LIVE STOCK MARKETS

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 53, 18 March 1937, Page 13

LIVE STOCK MARKETS

Week's Selling Very "Sticky" Throughout SOME P00R ENTRIES Quite a tnarked change in the tone of this week's selling of live stock has been evident. Conditions have compeOLLed many farmers to exercise caution, which for a period of several weeks was cast to the winds. Their attitude yesterday at Stortford Lodge showed. that many of them have come back to earth again and with a fairly hard hump. The selling at bath Waipukurau and at Stortford Lodge was very sticky throughout and passings were frequent. In yesterday yarding of 13,000 store sheep, lambs predominated. There were very few well-grown, forward-in-condition lines, a large pereentage being baekward and very weedy. " . The top line of shorn wether lambs from Opiti Station, Fernhill, was' very well grown, being full of breeding and well aone, to top the market at 19/6. These were a real quality line, having been managed partioularly well. Most of the second-quality lots coming forward are small grown. Among these are a few lots off high country in sound, hardy order, which show good prospects of growing into money. The large number of cull lines which continue to come in each week ie a reflection of the hard season that many of the Hawke's Bay flocks have experienced. General weakness, lack of constitution, combined with their pinched-up appearance, make many of them hopeless propositions. •"Dying Like Flies" The cruoial period for the rearing of lambs has arrived, and already quite heavy losses are reported. One farmer, yesterday stated that ^.is lambs were dying like flies, largely from chest trouble. He attributed it to the lack of sunlight during the earljer portion of the summer. He anticipates that the next two months would be a severe test and mortality would be unusually high. At Waihau another farmer experienced what was decidedly ill-luck with a lot of hi's lambs. He had them on ehou mollier and they died off rapidly. In practically all cases the lambs went off the feed and stood with their heads through the fences, remaining there until they lingered away. He attributed the malady with which they were stricken to a forjn of paralysis. ■Mi Until June farmers need to exercise the most careful management with their lambs, even on good lamb country. The drench gun is being uteed by many farmers more than ever this season, and a look over the pens yesterday showed that the guns should not ,be idle for some time. Feed Shortage Shortage of feed no doubt accounted for some useful lines of breeding ewes not making more money. The present time does not appear to be opportune for the offering of ewes out with the rams, not even the very early lambing propositions. Last season farmers preferred to wait until much nearer the drop and they appear to be in the same mind jutet now. Mr. T. Simcox's Puketitiri bred wethers were an outstanding Itne to top the market. All sheep from this hill country district have come forward in particularly sound healthy order, in which careful attention to breeding has been very noticeable. Puketitiri-bred sheep on the flats go Tight away and always make good buying. Oue of the largest drafts of wethers sean in the yards for some time was offered at Waipukurau on account of Mr. H- Bridge, by Murray, Roberts and Co. Thie line of 991 Gisborne-bred sheep was in splendid order and an example of really good driving, the road journey showing no adverse effect whatever. : Foor Lot of Ewes. Many of the fattening ewes yesterday were a poor lot, being very low in condition and ' ' on the gums. ' ' These ranged from 12/- down to 7/6, being all they were worth. Particularly good feed would be necessary to bring them away, but it is surprising what a small farmer or an orchardist can do with these lots. Although the yarding of fat cattle was only a moderate one, plain and inferior quality were in over isupply. Anything that was not up to butchfers ' quality was not wanted. For quality there was a good demand for the few pens. The heaviest boned entry for a long time was seen yesterday. They were aged bullocks and were far from being finished. Their weight came from their massiveness. "Is he quiet in harness 1 ' ' -was a quei'y by one of the buyers. It being evident what was running through his mind. "I give no such guarantee and you can't have a trial either," was the retort from the auctioneer. Many thought that the bullock had been, in the yoke. Through failing to geld their young stock farmers are losing money. Yesterday a fine weaner that was moving off its mother and still showing his calf -fat would have realised ao iurther 20/- if he had been gelded. With young calves the process is a simple matter and pays well for the little trouble involvecL Disappointing Beef Entry. The beef entry in general was disappointing, and to be made prime several months good grazing would be required. Yesterday the butchers showed that they were not in Ihe market for inferior quality. Butchers of late have been operating extensively in the paddoek where they can get the quality they require. Trading in store cattle yesterday almost reached a deadlock in which lot after lot was passed. " A quiek topping- ■ off line of forward bullocks made £9 2/6 bwt the small-grown 30-month steers >

found the buyers sitting back. They wero not the type to give the market a faix test. A useful line of heifers, 30-mqnths old, which would make the foundation of a good breeding herd, conld not make more than £5 5/- which did not suit the vendor. "What does he want?" asked a buyer when a line was passed. "If you "saw my book you would have a headaohe," replied the auctioneer. "He only wants value," was a further reply by an auctioneer fo the reason for a line being passed. Yesterday 's market indicatea clearly that buyers have made up their minds to recede by a good margin from the late peak price levels, which were dangerously high. Any lines that fail to measure up to quality and size are not likel yto command the best values and many vendor? evidently had yet to appreciate this hard fact. ti A