CHANGE IN WEATHER

Waikato Times, Volume 126, Issue 21043, 21 February 1940, Page 10

CHANGE IN WEATHER

EFFECT ON MARKETS RECENT WAIKATO TRENDS BREEDING EWES CHEAPER Fat cattle are usually firm. Store cattle values show little change. Late rates are usually repeated for fat sheep. Store sheep are cheaper. Fat pigs sell at last week’s money. Firm values are reported for store pigs. The improvement in the weather this week is expected to make a considerable difference to farming and stock activities in the Waikato. A greater degree of activity will probably be noticed in the stock markets, while the change from wet to fine conditions will allow increased activities on the farms. The demand for store stock, which has fallen away noticeably duirng the past week, should become stronger and the market should recover at least some of the lost ground. Apart from the greater convenience of handling increased head of stock during the fine weather, the change in the weather will probably further accelerate pasture growth. Fat stock markets at the various centres continue to be marked by the same degree of buoyancy and lighter to average entries have been disposed of at prices usually satisfactory to vendors. A feature of the week’s trading in the store stock market has been the decline in interest for breeding ewes, which have fallen in price at nearly all centres. Values For Beef Generally speaking, beef has been meeting a buoyant market in the Waikato, although the demand was hardly as brisk at the Frankton sale yesterday. However, the slacker interest at the central yards yesterday was only apparent in the case of cows and heifers, ox beef remaining fully firm. Even with the market

for cows and heifers, it was only in some instances that values were lower. Following on the improved demand for all classes at the Frankton sale last week, there was a brisker tone at the Westfield market and values usually improved by Is per 1001 b. At the smaller Waikato sale centres there has been a lack of choice quality cattle and yardings have consisted mainly of plain dairy sorts. These have been meeting with good sales, and the same could be said for boner cattle, many of which have been making values almost equivalent to those being received for the lower grades of cow beef.

Store Sheep Back The rather considerable drop in values for breeding ewes during the week was hardly expected in authorative circles where no concrete reason can be advanced for the weaker demand. The poorer demand was evidenced at all Waikato fairs last week and in many cases values were even below those of last year. In other parts of the Dominion the position had been much the same, but it is generally expected that values will improve on current levels. It is possible that many vendors considered opening values too high and decided to postpone buying operations until a later date. Although the weather had much to do with their decision, store lamb buyers left their purchasing till the last sales with the result that values rose rather sharply. This may possibly prove the case with breeding ewes, because market prospects generally are so much better than have been the case for some years, that it is difficult to imagine values remaining on a low level through lack of interest on the part of fat lamb producers. Better values for old ewes, lambs and wool must be taken into account in reckoning the strength of future markets. Fat Pigs Firm No change has been recorded in the fat pig market since last review. Markets have been generally well supplied with a fair proportion of baconer pigs. Values have been consistent with the improvement made a fortnight ago and any changes, particularly in the market for bacon, have been more to the benefit of vendors than buyers. Prices up to 89s have been freely obtained for baconers at most yards, while at Te Kauwhata on Monday this price was broken by bids of 90s.

100,0001 b of Milk Four Ayrshire cows in the herd of Mr William Wallace, Lyonston, Maybole, Scotland, have been added to the list of 76 Ayrshire cows in Scotland that have produced over 100,0001 b milk. These are Lyonston Hannah, nine lactations, 119,1201 b milk and 4572.41 b fat; Lyonston Yellow Kate, 10 lactations, 119,1201 b milk and 4639.61 b fat; Lyonston Katherine 2nd, 104,8701 b milk and 40751 b fat; and Bastibly Katherine, dam of Katherine 2nd, 12 lactations. 132.6101 b milk and 48581 b fat.