BREEDING EWE DEMAND

Opotiki News, Volume I, Issue 120, 9 December 1938, Page 4

BREEDING EWE DEMAND

SHEEP FOB WAIKATO FORWARD BUYING STARTS LARGER MEN INTERESTED A start has been made in Gisborne with the forward buying of breeding ewes for the -Waikato; but prices are 9s per head, and in some instances more, below tile level of last season. Prices so far quoted are 16s 9d to IBs lor 5-year ewes and Cds 6cl to 25s for 2-tootlis.

Only the larger of the Waikato buyers are interested so far, but the total number sold to date represents a very small proportion of the number which usually go forward. The total in regard to which deals have been affected would not be more than 15,000, but now that a start has been made many more orders are expected during the next few weeks. Two years ago 'the peak of the buying, in the Gisborne and Coastal districts was reached and the number of ewes sent to the Waikato was estir mated at 300,000. Last season the total was somewhat smaller, probably little more than 250,000, so that while only 15,000 have been sold this season to date there is still a. Jong way to go before anything like the numbers of previous years are dealt with.

Noi Interest in, Consignment. The sending of sheep to the Waikato on consignment seems extremely unlikely this year, so far as Gisborne farmers are concerned, for they have been disappointed in the past with this class of business, and because of the uncertainty of the market this summer there may he less inclination for the Gisborne men to dispatch any Jots on consignment, although some of the stations from the top end of the Cast may do seine consignment business Gisborne Herald.