BREEDING EWES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 September 1938, Page 3

BREEDING EWES

LITTLE DEMAND IN GISBORNE, FEAR OF FACIAL ECZEMA. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) GISBORNE, September 13. According to reports received in Gisborne, the approaching election is the cause of Waikato farmers, who are usually in the market early for Gisborne breeding ewes, holding back this year. At this time last year 40,000 had been sold to the Waikato for delivery during the summer, but no business at all has been 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 they do not wish to do anything until after the election.”

Fear of further outbreaks of facial eczema was also given as a cause of the lack of activity in' the forward market for ewes. Losses during the past autumn were so heavy that some of the usual purchasers of ewes are doubtful whether they will be in the market this year. Whether business in breeding ewes would brighten up before the end of the year was stated to be problematical, but at present it appeared that most of the sheep sent to the Waikato during the early months of next year would be on consignment. During the past few years the annual drafts from Gisborne and the coast to northern districts have been about 300,000. Trade in store cattle between Gisborne and Waikato districts has been proceeding briskly during the past month and large numbers have been sent The greatest demand has been for three to four-year-old steers, which have been changing hands at from £8 10s to £9 ss, with three-year heifers at £4 10s to £6. These rates are on a lower basis than last year.