FARM AND MARKET

Waikato Times, Volume 119, Issue 19890, 20 May 1936, Page 13

FAR M AND MARKET

Weekly Agricultural Review (By “Stockman.”) Items of Interest, Enqutrles in regard to Shows and Sales and General Comment from Readers will be welcomed- These should be addressed to “Stockman,” Waikato Times, Hamilton.

COMING SHOWS AND SALES.

Hamilton Stock Sale: Every Tuesday. Morrlnsvllle Stock Sale: Every Friday. Cambridge Stock Sale: Every Monday. Waikato Winter Show: May 26 to June 3. L. J. Saxby, Stud Jersey Sale: May 26. F. Discotnbe, Pedigree Pig Sale: May 27. G. D. Hall and Sons, Shorthorn Sale: May 28. R. D. Duxfleld, Shorthorn Sale: May 28. R. Chllcott, Pedigree Pig Sale: May 28. Matamata Horse Sale: May 21. SEASONAL DECLINE. WAIKATO STOCK VALUES. HEAVY ENTRIES FORWARD. DULL SALES OF BEEF. Cattle are on offer In Increased numbers with fat descriptions cheaper at the majority of centres. Fat sheep are still available In average numbers and the market Is firm. Bmall entries of store sheep met with a quieter demand. Dairy cattle met with an active demand with values remaining firm. Baconera are dearer at all centres, but pork prices are lower. Prime entries have been at a premium at Waikato salevards during the past week when yardings in most cases have been heavy with smaller proportions of finished pens. This has been particularly noticeable In the beef section where transactions have been effected at lower rates. With farmers anxious to unload surplus stocks, operators are reducing their limits on the strength of the realisation that vendors are forced to meet the market at considerably reduced values. All markets throughout the Dominion have been marked by the usual seasonal slackness, the position being relieved by the keen sales of bacon pigs and the steady demand for fat sheep.

There have not been sufficient frosts In the Waikato to retard pasture growth and although the winter is well advanced there is any amount of feed available for the soil temperature Is still comparatively warm. Warm sunshine and heavy showers have helped to extend the growing period and particularly on top-dressed land young grass Is available for the dairy herds and flocks. Judging by the condition of the lambs that have been coming forward at the saleyards, however, some sheep farmers are a little anxious as to feed supplies and are apparently not in a position Ic finish .iff their stock. Markets In London. The brightening of the London market. for butter has been the most, encouraging aspect of the past- fortnight and the current price, 95s per cwt.. Is the highest since 07s was recorded in February. During the last week there has been an advance of 3s. Present holdings of all butlers in London are estimated at only 13.362 tons, compared with 20,654 at tills time last, year and 28,513 ions in May. 1934. The improvement that has taken place In the market this season may be gauged from the fact that at this time last year New Zealand butter was selling at 77s per cwt. Position of Dalryfarmors. The improved pay-outs of dairy companies for April supplies have

been another factor contributing to the farmer's greatest confidence in the future. While the payments of Waikato companies were substantially the same as for the previous month, yet there were improvements in the caso of several companies, notably in the case of the New Zealand Co-op- , erative Company which paid out Is per lb for first grade butterfat for ! cheese manufacture. Apart from a I similar payment for September sup- ; plies, this was the highest price paid out by a Waikato company for several seasons. I«t was in the 1931-32 season that Is was last paid-out as an average payment. With the season nearing its end, it is obvious at this stage the season’s production figures are substantially in advance of those of last season and also ahead of those of the 1932-33 season. When the advanced pay-outs, together with increased production are taken into consideration it will be realised that the past dairying season has been the best since the pre-de-pression days. There are some who argue that the season has been exceptionally favourable and compares more than favourable with those of the pre-depression era. They are thinking of the profits being obtained from pigs and oilier side-lines that were taken up during the worst years in order to offset 1 lie loss being incurred in dairying. Discrimination For Beef. Buyers are weekly becoming more discriminating in the* beef market and only really attractive pens command brisk competition. Little prime quality as far as ox is concerned has been seen at the yards during the past two months and with quality becoming less attractive it is. difficult to draw price comparisons. The sale of ox at the central yards yesterday was undoubtedly the most disappointing for vendors since Christmas, but in the majority of cases they showed readiness to meet the market even at substantially reduced values. Cow and heifer beef has been meeting with a steadier demand, but here again the inferior quality of the offerings tends to retard competition. The only feature of the beef offering at the Morrlnsvllle yards last Friday was the fact that it was the plainest entry seen at the yards this season. Fat Sheep Firm. In contrast with beef sales, sales of fat sheep throughout the district have remained fairly keen, although unfinished entries met with little demand. It. is obvious that a surprisingly large proportion of farmer vendors apparently do not realise when a sheep is finished sufficiently to satisfy the requirements of export buyers. Truer appreciation of .just what the exporter or the butcher needs would ensure greater profits to many vendors. Of course, fear of feed shortage is inducing many to send their lambs to the yards in an unfinished condition, but at the same time .even a week or two more on good pasture would make a substantial difference in receipts. Wethers have been, coming forward in reduced numbers. but ewes are more plentiful *qd are being traded at firm values. Lamb values rule strictly according to condition. Little inquiry was forthcoming’ for slore sheep at the Morrtnsville yards on Friday, few pens being traded under the hammer, although the hulk of the offering was disposed of privately after the sale. Several good sales were made at the Frankion yards -yesterday, one line of 200 mixed aged ewes, including a good proportion of 2-tooths, in lamb to Romney rams, being cleared at 33s Gd. Easing Tendency For Porkers. The recent drops in the export schedule have naturally had a depressing affect on the pork market and

an easing tendency is apparent at all yards. Reductions in late quotations were apparent at both the Morrinsville and Frankton sales. Baconcr prices, however, continue to advance and at Morrlnsvllle on Friday the best price this season, 695, was recorded, this figure also being obtained at the central yards yesterday.