COMMERCIAL.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 62, 13 March 1919, Page 10

COMMERCIAL.

XOCAL MARKET CONDITIONS. "Auckland Star" Office. Thursday, March 19, 1919. Business is still fairly quiet generally, the principal reason being that retailers are indisposed to carry much stock in view of possible reduction in. values in the near futnre. Although freights have come down and will come down further soon, English and American manufacturers are fully booked with orders for some time ahead, and report that prices are not likely to decline for the time being; in fact, some further advances have been made. It is therefore only in heavy and bulky goods, where freight i> a big factor, that early reduction is likely. There are some reductions in local quotations this month, but these are partly due to holders' nervousness making them anxious tc quit stocks. Tinned, Fish.—Salmon has been very quiet, but will no doubt be better this month, on account of Lent. Moderate stocks are hold and prices are unchanged. Herrings: Stocks are sufficient for present requirements. Prices firm. Sardines: In light supply and quiet inquiry.

New Zealand I-'isb..—HuUet is slow. Loo sters and oysters are dull of sale.

Tea. —The Colombo market remains flnii. t with c. good demand existing. There have been heavy imports of Java tea recently. * bat importation has stopped now, as this ] tea is only used for blending purposes, aaU 1 present stocks are sufficient for some time. > POTATOES. J Supplies of potatoes hav tf been a little ' better regulated o£ late. Deliveries, however, still keep up with thti demand. Out? - factor that cannot be overlooked <s thut ' large quantities of potatoes were gro.* - n by t private persons Iα the Auckland district ' tblß season for their own use, and as the l yield was a heavy one all round, it neces- ' sarily follows that the demand is lessened ■ proportionately. Locally the market still j■' stands at about £7 10/ per ton for ordinary i t distributing wholesale parcels. The fart ' rhat ao far there has not been any export 1 of the surplus potatoes tends to unsettle ' the market. Now that there is a possi- ' bility of permits for export being grauted l by ths Government. Sydney Is abl« to ' bay at more satisfactory rates in other i quarters. ' ONIONS. ' i The local crop keeps this market well l supplied. There has been v little inquiry from overseas for onious, but business did not follow, owing to the prices asked, coup- r led with high freight rates, precluding possibility o. profit to the purchaser. The i onion crop in Canterbury has turned out s very well.. These, which are of fine size i this year, should soon be on the Auckland * market. The price continues at £10 per c ton. Unless an outlet for export opeuß the i market should weaken, as new season's I 1 onions from Canterbury for forward de- ' 1 livery, March-April, are offered at rates i which trill bring the landed cost under 1 those ruling in Auckland at the prestut 1 time. , MAIZE. t The demand for maize is still slack, ■ therefore the fact that stocks are low has not altered the quotation. -The new crop ' of maize is expected to be a large one ; per acre, as the weather has been most favourable this season. ' FOWL WHEAT. Arsiralian wheat is still keeping this I market supplied. The demand is good at ' 1 the present time. Southern new season's I ; wheat will probably be available for ship- . menc early nest month, but the prices '■ asked will be silghtiy above the landed cost o£ grain from Australia. i OATS. Something akin to a panic has occurred ' in mc oat marset in tue south. Uartous, whicc were quoted at 0/ per bushel f.o.b. at t.'ie beginiiius of the year, can now De bougjut' aY i/i which linens a fall of '£/ \ per oushel in about tea weeks; v. serious . .matter lor those who bought ahead at tue j higher figure. This position has been i brought about by the phenomenal yield this year In the South. Latest reports in- ■ dicated that the Canterbury crop will pruu- • the areas sown. Sixty to 7o bushels per « acre seems au ordinary yield this year, | ■while as high as 120 bushels per acre was • threshed, by one farmer at. Timaru. Of course these high nveruge.s will be reduced ; by the poorer yieldH lv some places, but it i is certain that the Government estimate ' of 34.90 bushels per acre Is considerably i under the mark as far as Canterbury is ' concerned. lv Southland the oat crop Iβ i also shaping lor a large yield, and if i safely harvested may turn out a record for that district. The explanation is that • throughout the Dominion the weather has ' been all that could he delred for success- 1 ful growing of oats. Heavy rains, followed by a cold spriug. and succeeded by ■warm sunshiny weather, is just what guarantees a splendid crop of oats. Realising the big yield now that threshing is on, the farmers became eager to sell at the .good prices offering, with the result that the market collapsed. Oats were sold fmshipment by the Te Anuu .at 5/9 f.u.1... which meant 0/8 landed here. The cargo by the Ta raw era will cost a shilling under i that figure. and the next boat will be I another sixpence cheaper. The change In I th e market has been a very sudden one ! *s prior to the drop Auckland firms who i had bought ahead, sold back lines purchased at fully 1/2 above what they can povs purchase at in the South. It is" hard! the lines were bought back by Southern j people. If the yield for the Dominion stands," as now estimated, at 43 bushels per acre, this will ghe a surplus or one .million and a-quarter bushels of oats to be disposed of. Last season's yield wits 4.942.000. and some 200.000 bushels were Imported from Australia. That proves «.142.000 bushels wns about the requirement of the Dominion, so if this Reason's yield reaches 9.000.000 bushels, it i=; quite evident there will be a bis carry over unless the surplus can be exported. GRASS AND CLOVER SEEDS. A- much -better demantl is reported for grass and clover seeds this week. Weather I conditions remain very favourable for bumIng off areas of felled" bush, and full advau- | tnge Is being taken of the opportunity thus |- Cocksfoot seed is being offered | at lower figures this season, as the yield and Wovcr scads are not heavy, a« merchants have been operating very carefully. The North Iβ now so burnt up for want of rain that there is a danger of bush fires and if a large one did occur it would create n' demand for grass and clover seed which might rapidly deplete the stocks now held fey local merchants. CHAFF. Thp draff market continues very weak in sympathy with the lower rates rul.'ng for oats. Rityers are not anxious to operate excepting for immediate requirements as it is felt that prices must come down, as the oat market declines. In the South v'haff is now quoted «t £4 20/ to £5 per ton. MANTRES. A better demand is reported for fertilisers. Quite a lot of business has beea cone in superphosphates. The market iv Australia for this line has firmed, and any Se s a h3e™ P ?o , a ti0 n- f - r ° m thilt <luartcr wUI folkJw I |n? OTerDn l U reported™tha"! S& Suffir' -Mcfi U, wil? h iXfere wnor betn S,S W'^S" CURRENT PRICES ter. 1/e jgffig '^ uc ment; farmers- butter ti*. ° r P lo ™* l Paycbeese, 9ld per lv- J. , n V d per lb; farmers' lb; hama j'^ tor y cbeece, iOd to (nominal); oatmeal V*s'sWai' ,-"**• » 10/ Onione.-.New, io^, 10 /*?. iS 10 ' Per ton. store. ' Jo «", 9/0

