MARKET REVIEW

Waikato Times, Volume 132, Issue 22149, 22 September 1943, Page 7

MARKET REVIEW

EFFECT OF THE WEATHER A review of the prices obtained at i stock sales in the Waikato during the ' past few weeks docs not support the j claim made in certain quarters that there ' will be a substantial drop in the number j of dairy cows milked this season. This I does not. it should be noted, refer to • lowered production, for there is likely to j be a very considerable falling-off in production. due to the lack of labour and j fertilisers, combined with the unfavour- ; able season. For months past farmers have been ; using reserve supplies of foodstuffs in the ! hope of kaeping their cattle in reasonably ; good condition, but the reserves were j used up long ago and the cattle steadily ! declined in condition. Production was affected, and inquiry in various directions shows that production of butterfat is lower by about 18 to 20 per cent than at the same stage of the previous season. ! This is a very serious state of affairs, for the Ministry of Food Supply in Great .Britain had asked New Zealand to export increased quantities of butter and cheese this year. The unfavourable season so far experienced has made this improbable. for even if favourable weather occurs right through until the autumn the dairy stock are not expected to make up the leeway and record an increase over last year’s total. Dairy Stock Prices As to prices offering for dairy stock, best quality animals are still commanding high prices. At a clearing sale at Fuketurua best Jersey cows, close to profit, made £ls 10s to £l2, and similar quality cows at profit made £l3 10s to £l6. All the best cows met spirited competition. Best yearling Jersey heifers at Waihou sold at £6 10s to £2 Is; heifers close to profit made £l2 to £l4 10s; and heifers in milk. £lO 15s to £l4 ss. These prices were about on a par with tops at other sales. In the fat stock market Frankton sales hold the palm with £2O 15s to £22 for extra prime heavy bullocks, but at Putaruru P.A. bullocks made £ll to £ll 18s, Herefords £ll to £ll 16s. 2-year Hereford steers, £7 10s, P.A. heifers, £5 13s to £6 6s, emptj' 2-year Jersey heifers, £3 9s to £3 15s. There has been very little change recently in quotations for sheep and pigs. It has been estimated that the number of pigs in Auckland province for 1943 will be at least 40,000 head below the total for 1942. This may be so, but the fact that prices are “pegged’’ to some extent effects fluctuations in values at auction.