SHEEP FOR WAIKATO

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20994, 22 December 1939, Page 7

SHEEP FOR WAIKATO

EAST COAST DRAFT BUYING IN PROGRESS LARGER DRIVES EXPECTED (Special to Times) GISBORNE, ThursdayMany thousands of sheep are being prepared in the Gisborne and East Coast districts for the annual movement to the Waikato. The first of the main lot are expected to be put on the road during the first week in the new year, after which mobs will follow in a steady stream during the next five or six weeks. Already a few small lots of twotooth ewes and also a number of wethers have been sent north, but those involved only a small portion of the total that will be driven, railed and also shipped from various parts of the district. The motor-vessel Pakura left Gisborne yesterday for Auckland to be fitted up to take about 2500 sheep in one loading from Gisborne and Coast ports for northern destinations, principally Tauranga, from which they are railed to Waikato farms or saleyards. Slight Increase Expected

As many as 355,000 sheep have been sent out of the district during a season, most of these being to the Waikato, with small numbers to the south. That was in 1936-37, since when there has been a marked decline to 218,878 the following year and 164,327 last year. This year is expected to provide at least a slight increase.

Buying for forward delivery has been proceeding steadily over the past six or seven weeks, and agents report handling larger numbers. Last year forward buying did not commence until a week or so before Christmas. A steady market has been maintained since the commencement of buying and, as prices for wool and export fat stock are fixed at present, little variation is expected. Two-tooth ewes have been selling from 25s to 265, and others at the same rates as previously quoted.