COMMERCIAL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXII, Issue 8313, 29 February 1912, Page 8

COMMERCIAL.

fcttlNfifON LIVE STOCK MARKET

I Bar Press Association. February 28 lh"its- Sheep. »We Bheep.—There was a very large eJiT of store sheep, the bulk being £«£■ .though all classes were represeated,' Wethers were numerous, and SSro" -TV-aa a. moderate quantity or lambs. Oversea shippers were m cvi-! d«nce. Taking the large entry . into consideration, the demand was good, especially for good young Canteroujy ewes Forward rape lambs maintained their value, but there were few penned. Ordinary stores sold moderately well, the prices being in favour;.ot buyers.. -Good wethers were sought after,,-but. poorer sorts were quieter. The^ range oi prices was: Good ewes: 24_ooth. 16s to 17s, extra to 17s 6d,i medium Llfbreds Us, 4-tooth 15s 6d to Ifis. 7d, 4, 6, and 8-tooth 15s 6d-.t0.175. full; £ ou the<i'9s to 13s 9d, No* Island owes 4 and 6-tooth 13s to 14s 3d,>6 and S-tooth 10s 6d to 14s. Wethers^Forward 15s to 16s, others 12s to 14s 6d, 4*ound-mouth halfbreds lt)s. 6d, Lambs: Best 12s to 13s, good 10s'6d to lls^d fair 9s to, 10s, small ,7s ;Bd. Halfbred "wether lambs 7s 3d to 9s, cults 7s 4d. ■■ Fat Lambs—The "yarding or 'lambs totalled 5451 as against 68bo at the previous week's sale. The quality all round showed a slight deterioration as compared with recent sales, and there was a decided weaken-: ing in values, estimated from 6d to 9d a head. The demand was good all j -through, and there were practically no; passings, but the fact that a buyer; who generally operates largely was: holding back, had a depressing effect; upon the. sale. All good lines were, '■-quitted readily, but there was some 1 hesitation with regard to the not • ■so well finished sorts. Recent prices, ■which were somewhat above the average, may be attributed to the fact; that some buyers.had orders to fill this. month, but this stimulantis no longer to be reckoned with, with; the-result that the market has weak-; «ned as recorded. The range of. pieces j ■was from 12s 6d to 19s 6d. ..■ Fat Sheep.—The yarding was <mij &; amediuni one in all classes represented. \ JSxport buyers operated only to a limited extent, competition being confined' to butchers. Sales made were on the' feasis of previous values. The range of prices was: Prime wethers 17s to 19s, -extra to 19s 9d, others 14s to I#>s 6d, unfinished from 10s Bd, prime ewes, 13s to 17s 7d, others 10s 2d to 12s, sa. Caftis. Fat Cattle.—The yarding : 6f fat j cattle comprised 218 head, an increase of 54 over last week's sale. The bulk of the yarding was made up of dealers' lines, and the quality was very fair. The demand for all classes was a little -weaker, but there was no quotable drop in values. Beef made 24s to '27* per 1001b, according to quality, steers fetched £8 10s to £12 10s, one fetching £14, heifers made £6 5s to £S 7s 6d, extra to £9 17s 6d, and dry cows £5 to £8 2s "6d, extra to £I'O 7s €d. Vealers. —A moderate entry of fat calves met with the usual demand, and representative prices ranged from 4s H6d to 565, according to size and condition. Stores.—There wa3 a fairly large entry, inch'ding some useful lines, anxl the demand was good. Yearlings made ij2s, io to 18-months £2 12s to £4, 2-year steers'£4 .15 6d to £5 11s, .2jear* heifers £4 2s to £4 ss, Si-year . Steers £5 17s, 3-year steers £6 11s to JB6 19s, 3-year lieifers £5 2s to £5 10s, dry cows £2 to £4 l'Os. Dairy cows met with a good mquiry., and prices ranged from £3 lOs to £8 IDs, extra malting; £11 -55.. Pigs. There was an average penning of tOat pigs, which met with good competition, and a considerable clearance in all lines has to be recorded. Choppers made 60s to 100s, heavy baconers 72s to 765, extra to 945, others 55s to 675, «xtra to 945, others 55s to 675, the values being equal to 6£d per Ib. Porkers made 45s to 50s, lighter sorts 38s to 435, equal to £Jd per Ib-