LIVE-STOCK MARKET REVIEW

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 23, 11 February 1937, Page 10

LIVE-STOCK MARKET REVIEW

Many of Ewe Fair Entries Showed Age LATE YARDINGS AGAIN ( The important event during the past week in th,e Hawke's Bay live-stock markets was last Friday 's ewe fair at Stortford Lodge, when an offering of over 42,000 was submitted. There was a sound market, more particularly for the vendofs. The good-quality lihes showing breeding and well done sold briskly and compared with some of the other sorts they did not make dear buying. In the early stages values were not as high as antieipated in some quarters, but many of the lines offered were showing age and were very pooriy mouthed. The pricea paid mado them very expensive buying, and there were not any bargain rates among them. in spite of this, a few vendors were of tlie opinion that their old st'uff was worth more, and in not accepting the values offered they were certamly optimistic. As the sale progressed and the betterbred station lines were reacfied the 40/- mark was frequently reached. Mr Uobert Harding'e two-tooths started at this figure in half a dozen places. Bids rose quickly to 47/6 to top the sale, but it is ,expected in some quarters that before the season is out the 50/- mark will be reached. The Raukawa entry set a high standard of quality, and to exceed this the well-known coastal stations, famed for their breeding, have been set a task. Among the older sheep Mr E. H. Beamish 's " Kohatunui ' '-bred draft were outstanding. These well-bred, sound, good-doing ewes would make Lhe foundatiron for a good flock. The five-year-olds -topped the market at 32/8, and in these the purchaser bought one hundred per cent. constitution. The six-yeai'-olds, which would easily pass at fresh full-mouthed, brought 25/9. For the younger "Kohatunui" ewes the four-tooths made 38/6, which was last season 's outstanding vaiue for twotooths. The two-tooths were drafted into two pens; the line stronger in the wool made 1/3 more than those finer in the fleece. Neither pen was quite up to this station 's usual size owing to the extraordinarily bad season for lambs last autumn. This applied to numerous entries. Yery full siz;e applied to only few lines, which included the "Raukawa" and Mr Carlson's "Anaroa" pens. Matapiro Pen Outstanding. - Among the medium-grown lines an outstanding pen of two-tooths was offered on account of Matapiro Station farmed by Mr A. J. McGlashan at Pakowhai. In the paddock they were as attractive as one could see anywhere and showed what can be done where there is foundation and rearing under sound management. These ewes were the tail-end lambs off the station last season, being praetically a cull line. Garefully farmed at Pakowhai, they never looked baek and developed into thriving young sheep which shouid give good breeding results. It has to be admitted that it was a lifetime's practical experienee that brought these young sheep on so splendidly. Values held to the end of the day f0r some of the small pens, and finished np slightly better than many of those for the large offerings. A number who were obviously buying on the mouth and not on condition spent the whole day mouthing all the older lines, and a shake of the head told a more effective story that that told by the auctioneers. How som8 vendors could put gummy old ewes with'out a tooth in as breeders is difficult to understand. The day for many of these aged matrons is well past, the best left for them being fattening propositipns. To-morow's yarding at Waipukurau promises to be a record. At mid-day on Tuesday 44,160 had been entered, and tho yard accommodation will be fully taxed. A hot day will be uneomfortable both to the sheep and to the public. Peak Values Past • Store lambs again this week at both Waipukurau on Tuesday finfl Stortford Lodge yesterday made a strong entry, and for all except top lines, it is evident, peak values are now past. Prices were easier by up to 1/6 a head for seconcbquality and poorer-grown ©n* tries. Top lines now form a much snia.ller percentage of the offerings, and on Tuesday two outstanding lines, one from Wanstead and the other from Porangahau, made 23/- and 23/10 #6spectively, the latter being the record priee f Or Hawke 's Bay for the' season. The good management that the lambs had had in their rearing was fully reflected, and the starting price for these was well above that at which most finished. Yesterday a few good pens of Wellbred high-country lambs came fdrwhrd which shouid be quick finishing on the flats. Among the best of these was a fine Romney-cross line bred by Mr W. Turner of Puketitiri, which Were in better condition than they looked. Young sheep from that district always provo to be good doers, and farmers seeUring Puketitiri lines seldom go far wrong. Outstanding among the Waipukurau lambs was a Well-groWU pen Of shorn wethers which brought 21/6 to equal many of the good woolly lines. Cull lambs continued iu unlimited supply witli a market that leaves buyers Iittle prospect of any margin on a turnover. Unless a much bettev autumn is exper-ienc-ed tlian was the case last year losses amotig tliose lines must be heavy. Many of them have little or no constitution, while their vitality looks to be sapping away. Some lots were smaller grown than ever yesterday, but where thev were hardy ar.d off hard country they have possibilities m "hogget" country. Forwai'd wethers yesterday wero tn lncreased supply, largely due to the heavy yarding from Poporangi Station. Wiih their sound constitution and good order on the right pasture they shouid soon afford a big scope for the buyers of

fats who are eagerly on the look-out for the paddoeks where they can, pick up both numbers and quality. Anaoying Featurs A particularly annoying fCature it both Waipukurau and Stortford Lpdge this week was the late arrival of sheep to be offered. As a result, the selling was greatly inconvenienced. With three saies in progress some of the auctioneers were obliged to conduct the selling of store sheep unassisted owing to their assistants having to be away drafting the late arrivals. One aucfcioneer, in giving vent to his feelings, was porfectly justified in his remafks. Several of the well-known buyers readily came to the rescue to "mouth" the ewes for the benefit of those on the rails, and in this respect their help tvas invaluable. At Waipukurau the chief yardman was at the yards at four o'clock in the morning, attd by seveii o'clock only 30 sheep had been yarded. Owners, by getting their shep in to enable an early yarding to be made, ate studying their own interests besides co-operating with the selling. With late arrivals they cannot expect tho same attention to be. given to the drafting, which shouid not be necessary after the selling has commencecL The practice has been bad enough during the last few weks, but this week auctioneers could not be expected te refrain from comment. . • .