Confident Market

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 75, 15 April 1937, Page 10

Confident Market

SHORT YARDING Farmers Holding Off For Rain RECENT SALES REVIEWED Gonfi.den.ce in the markets shows no signs of being shaken when a review is made cf the movements and prices for stock during the past week. Another week has passed without rain, with the result that a larger area is becoming affected by the dry speU. Many farmers axe beginning to feel that they are in for a gaanble with their surplus stock, which they are desirous of carrying on. The comparatively small yardings show that farmers are continuing to hold off from unloading their stock despite the hariag down of their pastures. This week has seen an improvement in the market for store sheep, but in a measure this is to a great extent due to the big rise in values at last Friday's wool sale. Wool being up 3d per lb. certainly helped to sell the large offerings of wethers yesterday which were carrying a good slipe. A ready market met the three large drafts, which included lines on aecount of Poporangi Station, Kereru, and Mr J. S, Dunn, Patoka. The latter's draft of 822 in very forward condition, containing over 90 per cent. in good killable order, topped the market at 27/1, and this exeeptionally large number in one line was not too mnch for the purchaser. The condition in which they came forward reiiected the high standard of grazing that is available in the higher country. This was the best price made for several weeks, the 25/- mark having been rarely exceeded. The Poporangi draft of 800 was also in splendid order, showing how well stock is doing on the liigh country at the back of Kereru. The third big draft was "tieketed," which must have been due to an oversight. The vjgilance of the stock insp&etor, Mr H. E. Allen, shows that even the large stations, where dipping is in a regular routine, cannot get away with it if they should fail to put their sheep through the dip. Quality Mutton, A line of Corriedale cross wethers showed the quality mutton that this breeding will produee, the price of 26/8 being realised. Corriedale cross ewes at the ewe fairs, however, did not command strong selling. At both Waipukurau and at Stortford Lodge yesterday were some very good entri.es of lambs, Mr J. J. Gatenb'y, of Haumoana, topping the market with his shorn Corriedale cross wether lambs, which sold at 20/11. These lambs were well grown, and their very forward condion made their selling an easy matter. The best buying yesterday was some lines of medium-grown, meaty, black-faced lambs, many of which wauld/ hang up as good seconds now and would be qui.ckiy topped off. The poorer sorts met with better selling yesterday, there being a number of pens suiting dairymen and crchardists who will stand a fair chance of turning them over at a payablo margin. Fat Sheep Activity.

The last week has seen a fair amoun) of acti,vity among fat sheep. There arrived at thp v|prks during the weokend a mob of 1400 fat wethers from Eukumoana Station, Te Pohue. This ia being believed to be one of the largest drafts of fat sheep seen on the roads for some years.past, and their splendid condition was an example of the fino class of sheep being produced in the back country this season. Another notable draft of 800 fat wethers from Hendley Station, Patoka, average.d out at 64Ibs. The dressed condition of these sheep was indeed a credit to Mr Bull, who has carried out extensive im provements to his pastures. Patoka and Puketitiri-bred sheep this season have featured well in the sale pens, their sound constitution and good breeding being very noticeable points which have attracted keen interest from sheepmen. In the fat pens yesterday Southdown cross two-tooths provided the choicest mutton and butchers paid more atter.tion to these than they did to most of the others Outstanding Lamb Entry. Among the lambs the outstanding entry was a fine pen of Eomneys, ou account of Mr G. McCutcheon, whieh was fattened on lucerne at Fernhill. Quality like this will always top tho market and shows the great feediug value of young lucerne. Several good patches in the district have been fed down hard this week, but as lucerne responds to the good morning dews they will provide a lot more fattening feed before the winter. The fat cattle yesterday provided ■ a wide range, with quality in very limited supply. Among tlie ox-beef, the entries from Te Aute College wero outstanding. These fresli, young, well-bred bullocks were in ' excellent order to make the best selling of late. ' A notable quality line was also in the yards for the sake of convenience, being a private-treaty sale by Mr J. B. Fletcher from St. Lawrence; Station. Many of the bullocks show evidenee of having been in hard condition, and if kept on good feed until the winter would have shown up to much greater advantage. In tlie female sections heifers aguin provided the best quality and a week ago the best of these would have made 10/- a head more. Values at late saies for store cattle have been at levels which have prompted vendors to hold off, with the result that there was only a small yarding yesterday. Values, however, showed - an improvement for the quality pens, in which Mr W. Ensor' s wellgrown bullockB jn vory forward con-

dition, from Waiwhare, made £9 5/-, I while Tauroa 30-month steers realised | £8 11/-. Grazing Shortage, All available grazing is being eagerly sought after. One farmer yesterday stated that every night he was reoeiving inquiries. by telephone for grazing. With the prospects of rain coming anytime, no one wants to take their stock any distance away. There passed through Pakowhai yesterday a line of 148 18-month Hereford and Shorthorn steers, down from the Gisborne district. These steers were in exceptional order, being particularly well bred and showing unusually good coats. They will grow into excellent young cattle for the Hawke's Bay farmer who should get them. This morning, feeding jn a paddock by the Pakowhai hridge, .they looked a fine siglit. Hawke's Bay can certainly absorb all the young stock of this fine quality that Poverty Bay haB to offei. The demand foi: fattened pigs continues to exceed supplies, and values are keeping ahead of export rates. The shortage of feed and the increased price for meal food has put prices for large stores back. At the present time anyone with plenty of good food can make 100 per cent on his turno.ver. Weaners and slips are selling cheaply and are making good buying for some. Once pumpkins, are ready and growers' own corn is ripened the stores will quicl^ly look up again. There is no prospect of the favourite breakfast dish being any cheaper this winter than last.