RAINFALL ENLIVENS STOCK MARKET

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 105, 20 May 1937, Page 14

RAINFALL ENLIVENS STOCK MARKET

Healthier Tone at Stortford and Waipukurau WEEKLY SALE REVIEW The main topic at the moment among the farming eommunity is the recent beneficial rains, whicb have already transformed the paddocks from their parched bareness into a healthy green tinge. Fresh young growth began to show through immediately after the warm rain, and the mild spell which has since followed has brought the young grass away splendidly. Many farmers regard the rains as being a salvation. To know what was best to do with their stock had become a problem of the greatest concern. Stock Was becoming very difficult to trade. To many the problem was not one of being able to buy but one of what to do with stock if purchased. The position as far as sheep feed is concerned has been greatly relieved, but whether the fresh growth can giet away sufiiciently to be of real value as cattle feed remains to bo seen; Frosts will certainly not be welcomed for a while yet. Before the break in the weather many farmeis had resorted to hand feeding when considerable inroads had to be made into available supplies. Such eteps in autumn montlis could not but be viewed with alarm, as very few were in a position to carry on this class of feeding until the spring. Grops of pumpkins have stood some farmers in good stead. In the Puketapu district, on one holding 1400 young carry-over sheep were put on to pumpkins, and so well did they .do in a short time that 150 were picked out for the works. Among smaller lots fed on pumpkins some excellent results are reported. Where a little lucerne has also heen available in addition to pumpkins, lambs poor in condition have jumped away, killing out in excellent condition.

More Confidcnt Market. A feature in this week''s stock-sell-ing has been the restoration of confidence in the market, which had to ebb. Botb at Waipukurau on Tuesday and at Stortford Lodge yesterday tlie selling took a much brighter turn, with greater activity all round as the result of greater numbers wanting to be in the market. While all classes, of store eheep showed a healthy rxse m values, the greatest improvement was with the good breeding ewes in lamb. Appearance, however, did not sell them. Guaranteed mouths proved an important factor. Well-woolled and fresh-condi-tioned sorts having all the appearance necessary to sell them were affected by a wide margin. whero their mouths. failed to gain full points. Good five and six-year-old ewes made to 27/-, prices reminiscent of the b~oom selling of a few weeks ago. On Tuesday Mr W. Hobson's fouryear ewes, in from Takapau and in. spiendid order made 30/67 ' Yesterday young ewes, well woolled and ehowing size, made strong selling. "I wish I had bought more at the last sale," was a remark that was frequently heard on the rails. In stockbuying especially it is an easy matter to be wise after the event. IJnder the circuinstances the sale a fortnight ago proved a day out for the buyers ; but in view of the way they had held up the market for several weeks they earned all the advantages of their good buys that day. An instance of how the rain changed the market in one way can be given; it concerned a big line of wethers at Waipukurau. A week ago they were passed at 22/3; on Tuesday,. with 50 tops taken out, they brought 23/6. with the pick out making 24/9. Very few wethers were on offer yesterday, it being evident that farmers feel that they are now in a better position to hold on to their carry-ov^rs and so reap the benefit from them early in the new season. Auctloneers' Turn. Auctioneers have of late had their coats off to the selling, but yesterday the going was eaSier. "You have had it your way for the last month, but we are going to have a say," remarked an auctioneer to one on the rails. Brisk selling was also a feature in the fat-sheep pens, and the rise in values is likely soon to' have its effect in retail prices. Ewes, which predominated, rose to fresh price levels. Mr A. Parkinson's ewes from Tikokino, heavy and prime, brought 28/-. Maiden extraprime Southdown cross brought to 29/6. It will be seen from these values that some high levels will be Bet before the end of the winter. Last season the 37/6 mark was reacbed, and present indications, especially in view of the high price for skins, are that this mark will bo eclipsed. "Some notably finished ewes certainly were offered last year, and whether farmers are uow holding on to similar quality with a view to securing these outeized values remains to be seen. The high country is continuihg to send down a good quota of prime sheep to the works. The dry season haR heen all in their favour, and the spiendid condition in which the sheep have killed out reflects credit upon the way in which they have been farnied. Most of these sheep are straight lines xaised ou tli6 holdingis and have one earmark. Of good constitution, they are usually free from the troubles that are frequently associated with the bought lots. The shortage of feed undoubtedly affected store cattle more than any other class of stock, and the recovery in price yesterday was most encouraging. Weaner steers constituted the principal entpies to sell to £5 1/-. Uurn'g the last few weeks weaners have been the hardest hit owing to their likelihood to perish under liard conditions. Under normal feed couditions Hawke's Bav can absorb all the de-cently-bred sorts that outside distriets. cliiefly Poverty Bay, have to offer. At present the district is carrying well below normal requirements, and onee the grass gets away ihe extent of the shortage will become more apparent.