WINTER MARKETS

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21173, 24 July 1940, Page 11

WINTER MARKETS

KEEN WAIKATO TONE BRISK DEMAND FOR STORES FAT STOCK VALUES UNCHANGED Average entries of fat cattle usually make late rates. Store cattle are sometimes dearer. Dairy cattle sell at unchanged money. Fat sheep are auctioned at . unaltered values. Small entries of store sheep show little change. Short entries of fat pigs are fully firm. Store pigs have been more variable cf sale. Waikato stock trade activities have been marked by a buoyant tone during the week, a stiffening of values being particularly noticeable in the store stock market. Special entries of store cattle have been meeting with a very ready demand and values in most cases during the week have shown a further rise. Well-bred quality cattle are assured of a keen market during the next few weeks. Similarly, there has been little slackness about the market for store sheep, which have been coming forward fairly regularly at the main centres during the last few weeks. The trade on the whole has been brisk for fat stock of all descriptions. The fat pig market has been sparsely supplied, but fat cattle and sheep entries have been coming forward in fair numbers. Milder weather has been experienced in the district during the week with only limited rain. A dry period at this time of the year is looked upon as being particularly beneficial to the farming industry for it sets up the health of the stock for the difficult period ahead and at the same time prepares the ground for an early growth of grass in the spring. Market For Beef Values being realised for beef in the Waikato are above the normal level for this period of the year. Another feature of the trade during the past three weeks has been the excellent quality of many of the entries coming forward. The mild nature of the winter to date has enabled a greater number of quality cattle to be auctioned than is usually the case at this time. The keen value being realised for fat cattle at present has not been without its effect on the market for store cattle, which are unusually dear for this period. Special entries at the saleyards have received keen attention and quality sorts have commanded animated competition. Beei' values will have to be at a fairly high level when present buyers in the store cattle section sell if they are to make a reasonable profit from their preseii* investments. Keen Sheep Market. The keen values ruling last week for fat sheep of all descriptions have been repeated this week. Entries have kept up well and there has been a fair number of attractive quality sorts. The bulk of the entries now coming forward, however, comprise inferior quality sheep, but fortunately from the vendor’s point of view values for these have been governed to a certain extent by the current very satisfactory values for quality descriptions. Store sheep have been meeting with quite a good inquiry and it has not been difficult to clear special entries. As far as fat sheep are concerned, a rise rather 0 than a fall in values during the nexl | few weeks is indicated although, ol 8 course, number and quality of cnf tries will be governing factors I Short Fig Entries I What fat pigs have been offering \ during the week have been verj keenly sought at values fully on ; par with those of last week. Wellfinished sorts are few and far between, fatteners being mainly represented on the buying benches. A the central yards yesterday an average entry of stores did not meet wit! quite the same enthusiastic demanc as last week and values in many instances tended just a shade lower returning near to more reasonabb levels. At all yards stores hav< been selling at very high rates, bu it does not seem likely that sucl levels will be long maintained.