Stable Market

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 87, 29 April 1937, Page 15

Stable Market

H.B. STOCK SALES Outside Buyers Save The Situation EXODUS TO WEST COAST

The fact that outside districts are all buyers of stock wae the salvation of this week's markets xor store sheep at both Waipukurau and Stortford Lodge. But for the demand from outside, the bottom would have failen out of the seiling, The coutiuued dry weather and the prospect of a "hungry" winter has put the Hawke's Bay farmers in the roie of sellers. Many are now compelled considerabiy to reduce their stocke and meet the inarket irrespective of ■ the values offered. Hawke's Bay could not have possibiy absorbed this week's big yardings and the outside buyers' activities have been most welcome in that they stalled oflf a depressing market which remained quite stabilised, although the seiling for most of the carry-overs was generally very sticky.

The big exodus across to the West Coast has meant a great relief to the position, which has become oue of great concern. On Tuesday oue operator purehased half the yardiug for trucking over to Taranaki, and yesterday a "West Coast buyers was the principal purchaser. Mr. £rio McLeod's wethers in fat condition, and finished on his paddocks at Twyford, were outstanding. Theso wero in splendid order and made a show offering. A glance ovdr the pens was sufficient to show 'that they would readily top the market. Being ready to hang up, the question of grazing, which is now an acute one, was not involved. The draft of very forward wethers froin Mount Cacneron, near Puketapu, were a credit to Mr. Ormond and show* ed what can be done on the lighter hill country. The best buying in ihe sale was un* doubtedly for some lines of small to mediuni'grown, black-faced lambs in veiy meaty order, including several killable sorts. "If I could have got rid of my bullocks.I would not be letting these lambs go like thi■,,, remarked one f armer who considered that he could have topped thecn off at a good margin within a few weeks. The Glenross shorn Bomney wether lambs were a splendid well-bfed line, which should grow into a particulafly good line of two*toiith wethers.

Doubtful Proportions, Buyers stalled a bit on the hard*conditioned lambs which, with the risk of wintering, were doubtful propositions. Cull lines, which have seen very little of the drench-gun, are going to be very difficult to trade. A similar fate is awaiting the aged, low-conditioned, dilapidated ewes which are only suitable for dog-meat. Bown the chute is the proper places for some of these sorts, oi Which there is little hope of ever fattening and at the best could bC of only inferior quality. Breeding ewes in lamb to Southdown rams and making early lambing propositions were on offer in large num»* bers, the best five-year-olds making to 26/-. Many of these were splendidly tnouthed, this being a featurs that was favourably commented upon by many of those mouthing them up in the pens, With the wide range in the quality among the ewes, there was a corres* ponding wide range in prices, the poorer lots being hard to dispose of at 20/-. Prior to yesterciay'e sale the unload* mg docks Were a scene of great activity and at 10 o'clock there wero 36 large trucks unloading or waiting their turn. Stock agents and the yardmen had a particularly busy time drafting and getting the sheep mto their pens. Yesterday' s yarding was reminiscent of the peak yardings of the season in Jantiary and February, and the way lt was handled in the time wai s credit to all concerned, The outstanding feature of the cattle was the remarkably large yarding of StOres at Waipukurau. Included in the 2000 head penhed Were inan'y spiehdid-ly-bred station lines, the generai quality being equal to ihe best yarded in the North lsland this season. The sale derelpped into a cattle fair, attracting operatorg from Wairarapa, Manawata and Feilding. Outstanding among the growa cattle were the Akitio-bred Aberdeen Angus bhllocks on account of the Sir George Hunter Bstate The breeding, which showed up the fine characteristics of the breed, was a big seiling feature. This, combined with their forward condition, made the seiling without any ett'ort on the part of the auctioneer. . dutstsndtng Line. Among the young sortg the well-bred Weaner steers on accotint of Mr J. I). Urmond, of Wallingford, topped the market at £5 16/-. Splendidly grown, they were equal to the outstanding Ijne at Feilding Which went over the £6 mark, A featur.e this week has been the oifermg of aeveral lines of 30-mths heifers in calf since November .'aud December. Well grown and full of breeding,, they will make the foundation of splendid breeding hferds. One unfortunate aspect is that many of these exceptionally well-bred lines are going out of Hawke's Bay to provide otbe. districts witb the best qbality for chilling. Stock by serub bulls has a way of remaining in the province as the outside buyer can seldom be mduced to become mterested. The exodus of the best-bred young cattle means building up the supplies of chillers at the expense of this district. Later ott Hawke's JBay will be sei'iously short of this class of cattle and returns will be affected accordmgly. The present acute shorta^e of shipping space for chillers is a ratlier serious matter for many farmers. The position is not expeetea to be relieved before the end of hfext motlth, and as several are not able to hold their cflttle .apy longer they have been obliged to

freeze them, This has meant a big disappointment , but the shortage of feed has left no alternative. One man alone has nearly 10Q booked for chilling, and the moBt relief that an^ farmers can expect is to have just a few taken at a time. A very decided improvement in quai* ity was noticeable in the fat pens yesterday. Prime ox-beef wag in short SuPply} being confined to entries on account of Ponui Station and Mrs M. -kiiison, of Te Aute. The latter's paddccks at Tomoana were responsible for turnmg out the line which topped the market. Excelient Truck Lot

Among the private transaction ot extra prime bullocks were two excelient truck lots of Aberdeen Angus from Mr Ralph Holden's run at Mokutuku to the order of Mr J. B, Fletcher. Young bullocks down from Hendley Station, Patoka, killed out exceptionally well, showmg the high standing of finish that can be attained on the high country in this distriet. A pleasing feature yesterday was the comparatively small percentage oi aged inferior and dilapidated COWs. It is frequently a matter of astoniehment as to how so many of these sorts manage to get included in the fat pens. At Waipukurau many buyers were uneasy at the succession of cattle being offered as fats which wCre obviously only in stor© condition. The need for some system of grading was most evident and attention to it cannot be given too soon. Time occupied in offering cows which are nothing better than boners as fats delays the sale unnecessarily for those wanting to operate on the store sectidn and also for store sheep. A most unusual scene for Hawke's Bay was witnessed a few days ago, but was fully reminiscent of Taranaki, When a mob of 260 Jersey cows were driven to the locai works. These cows ranged from good quality to boners, and it is unlikely that such a mustering has been seen previously here. J