANGED. The main operations in the livestock market during the past week has been the series of ewe fairs, and from the outset buyers have shown a ready response to acquire good classes of breeding ewes, and prices for same may be quoted practically on a par with rates realised last season. Clearances. at all fairs have been good, reports the Farmers’ Co-op. in their weekly review of the livestock market. The demand has. been principally for genuine age marked 4 and 5-year-old ewes, while younger sheep also have enjoyed free competitions. Ewe lambs together with suitable fattening lambs have also sold well. Fairs held at Waverley, Ngamatapouri, Mangamingi and Hawera, where close on 30,000 sheep have been dealt with, saw practically total clearances in every case. A general range of realisations may be reported as folows: —In nearly every instance best 4-year-old ewes had sold from 21s to 23s 6d, others 19s; best 5-year-olds at 21s with average 18s to 19s. Fair to weak-mouthed 5-year-old ewes, 15s to 17s 4d; best 6-year-old ewes sold, according to condiiton, from 14s to 18s; 6-tooth ewes have sold to 28s, with sheep of the same age in lighter condition, 25s to 265; 4tooth ewes, 28s to 29s 6d; 2-tooth ewes, 29s to 31s; average and sorfs, 28s, with small, 26s to 275; forward 2tooth wethers, 21s; store wethers, same age, 19s 6d. Evidence of the good demand that continues for all classes of lambs may be gauged from the realisations at the above fairs. -Best black-faced rape lambs, 17s lOd; average, 16s to 16s 6d; shorn black-faced lambs, average, 15s 6d; best ewe lambs from 19s 6d to 225, with smaller kinds, 17s to 18s; whitefaced wether lambs, shorn, 15s to 17s, medium, 14s 3d; small ewe lambs, 14s 9d; cully ewe lambs, 10s, Cattle Section. The cattle section at the fortnightly sales continues to see fair numbers of Jersey oddments coming to hand and despite the absence of one exporter's competition realisations are fully up to schedule rates. At Opunake, Manaia and Hawera sales held during the week quite good entries were dealt with in this branch. In the main values may be reported on a par with those of the previous week. In the fat cattle and fat sheep sections no alteration in values is reported and prices remain firm at late levels. Enquiry for weaner heifers is more manifest but sales are slow. Some pens of average to good cattle were sold under the hammer during the week and values for best classes were £3 10s to £3 15s; smaller cattle £2 10s to £3.

Small entries of pigs are now being dealt with. Competition for all classes other than porkers is slack, resulting in lower price levels being obtained We report light porkers, £2 to £2 ss; best stores, 30s to 345; medium steres, 28s; smaller, 225; slips, 16s to 17s; choice weaners 10s to 12s; others. 5s to Bs.