A decided ta"J HAXGE - on "Change i n the tiw" not i<-eable day. -more transactions iv^ l,l^ 3 y esf prices eenerally toSnc 8 p £ Cc - an< l scares continne in « t ° good - Insurance •*»«* fl^-e% er d e r t a^. w a J

for both New Zealands and South British. A good all-round demand exists for shares in cnal companies. Sales took place of paidup Auckland Gas at 26/6 and 26/9, and for Gisborne Gas an Inquiry set in at 14/0, but that offer was not accepted. Transactions took place in Bank of New Zealand old Issue at £13 16/6, and Nationals at £6 &/. A sale was also reported of Kalapol Woollen shares at £7 7/. CJiinlng stocks are still neglected generally speaking, but Grand Junctions were placed this week at 12/6, and Walhis at £2 2/6. The decline upon recent rates was probably due to poesiole trouble with the Miners' C'nlon. Talisman i sliures were placed yesterday at 8/. j

AUCKLAND STOCK SALES.

The New Zealand Loan aud Mercantile : Ageucy Co., Ltd., report;— I L>n Thursday, at i'uakau, we liL'lil our second suet-p ialr lv tuat district, wliuu more than tue advertised nuiujcr came lor- [ ward. rmw snoweu a sugut Uecline ou i tue previous fair, but we it-port a. most I successful sule, eveiytulug changing huuds i witu the exception oi ouu Urult or I'OO f.m- I ewes. Tue yaiuing was chiefly composed i ut aged ewes. Store wetners and lambs ' jarded lor requirements. 'i'wo-tooui wethers, fl 3. 6 ti> £1 6/6; 4-tooth wethers, upwards, £1 (>. a to £1 10/; 2-tooth ewes, il 1/ to £1 10, ; 4-tooth to f.f.ni. ewes, ±:i 1.6 to 41 S/U; r.f.m. to biokeu, 12/ to n 1.3; shorn lambs, 8/6 to 17/6; woolly lumtis. U/ to It)/; komney rams, 2-tooUis, 3i;s to tigs; aged ditto, lgu to .'.'lg*.

