QUIETER TONE

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21215, 11 September 1940, Page 11

QUIETER TONE

MARKETS IN WAIKATO LESS DEMAND FOR BEEF LARGE ENTRIES STILL FORWARD Large entries of fat cattle make slightly lower to firm rates. Store cattle make unchanged rates under a quieter demand. Dairy cattle are usually firm. Late rates are generally repeated for fat sheep Store sheep sell readily at the same money. Fat pigs are very firm. Store pigs continue dear at all yards. Large supplies have continued to act as a brake on Waikato stock values. The favourable feed position is reflected in the large entries at all centres, and until yardings decrease a little there is not likely to be any distinct improvement in price. There has not been the same sharp inquiry for store cattle, but fair numbers have changed nands at slightly lower values. The demand has continued keen for store sheep and some particularly satisfactory sales of this class have been reported during the week. Entries have not been large, although at some of the smaller centres special consignments have been forward. After a period of lesser values, a shorter entry of dairy cattle at the Morrinsville sale on Friday resulted in very brisk bidding, and values rose sharply by at least £3 a head with top prices ranging from £l3 to £l4 15s. This degree of improvement, of course, has not been general, but a steady, demand has been shown elsewhere and fair numbers have changed hands during the week. Feature of the week’s activities was the big annual spring horse fail at Cambridge, where values on the whole were very satisfactory. Prices paid at Cambridge have been taken as a favourable augury for other fairs this month. Weaker Competition Competition for beef has weakened further during the week rather than strengthened. Even a lighter entry at the Frankton sale yesterday did not have the anticipated effect of stimulating inquiry. Values have steadily declined over the past four or five weeks and are getting closer to freezing rates. At this time of the year peak values are usually being obtained for beef, but the position is proving very different this year. It has to be remembered that at the corresponding period last year up to 40s was being paid by freezing works’ operators for chiller cattle. This year, however, the market has to depend more on local trade. Although the entry at the central yards yesterday was the lightest for some weeks, it was, nevertheless, quite a full average yarding. Store cattle have shown a return to more reasonable levels during the week, and a steady trade in this class is reported. The fact that graziers were having recourse to buying up boner cattle during the week is an indication of how keen the demand for store cattle still is.

Steady Sheep Trade The market for fat sheep has been considerably steadier during the past fortnight. Lighter entries have helped towards this state of affairs although at some centres fairly substantial yardings are reported. It seems that the high values reached at the central yards a month ago are not likely to be repeated, at least not in the near future. The quality of entries on the whole has not been so impressive during recent sales. No very heavy prime sorts have been shown, but still at the same time there have been quite a number of good medium sorts offering. More and more shorn sheep are being shown and yesterday at Frankton this class comprised quite a fair proportion of the yarding. Store sheep have been arousing keen interest wherever on offer and values have usually been well maintained. Keener Demand The demand has been noticeably keener for pigs during the week, although there has been no general advance in prices. Entries have substantially increased at most yards, but, with more buyers showing more activity, this has had no adverse effect on values. Yardings now in-

elude a larger proportion of baconers and these are being keenly competed for throughout the district. Store pigs are still very dear, prices just above 50s not being uncommon for large stores. Sows still sell well, although prices at Frankton yesterday were not as high as the previous week.