SLACKER TONE

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20956, 8 November 1939, Page 13

SLACKER TONE

MARKETS IN WAIKATO LARGER ENTRIES FORWARD DAIRY FARMERS WANT RAIN Large ent ies of fat cattle are forward and values are lower at all centres. Store cattle are less in demand and values ha ’e declined.

Light consignments of dairy cattle are variable of sale. Fat sheep make less money at all yards. Store sheep are usually fully firm. Late rates are repeated for fat pigs. Store pigs are sometimes a shade lower. The hot, sunny weather of this week, following a week of cold, drying winds, has considerably checked pasture growth throughout the district. Rain is anxiously awaited by both graziers and dairy farmers for they realise that any check to growth at this time of the year will have serious consequences at a later period. Ensilage and hay crops were for the most part light last year and it will be particularly unfortunate if the experience is repeated this season in view of the appeal for greater wartime production. It is apparent that the long period of buoyancy that has been associated with the Waikato stock market since the beginning of September has now come to an end. With the exception of the pig section, prices in other fat departments have shown d {steady decline over the past several weeks and there is now a substantial difference between current rates and those ruling a month ago. Store stock, too, have not escaped the general slackening in interest and lower values have generally characterised the market for this class during the past fortnight. Wool growers, who have not yet sent their wool forward to the stores, should carefully note that the wool must be got up as usual and that it must be skirted. If this is not done, the clip will have to be opened in the broker’s store and skirted at the grower’s expense. Slack Beef Markets The heavy supplies of beef coming forward at the central yards have naturally done much to depress values. Entries are unusually large for this time of the year, this being due to the fact that all paddock trade is practically at a standstill because little freezing is being done, while, in addition, the chilled beef trade has been suspended in the meantime. Until there is some clarification of export details and freezing resumes its normal activity, the open market is practically the only clearing house for vendors and consequently heavy entries may be expected at the saleyards. Values have fallen steeply in the Waikato during the past few weeks, a further setback being experienced at the central yards yesterday when the demand could not cope with the supply at late rates. The bench of buyers was a small one and there were practically no outside representatives. Outside buyers who often attend the Frankton sale are now probably able to buy at the smaller centres cattle which would normallyl be absorbed by the export trade.

Cheaper Fat Sheep No improvement has been recorded for fat sheep during the week and from all centres have come reports of slacker markets. Markets throughout the Waikato have been oversupplied and this, coupled with the fact that quality has fallen off to a noticeable extent, has depressed the market. Wethers have been selling better than ewes, but the latter have been coming forward in increasing numbers and a drop in supplies might possibly remedy the position as far as values are concerned. Store sheep have been meeting with quite a satisfactory demand and the tone of the market generally has been brisk With wool and fat lamb prices under the war commandeer considered satisfactory, there will probably be little restraint about the store sheep trade and the ‘outlook for the ewe fairs early in the New Year is now considerably more promising than it was a month ago.

Keen Market For Pigs An indication of the present strength of the fat pig market was provided at the central yards yesFerday when, despite the extra heavy :„, ‘v competition showed no noticeable slackening. The export prices have been received with general atiFfaction in pig trade circles and fh f should prove a stimulus to tradth' s The pjg trade is the only sec- !• the stock market showing tIG " degree of buoyancy and there fs" every indication that prices will Looo up particularly in view of the Fact thFt more export buyers are now operating at the yards.