At \S esttteid ou Thursday ive -held our weekly sule ut duirv and store cattle, Beat dairy cows aud heifers, £13 to £17 o/; others, £8 UP/ to £12 15, ; bulls, £7 to £i:i; empty cons and heifers, £0 10/ to £S 7 0; calves, £1 10, to £2 17/; yearliug to IS-month steers, £4 5/ to £6 15/, "'tto beileis, £3 15/ to £3 17,0.

Vu .Monday at Henderson we had an than late sales, snd we report H good sale. Dairy cows and heifers, £8 to £12 10/; bulls, £5 to £10 5/: empty cows aud belters. £0 to £8 15/ ; tat heifers. £11 2/0; calves. £12 n> £12 11/; yearling steers, £-'! to £5: yearling heifers, £2 11/ to £4 12/0.

At Pukekohe on Tuesday we had a very lurge yarding ot all classes ot stock, -with the exception of grown steers. Competition was steady, and we report a good clearance. With very few exceptions everything changed hands; 21 to 3-year-old steers. £8 10/ to £11; 1} to 2-year-old steers. £5 17/6 to £S 7/0: yearling steers, £4 5/ to £o 15/; steer calves, best, £2 5/ to £3; others. £1 ~■' to £2 2/; heifer calves, best, £2 to £2 12,6: others, £1 3/ to £1 IS/; inferior calves. 10, upwards; yearling to 18-month heifers. £3 15/ to £6 5/; heifers suitable for dairy purposes. £5 10,----to £8 5/; empty cows and heifers, £6 to £8 15/: bulls, heavy -weights, £12 to £16 10/; others. £4 10/ to £11. Au exceptionally large yarding of beef sold at fully Westfield quotations; 175 head sold, mostly fat cow?. Messrs. Alfred Buckland and Sons, Ltd., report:— At Westfield, on Thursday, we had a full yarding of dairy stock and a fewstores. The former sold well up to late values for good quality; other sorts and store cattle were not wanted. Best dulry cows made from £13 15/ to £13 13,-, second quality £10 10/ to £14 10/, aged aud interior £6 10/ to £9 10, ; good quality heifers £13 10/ to £18, others £9 10/ to £11 10/, small and backward £5 2/6 to £8 10 : empty cows, £5 10/ to £8: calves, £1 15/ to £2 5/, Inferior 15/ to £1 10/; good quality and conditioned fre-h-ful!-inouthed ewes £1 11/6 to £1 12/6, less condition*--! £1 1,-9. *V We held out- monthly sale at Turua. Hauraki Plains, on Friday, aud had an average yarding, all classes being represented. There was a fair attendance, and prices were similar to those ruling last mouth. Daily cows and heifers made from £9 to £13 10/; empty cows. £3 5/ to £7 10,'; three to four-year-old steers £10 to £12 10/, two to three-year-olds £7 lOiC'ftoSw*--).. 15/,----yearlings', to two-year-olds £*-*Mj w -W'-'-»*7f* heifers, same age, £4 5/ to £7 12/; fat steers, £12 to £15 5/; fat cews and heifers, £8 10/ to £13; calves, £1 1/ to £1 13/; ewes, 13/ to 19, ; -wethers, £1 2/'to"£l 6/9. At Waiuku on Saturday we had an extra large yarding and it record attendance. All classes of stock sold at ruling values. Dairy cows and heifers brought from £8 10/ to £14. The advertised pedigree Jersey heifer with calf made 3S*gs. Empty cows, £5 to £S 10/: two to three-year-old steers, £7 10/ to £10: yearlings to 18----lnonth steers. £4 13/ to £6 10/: heifers, same age, £4 10/ to £7 3/. Beef, of which there .was a record entry. sold at about Westfield rates. Small steers, £11 10/ to £13 10/; cows and heifers. £9 to £13 17/6: best calves, £2 3/ to £3 3/; smaller, £1 12/ to £2 2/; other calves, 10/ to £1 8/; small pigs, IV to £1 5/; small porkers. £2 2/ to £2 16/. On -Monday we held a second sheep fair at Clevedon, and penned 3579 sheep. There was a large attendance, but the demand was less keen than at the previous sale a month ago. and, -with the exception of wethers, prices were easier. Best two, four, and six-tooth ewes. £1 7/ to £1 10/: smaller t-w..