SHOWS AND SALES

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20731, 15 February 1939, Page 13

SHOWS AND SALES

Hamilton Stock Sale: Every Tuesday. Hamilton Store Sheep Sale: Ever} Wednesday. Morrinsville Stock Sale: Every Friday Cambridge Stock Sale: Ever} - Monday Te Awamutu Stock Sale: Every Thursday. Franklin Show: February 17 and 18. Hamilton Ram Fair: February 20, 21, 22 and 23. Auckland Show: February 24 and 25. MANY EWE FAIRS MARKETS IN WAIKATO OPENING PRICES FOR RAMS FAT STOCK QUOTATIONS Smaller entries of fat cattle sell at unchanged rates. Store cattle are often dull of sale. A quiet market continues for fat sheep. Values are maintained for store sheep. Baconers sell at unchanged money, but porkers are cheaper. Store pigs are variable of sale. There has been no slackening in trade at Waikato sale centres during the week and large yardings, particularly of sheep, have been the order at most yards. The comparative buoyancy of the breeding ewe market has continued except for the slight setback for two-tooths at the Morrinsville fair on Friday. Values for good rams were satisfactory at the opening ram fairs last yeek, but the inquiry was dull right through for poorer sorts. Next week a total of 4000 rams will be offered at Gl&udelands, and in view of last week’s demand and the number of entries to come forward values can be expected to be on a lower plane than those of last yean. Although bright sunshine followed the rain, temperatures have been low and pasture growth is not as satisfactory in the Waikato as would be expected under the circumstances. Store sheep and cattle continue to come by road and rail from the East Coast for auction in this district, another mob of cattle from the Coast arriving at Morrinsville this week. The slow pasture growth cannot be without its inlluence on the store cattle market. Beef Quality Improves In contrast with the rather poor quality of the entries seen at the yards during the previous few weeks, the quality of the fat cattle seen at the. central yards yesterday was of a coriiparatively high standard. The market was a brisk one throughout for all good sorts, but the improved prices per head were rather an indication of better quality than of a firmer market. Shortness of supply still continues to be a characteristic of the markets at the smaller centres where boner cattle are replied on to supply the bulk of the yardings. Steady competition still rules for boner cattid, while potter bulls have been also easier to dispose of. There has been little enthusiasm for store cattle and prices at some sales have been lower than anticipated. Cattle lately driven over from the Coast are shortly to be sold on the open market in the Waikato, but values will probably not be as good as those ruling at the spring fairs. Active Sheep Trade An active sheep trade has been experienced in the Waikato during the week not so much in respect of fat sheep as of breeding ewes and rams. Low prices are still ruling for fat sheep and there are no prospects for any rise in the near future. There has been no setback received for lambs, however, and they have been readily disposed of at unchanged rates at the yards. Some attractive lines of fat sheep have been forward, but even this has done little to stimulate inquiry. A feature of last week’s activities was the market for rams, the opening fairs being fairly well attended with a fair inquiry for superior quality and well-bred descriptions. Values, however, have been lower than those ruling at fairs held during the corresponding period last year. The demand has been quiet for Southdown rams, but a little better for Romneys, top price for Hock Romney rams being 13igns. The majority of the entries, however, have sold below £7. Values for breeding ewes are keeping up well and a feature oi; the fair at Morrinsville on Friday was the keen demand for the older sheep. Two-tooths, however, proved a disappointment, but their setback may be purely a temporary one. Drop In Porker Prices A busy time has been experienced in the fat pig section where large pennings have been selling readily. A drop in the export schedule, however, resulted in a recession of approximately 2s per head at the Frankton sale yesterday, although baconers showed little change. The latter class, however, were penned in smaller numbers and this fact may have possibly provided a check to any falling away in interest. Store pigs continue to be very variable of sale and the market has been generally dull at recent Waikato sales. However, the brighter Frankton market for stores yesterday may be a forerunner of improvement at other centres.