A Dull Market

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 93, 6 May 1937, Page 15

A Dull Market

VALUES FOR STOCK Some Fine Lines from the Back-Country WEEK'S SALES REVIEWED The past week has not heralded any brighter aspect in the stock market. Tuesday's and yesterday's t.sales have seen a number of vendors left with no alternative "but to meet the market. Shortage of feed has compelled reductions in stock in order that breeding ewes might not be unduly prejudiced. Tortunately, the whole of Hawke's Bay is not suffering from droughty conditions and much of the back country is experiencing one of the best seasons for many years. Proof of this is reflected in the excellent conditions of drafts from Puketitiri, Patoka, Waihou, Rissington, Sherenden and KereruTliis week the market for store slieep, of wliich there waa again heavy yardings, could be claimed to have held up surprisingly well, One well-known buyer suiumed it up by stating that nothing was being given away. With the rathar depressed market at Feilding last Friday, the outlook in this district this \yeek was not encouraging. Fortunately* the Feilding sale 'did not turn out to be as bad as first reported, although vendors had to be contented with some vexy small margins. Despite the tendeney towards easier values a record price level was established yesterday when the excellent figure pf 29/1 was realised for a splendid draft of wethers on account of Mr R. J. Heays, of Tutira. Bred on the Mangahuruhuru country, theso large-framed sheep dwarfed those in the adjoining pens and were reminiscent of wethers bred a few years ago when they wpre, regarded as of "seconds" if they did not kill out at 651bs. These wethers were a finished line, beiug ready to hang up. Grazing was not a problem as they would probably be driven straight to the works for killing to-day. Several splendid lines of forward wethers were offered, one of the best being on account ef Mr 1). Carswell, of Puketitiri, which made 26/1. These were the tail end of Mr Carswell 's wethers and reflected the splendid choice that afforded the works buyers in the paddock. Sound Lines. Another fine line from Puketitiri was on account of Mr J. Caune. Both lines were remarkably soand in constitution, a feature which has been most notdceable with all high-country sheep, especially from this district. Another splendid draft was on account of Mr J. Walker, oi Waihou, who was unlucky to have struck the sale before the buyers had properly eettled down. If these wethers had been offered at a later stage they poseibly might have registered several pence more for tbeir owner. • Some pens of small-grown tw-o and four-tooth wethers at 22/-, which will have to be wintered, certainly made better selling than buying. Good forward woolly wether lambs made good saies, reaiising all that they were worth. Those who are fortunate to have some young barley ready can soon add some value to this class of iamb. Undoubtedly the most attractive offering of lambs yesterday was a line on account of Mr F. Tong, of Puketapu. These shorn ewe, lambs in very fresh attractive order brought 23/6. Two months ago these lambs were very small grown and could have been described as a cull lot. Fed on hay and pumpkins and kept well dosed, they made mushroom growth, their bright appearance being favourably commented upon by many on the rails. Ewe lambs offered this season have generally not been of a very high standard, and to see the few odd good .lines has been most refreshing. Farmers can not be blamed for not parting with their best ewe lambs as they know what they are getting as two-tooths. Many Backward Lambs Small-grown backward lambs, suitable for dairymen or orchardists, were in pleintiful supply. On this class of cle&n feeding they show every chance of growing into money. Those who have a little lucerne have found cull lambs a profitable investment. This oeason has been ideal for lucerne for feeding and some splendid3 results have been achieved. Tho great value of lucerne or Btock has been amply demonstated, and why areas are so many in numbers is difficult to understand. Considerable caution was displayed in the buying of ewes in lamb. Starting prices were much lower than usual, the 12/- mark frequently starting the bidding. Some of the early lambing propositions were mafred through being poorly moutbed, which proved to be a stumbling block. AmOng tho tive-year-olds quality varied cousiderably. The top line wa8 on account of Mr F. L. Gordon, of "Clifton", which made ' 26/7, well below what they would have realised at the ewe fair. That they would mother a lamb was the only feature concerning a number of the ewes on offer. Deficiency in quality of wool was very marked, although as far as quantity was concerned, the skins were quite good. A Bright Patch The selling of fqt sheep certainly provided a bright patch in yesterday's sale. The quality in this section was much improved on that at Waipukurau the previoug day where many of tho pens were only of freezing quality. The firm selling indicates that there is no likelihood of cheaper mutton for the housewifo this winter. Those uho are fortunate to have the feed and can hcid on to their ewes for anothpr two months stand every chance ot eclipsing last season's exceptional

price levels, one of wliicli was 35/6 for seven-year-old ewes. The outstanding pen of heavy ewes in extra prime condition, offered ori account of Mr Evan Davis, of Puketapu, which topped the market at 22/9, was the best price recorded this season.