BRISK TRADE.

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20257, 28 July 1937, Page 13

BRISK TRADE.

STOCK IN WAIKATO. GOOD TONE FOR BEEF. LARGER ENTRIES FORWARD. Inoreased supplies of fat cattle are traded at firm rates. Any store oattle on offer are ready of sale. A brisk trade Is still experienced for dairy cattle and values generally are unaltered. Fat sheep ohanged hands readily and any price changes are In vendors’ favour. Little aotlvlty has marked the store sheep market. Fat plg9 are dearer at all centres. Store pigs are auctioned at firm to higher values. There have been no unusual fluctuations in the Waikato stock markets during the past week and sales at all centres have been marked by a steady tone. Fat stock of all classes have been forward in good supply, but it is still too early to expect large entries in the fat pig section. The keenest interest continues to be displayed in the dairy cattle department where there is invariably a large bench of buyers. A keen" demand is shown for best quality entries, but competition is inclined to be slower for poor quality descriptions. A greater number of bobby calves is now being handled and dairy farmers are receiving keen competitive prices.

Pedigree and Grades. The feeding trials and other experimental work undertaken by the Waikato Pig Recording and Research Association has demonstrated the great value of pedigree in pig breeding, bu* apparently pig producers as a whole do not fully appreciate the value of pedigree. This was demonstrated in striking fashion at the recent Waikato Combined Breeders’ sale where recorded pedigree pigs of faultless breeding were slow of sale in comparison with the animated sale that was experienced for grade pigs. The buying bench did not seem to be prepared to pay as much for good pedigree sows as they would pay for any type of grade sow in the saleyards. This unfounded, prejudice against the pedigree pig must be eliminated If any real progress is to be made in improving the strain of the Dominion’s commercial pigs. Producers have to realise that their herds can be built up along sound lines only by the liberal use of pedigree. It has been suggested that at future shows pedigree sows which are exhibited should have one or two of their Utter in the bacon classes. This, it is said, would have the effect of demonstrating the superiority of the pedigree commercial pig over the ordinary grade pig. Thus, if such a practice were adopted, at every show throughout the country it should have the effect of educating producers to the value of pedigree. Brisk Beef Market. A keen interest continues to be displayed for beef and the tone of the market at the central yards has been particularly good. A buoyant tone has existed for both ox and cow beef and indications are that a further improvement can be expected.. A noticeable feature has been the improvement in the quality of the cattle forward , and this has been no small factor in stimulating competition. Prime ox still sells from 26s to 80s per 1001 b., plain and Inferior ox from 20s 6d to 245, choice young cows and heifers from 20s to 80s and prime cows from 22s to 24s 6d. The sale of cows and heifers at Frankton yesterday was inclined to be variable, but on the whole values were well up to those of the previous week. At the smaller Waikato centres there have been only limited supplies of really choice beef forward and the bulk of the beef pennlngs invariably comprise plainer sorts. Smaller entries of boners still attract keen competition from large benches of buyers. Fat. Sheep Steady. Apart from minor fluctuations, the fat, sheep market remains unchanged. Not for some years has the sheep market remained steady for so long a period, a gratifying aspect for sheep men being the high values that, have been sustained. Wethers have, been making slightly better money during Ihe past fortnight, but ewes have remained steady at practically the same level for the past two months. Best wethers at present make from 33s to Hr '*»d with unfinished pens being cleared from 80s to 80s 9rt. Best ewes make from 23s to 335, and unfinished lines from 17s to 20s. Only exceptional wethers, however, make above 38s and there have been comparatively few ewes making above-20s fid. There has not hpen the same degree of activity in the store sheep section during the week, hut any lines on offer have been in good request. Fat Pigs In Request. Not for some years has pork been so dear at, the saleyards as It, has been during the week and at the Frankton yards yesterday up to 9d per lb was realised. The few baeoners that have been forward have met with a sharp sale and high values have been reported, the solitary heavy haconer at Hie Frankton yards yesterday selling at 88s. Store pigs have similarly been in animated request and although larger entries have had the effect of slightly reducing the high values set a fortnight ago all classes are still dear.