FARM AND MARKET

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20275, 18 August 1937, Page 13

FARM AND MARKET

Weekly Agricultural Review

(By “ Stookman.”) Items of Interest. Enquiries In regard to Shows and Sales and I ‘ ' General Comment from Readers will be welcomed. These should || j be addressed to “ Stookman,” Waikato Times, Hamilton.

OOMING SHOWS AND SALES.

Hamilton Stock Sale: Every Tuesday. Morrlnsvllle Stock Sale: Every Friday. Cambridge Stock Sale: Every Monday. Te Awamutu Stock Sale: Every Thursday. Combined Breeders’ Bull Fair: September 22, 23, and 24. “ Meadowland” Stud Bull Sale, Otorohanga: August 24. Annual Spring Horse Fair, Pukekohe: August 26 and 27.

HIGH LEVEL.

VALUES IN WAIKATO. PEAK PERIOD AT HAND. ' ] ] SUBSTANTIAL RISES RECORDED. j Fat oattla are on offer In aver- « age numbers and values have risen steeply at all yards. Store cattle are In better request at more money. Dairy oattle sell at late quotatlgns. A sharp rise In fat sheep values i has been reoorded at all centres. i Where changed, values for 1 store sheep are higher. Late quotations are well held ( for fat pigs. Store pigs are firm to higher. j A return to values ruling in the | Waikato some eight years ago was ex- - perieuoed at the irankton sale jestei- ■ day, the phenomenal rise In values j providing the high-light o i this week s i trade. A rise was generally expected ■ In view of the buoyancy of the previous week’s market, hut it was not | generally anticipated that the advance • would be so substantial. As far as Waikato saleyards are concerned spring has already arrived and values have made their seasonal advance earlier than is usually the case. Beef values have reaohed the highest level for years, while an exceptionally buoy- , ant market rules for fat sheep. A j highly satisfactory season has been experienced for dairy cattle and keen . Interest is still maintained with values j remaining on a highly satisfactory j level for vendors. A noticeable feat- ! lire of the dairy cattle market this | season has been the better demand for j superior cattle and buyers have al- ' ways showed themselves willing to pay more as long as their purchases camo up to requirements. Lambing In Waikato. Sheep farmers and fat lamb produo- j •rs generally could not have wished ; ( for better weather than that which has been experienced for the past fort- l night. The spell of fine weather com- j !rtg at Just the crucial period has meant i ! that the mortality rate has been satis- j factorily light and that there is every j prospect of high lambing percentages. Very early land’s, did not fare so well, ! but those born during the past few j days are reported to bn doing exoep- . t.lonnlly well. However, it is yet, too early to be over optimistic In regard < to the conditions. Last, year, it, must j be remembered, fine weather was also : experienced at the critical period and lambing percentages were high, but . the favourable spell was followed by cold and wet weather and the lambs consequently received a severe setback. .However, producers last year were fortunate In the very favourable j export. prices paid throughout the season nnd although the bulk of the | lambs were turned off later than usual • producers were not penalised as far ; as prices were concerned. Producers are fortunate in the fact that there is on some properties short young crass available for the newly-born lambs, but careful grazing management i will, be needed when the spring flush I of grass Is at Its height. Animated Beef Market. The sharpness of the competition during the sale of ox at the central j yards yesterday was reminiscent of , boom period sales for at no time did i the sale slack. Prices rose by £2 to j £3 per head and by at least 5s per j 10b lb. The operations of chilled beef . buyers, reflected by the shipments of ! chilling cattle sent away during the j past two months, has created a scar- ' city of good n\ and this has sharp- 1 ened the demand by butchers. At j Frank lon yesterday extra prime ox , sold from 30s to 40s against 23s to | 35s at, the previous sale, and prime ; ox from 23s to 32s against 25s to 23s I last. week. During the peak period of j last season when the prices recorded were the best for many years, the top j prleo paid for bullocks was £lfi. Yes- I terday £!fi 17* fid was obtained and : flfi was recorded In several cases. Had there been some better quality and heavier beasts on offer yesterday ! the top price would have been sub- ; slant tally more. To the cow and heifer beef section a* the central yards last ' week’s improved values were further Improved upon, one pen of choice heifers selling as bleb as <*l3 3*. this figure also being the best recorded at the vards for a considerable number of years. Yesferdav’s advance for eoxv beef was represented by a rise of tOs per bead .and » rise of. Is per 100 tip. week. Fn». Pip Market. There is a greater degree of activity - in flic f.it pig market at present and spjfv' M ~TT. i\veVe r.' the higher level of K*gp of falling and further rises are ton sate yes* er day was the selling of th ” n.T, is 'ud! except ion all y keen Sheep Values Advance. ewes would advance by 5s per head (Continued In nrit column.) I

ill. Frnnklon yesterday. Priors yoster--11 :i y wort* eonsidorably holt or Ilian Mm so. nhtainoil during tlio ponk of last st*amiii and wore Iho host lor mans years. 'I ll.' 11»|> prior of ads for wolhris yoshialay was .ills! mi (is bettor Man Ibo I 1 ')' prior lasi work, wbon values show d a silbslanlial a jvanoo. Tbo top prior for owrs. -,ls. was also ,-lass for a oonsidr vatdo niimlmr of v.-ars and was (U .id l.rttor than Mm • • ioc» work, i ii, to,, prior-) .pint- .1 \vrro not merely f.. r sine! m* iii'Both shorn wnlhors and owos worn on offor yrslortia.v at Frank - ton. shorn wrtlu'rs making io ;jns. and worr again readily trade' i and values woro unaltered. \l other Waikato centres values are moving- forward