H.B. STOCK SALES

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 73, 18 December 1937, Page 16

H.B. STOCK SALES

Review of the Past Week's Markets WETHERS SELL WELL The last few weeks have seen an ebb in the movements of stock in the Hawke's Bay markets, but once New Year is over, and the stOTe sheep get moving, a busy period will be ushered in. The firm selling' of wethers at Hastings on Wednesday indicated that confidence was not on the wane, and opinions are entertained that there is a possibility of the works schedule becoming a little more remunerative to growers. At the' present rates there is very little margin on some of the wethers. Some entries of two-tooths which made 22/6 will have to be earried until early in March before putting into the works, and the price paid displayed optimism on the part of purchasers. Rape has come away in most parts of the district, and some excellent crops are to be seen, in which there is an abuudance of healthy, vigorous growing foliagfe, which should carry large numbers of lambs and wethers. For the number of store lambs that will possibly be on the market, all the good crops of rape will be needed. On Wednesday the first offerings of store lambs for the season were made, and these were railed from the Wairoa district. The first lot put up was a line of well-grown lambs in forward and healthy order. Competition for these was keen, and, when they were finally sold at 19/7, one well-known stockman remarked, "That will show what the East Coast railway is going to do." Drop in Larab Schedule. The further drop of a half-penny for lambs at fhe beginning of the week cames a rather a shock to many farmers, who are strongly of the opinion that the works have taken their ju-mps far too quickly. The price is now "d down on the opening rate, and many growers say that they are now holding on in order to improve their weights, and they can hardly be blamed for it. The sudden drop in price, combined with the lighter weights which have been general, except for a few drafts, has made serious inroads into the growers' returns, which are working out well below those of last season. In the meantime costs have mounted up, which makes the result of this season 's killings . to date far lYorn. being lucrative. Later in the season there is every reason to anticipate that many. splendid lambs will be turned out off rape, but a substantial number will be necessary to make up for the big shortage to date. The best draft so far has averaged 401bs., but many have been • on the 301b, mark, while some have been as low as 271bs. Many farmers are having their troubles added to by having to be on the job dosing their lambs in order to keep them going right and to minimise the infection of parasites. The dosing guns should now be down off the shelf and dusted in readiness for the season's work. The forward delivery of ewes is naturally causing some apprehension, in view of the drop in wool prices, and there appears to be a growing tendency on the part of several farmers to hold and buy on the market at the fairs, when it is expected that the buying will be more in their favour "We have got to come down to eartb when buying our ewes this season, and not be up in the clouds like we wero last year," remarked a well-known farmer rocently when commenting on the stocking-up of breeding ewes. Fat Ewes Sell Slowly. Fat ewes met with sticky selling on Wednesday, and, despite the fact that the yarding was much below normal requirements, butchers showed only a lukewarm interest, being content to look on at times. Lambs provided the best selling, due no doubt, to the approaching Christmas rade. A line of Leicester lambs, averaging 30lbs., brought 23/6 which suggests that outsized values were not attempted. Ewes appear to be out of favour^ the selling being dull and lifeless. Butchers are loath to be drawn much above the freezing schedule, but for some months they provided vendors with a rosy innings. Quality was well paraded on Wednesday in the fat cattle pens. For a chango lieifers predominated the pens, and most of the entries would hang up as elioico young beef. The complaims being made in Auckland regarding the quality of fOmale becf for the city supply certainly could not be applied to Wednesday 's offerhig here, which was of a particularly high standard. Tlie people of Hastings are being provided with a quality of beef that leaves little room for complaint. The Washpool lieifers and those offered on account of Mr. N. M. Campbell showed that it is still unnecessary to go outside the district in search of quality. Local supplies were a feature in what proved to be a good market. The last few weeks has seen an absence of runners and vealers and the odd lot that has come forward has made a most reniuneralive price. Following the belter inquiry and more firm selling at Feilding last week, the market here for store cattle took a hardoning turn. wliich has been overdue. Yearling steers, sliowing breeding, and well grown, provided the best selling of the day at Waipukurau, making to £6 30/-. Grown cattle were not tesled. bnt the outlook appears more hopeful. The shortage of sliipping space is again a pressing problem. and certain farmers, who have chillerg ready, are woa&oring if they can carry

them on in good order unti] they are aecepted at the works. Last season numbers of chillers which could not be taken into the works due to lack of shipping spaco went 'back to stores, crenting a serious grazin g problem.