FIRM DAIRY ENQUIRY

Taranaki Daily News, 14 September 1940, Page 2

FIRM DAIRY ENQUIRY

TARANAKI STOCK SALES ALL BRANCHES BUOYANT With ideal spring conditions prevailing the stock market to-day is a very buoyant one and some branches see values showing an advance over last week's rates, state the Farmers' Co-op in their report for the week. A strong demand continues for all dairy cows and heifers and at the moment the supply by no means copes with the inquiry. This is the position at all sale centres and saies of both springers and cattle in milk show an appreciation over the good prices obtained last week. Cattle of the above description have sold to £17 with the major saies of this class in the vicinity of from £13 to £14, others from 1 £11 upwards according to quality and | condition. Quite a number of two and three-year-old heifers close to profit have found buyers at from £13 to £15. Prices for yearling Jersey heifers have surpassed all expectations. Outstanding cattle sold at Inglewood on Wednesday brought £8 15s. with other good quality lines realising from £7 15s to £8 9s. Useful cattle to-day sell from £6 to £7, but in all cases only quality cattle are saleable at these figures. Two-year-old empty Jersey heifers are also enjoying a full share of inquiry and saies registered i during the week were to £6 18s. Sound | empty cows displaying quality again | maintained steady inquiry and late rates | for them were surpassed in many in1 stances. ' There is a definite scarcity of cattle suitable for next season's dairy re- | placements and there is every indication j that the present price levels will again be exceeded before long. A strong inquiry continues for all classes of station-bred cattle with buyers concentrating mostly on "meaty" steers, and cows and heifers carrying condition. A feature of the spring cattle fairs just concluded goes to show that cattlfe with age and in forward condition have not appeared in any great numbers. Values are more or less unaltered as compared with those quoted in our last report, Some further good saies of ewes and lambs are reported and good one-year | sheep with 100 per cent. lambs at foot have sold from 30s to 32s, while youhger sheep have sold from 37s 6d to £2. There is also an improvement in values for hoggets. Wether hoggets have found buyers readily at 24s and 25s, while ewe hoggets (well-grown and well-woolled) have changed hands to 35s, slightly inferior sheep have sold from 31s to 33s. All classes of store sheep are scarce and any quotations that come on the market are readily disposed of. In face of the bareness of supplies the fat sheep branch has again witnessed a very firm range of values. Although no great change of prices is reported supplies are still short and it would not occasion surprise if price levels advanced further. Quotations are as follows: Best wethers, 38s to 40s, with lighter sheep 34s to 36s; prime heavy ewes, 32s; lighter sheep, 26s to 28s. In the fat cattle section, as reported last week, a firm range of values prevails with a hardening tendency apparent. Saies of best prime heavy PA. cows and heifers realised £10 10s to £11 10s, and of prime cattle £9 to £9 10s. Jersey cattle that come under the hammer sell freely with best conditioned cows from £8 to £8 10s, lighter weights £7 to £7 10s. Fortnightly fixtures held since the last report include the Stratford sale when a good yarding in all departments was forward. There was a good clearance in all branches. All dairy cattle saw a very [ animated sale and buyers were present from many parte in search of early-calv-ing cows and heifers. Best springers sold to £15 with other saies £12 10s to £13. Best calved cows made £14, others £11 to £12 15s, top quality heifers close to profit £15, other saies from £11 to £13 10s, calved heifers £12 10s down to £10 10s. In the store cattle class empty two-year-old Jersey heifers of quality made £6 19s, £6 15s, sound empty cows £5 15s, £5 10s, £5 8s, £5 5s, average weight Jersey beef £7 17s 6d, £7 12s Gd, young paddock cows £5 15s to £6 5s, boner cows £2 5s to £3 5s. Competition for all classes of pigs remains good with buyers seeking choice weaners or well-nourished stores. Saies for the week are as follows; Light bacon pigs, £3; light porkers, £2 10s; best forward stores, £2 to £2 5s; medium stores, £1 15s; choice weaners, 30s; medium weaners,. 24s to 25s; small and stunted sorts, 15s to 16s.