UNUSUAL TREND

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20054, 28 September 1939, Page 8

UNUSUAL TREND

GISBORNE CATTLE PRICES STUD AND STORE STOCK MOVE OPPOSITE WAYS SHORTAGE IN DISTRICT Although one set of cattle prices usually moves in sympathy with another, the experience in the Gisborne district during the past few weeks has been exactly the opposite. Stucl bulls of the beef breeds at sales since the outbreak of the war have sold at values considerably below those of last year, but. this week ordinary types of station cattle brought values that were an improvement on those of last spring. The war has not been a direct cause of the anomaly, and the reason for the downward trend on the one hand and the upward movement on the other is mainly that there is a shortage of station cattle in the district. As a result of this shortage, fewer bulls have been required for breedirtg purposes, and consequently the high prices of last year were not being offered this time. The same shortage caused the upward trend in the values for ordinary station cattle, for .here is an anxiety on the part of station owners now to build up their tattle herds once more. Legacy of Drought Station herds suffered severely last autumn, following the .severe drought, and thousands of cattle were sacrificed, sometimes at give-away prices, for it was feared that the scarcity of feed would take n heavy toll if .ho usual number was retained. As it was, the feed position was severe enough on some places to cause mortality.

As cattle are essential to the welfare of the sheep country and as feed is beginning to become more plentiful, station owners are busy now making arrangements for making good the severe cutting down of the numbers last autumn. A keen demand far cattle, therefore, is likely for some months.

Despite the shortage in the district, some small consignments were sent to the Feilding sale last week, and while in some cases they met with a fair demand, values were disappointing in other lots, for the spell of excessively wet weather in the West Coast districts had retarded the growth of grass. The Gisborne consignment comprised mixed aged steers and female Polled Angus and Herefords. The market in Feilding appeared to be on a par with that in Gisborne and Slortford Lodge. No Waikato Interest While there is activity in the purchase of cattle in the Gisborne district, little enthusiasm has been displayed in the Waikato, where there has been little early growth, and this was apparent on Tuesday, when there were no Waikato operators at the fair.

Store sheep have aroused no interest yet, except for immediate requirements. Vendors are reluctant to set values on those which they are likely to have for sale and buyers are at a loss to know what they should pay, for there is much uncertainty regarding the values of the coming season’s meat and wool. It is unlikely that much business will eventuate until the position of the oxnort market is clarified.