WAIKATO SHEEP FARMERS

Opotiki News, Volume I, Issue 83, 12 September 1938, Page 4

WAIKATO SHEEP FARMERS

NO INQUIRY FOR ' EWES - LOWER GISBORNE VALLES' * FEAR OF FACIAL ECZEMA According to reports . received in Gisborne, the approaching (Sections ’are a cause of Waikato farmers who aie usually in the market early ter Gisborne breeding ewes holding back this year, states the Herald.

At .t'hiv-,~time last year 40,000 Gisborne breeding ewes had been sold to the Waikato, for delivery during the summer, but no business at all has bedn reported so- far for the coming summer.

‘•We have been regularly in touch with clients in the Waikato,'’ said a representative of one Gisborne firm

“but the/reply we get is-that chey do not wish .to do anything until after the elections.” V, The feaV of further' outbreaks of facial eczema also was given as a cause of lack of activity in the forward market for ewes. Losses during the past autmjin were so heavy /that some of the usual purchases of ewes are doubtful whether they will he in tho market this year. “I clo not know of one lino having been, sold yet,” the agent continued, “and'l do not anticipate any inquiries for - a few .weeks. 13y this time last year wo, had disposed af 04,000 breeding ewes to the Waikato.” • f Lower Values Forecast. Lower values were forecast for the coming season’s supplies} due to the uncertainty of the position regarding both tlie elections and the facial eczema position, and a drop of os a head or more in prices would not come as a sui prise. Whereas last year 2-tooth breeding ewes of good quality wore averaging round about 3os per head in forward

business, no, more than 27s 6d or 3Cs was expected this year. .Five-year-olds, which brought 255, to 27a Cd a year ago, should he worth only from 22s 6d to 24s this year, while six-year ewes, for which the range 12 months ago was 20s to 22s 6d, were expected to command a price of only 18s to 20s for good sound-mouthed in this year’s forward purchases}. Whether business in breeding ewes-: would brighten up before the end 'dt: the year 'was problematical, lAit at present it appeared chat most sheep J sent to the Waikato during the eViuy months of next year would -be mainly on consignment. During the past few years, annual ' drafts from Gisborne and the Coast to northern districts had approximated .300,000, with a slight decline during the past; summer- .■»,■■■ i " . . If all the s-.ieep which suffered in the facial eczema scourge were-: to be replaced, there would he a phenomenal demand during tire coining season, but Waikato farmers So lear a further serious outbreak that purchases may be cut down considerably this season. Demand for Cattla. Trade in store cattle between the Gisborne and Waikato districts, has been proceeding briskly during the past month or so, and large numbers have been sent north. The greatest demand has been for three to four-year-old steers, which have been changing hands at from £8 10s to £9 os, with three-year heifers at £4 10s to £6, these rates being on a lower basis than ,last year. The market lias improved for fat cattle, but the store market has hotresponded to the same extent. • A numher of lines of fat cattle have been sent north from Gisborne • recently.