-tooth ewes, £i 2/ to £1 5/large framed f.f. mouth ewes, £14/ to £1 6'; smaller f.f. mouth ewes. 17/6 to £1 2'older ewes, 14/ to 17; cull ewes 5/ to 11~0 : fat -wethers. £1 9/ to £1 12: store wethers! f„, ''/ to . £1 s/: su - a -> two-tooth wethers. 19/ to £1 2/; fat lamb-.. £l 2/ to £1 7/6good woolly lambs. 14/ to 176- smaller woolly lambs, 10/ to 13/: best shorn lambs, 11/ to 14/6; other shorn lambs, 7/to 10/. WESTFIELD SALES. Wn?.v" N , eW Zealani - Loan and Mercantile "stock Lnu t V 'f n ' r Tep " vU ~ At Westfield fat • blrs ami „wi "Tf Was ya, ' ded - n - a --<- »ur_- | Per 1001b; cw and heifer beefT £" 4/ fo" £ " 9/ per 1001b. steers sold at-from £~i to ' fu7, I l ' -£2 WS and . neifers sold at f™ l " -es ,10/ to £lo; small 18-montli steers U n- | finished, £6 13/ to £7 2/6. Some if the , averages were:-,St-u e en steers from Mr. |Kobt. Clark, Y\ aiau Pa. £19 n/o- eight from the Waikato, £18 12/6; 12 small but jyell dot,e, from Mr. W. W. Carpenter Papakura, £17 13/9; eight steers from Mr! 1 red. Bregma-, Waiuku, £17 6/3; steers i-iT i-/k ije °- Ponui Island, £16 li/U; cows from ditto, £13 17/6 ! heifers from same place, £13 15/; nine co--s from Mr. G. McDonnell, Otaua, ill Dirt' Jr/iIT 3 . TO r Mr ' T " *-tei_on,'Taupirl, £*„ a/. i_alves were yarded in extreme numbers and were consequently easier for all classes, but light vealers, which continue to sell frcelv. Kuuuers sold from. £3 to £9 0/ for an extra welldoue heifer from Mr. Sam. Clark. Brookby; heavy vealers, £3 2/6 to £4 15/ medium |£2 »/ to. £3, light £1 6/ to £2 8/, small and fresh-dronped 4/ to £1 2/. Pigs- Au average yarding, all classes selling under keen competition. Heavy baconers, £3 2/6 to £6 17/6; small choppers and lij-ut baconet's, £4 o/ to £5 1/; heavy porkers, £3 10/ to £4 4/, medium £3 6/ to £3 14/ small £2T 3/ to £3 4/, weaners 18. The supply of butchers' pigs is not equal to the demaud, all classes being wanted. Sheep were penned in large numbers, and sold under steady competition at late rates Heavy wethers made from £1 15/ to £1 18,9. medium £1 12/ to £1 14/9, light £1 8/9 to £1 11/9, unfinished and small £1 3/a to £1 8/3; heavy ewes £1 9/ to £1 13/ medium £1 4/6 to £1 8/9, light £1 1/ to £1 4/0, small and unfinished 15/ to £1. Lambs were penned in large numbers, and sold at late rates. Best made from £1 5/ to £1 9/3, medium £1 2/ to £1 4/9, light 16/ to £1 1/, small and unfinished 10/ upwards. Messrs Alfred Buckland and Sons report: lesterday, at our weekly Westfield fat stock market, our yarding of beef numbered 418 head, comprising 265 steers 143 cows and heifers, and 10 bulls. There was an improved demand for ox beef, with values very firm. Cows were easier, except In odd places of extra prime Choice ox sold tc £2 10/6 per 1001b, prime ox £2 ./fa to £2 10/ per 1001b; rough and ordiand heifer beef, £2 to £2 6/ per 1001b. steers ranged in price from £10 10/ to £'-2 </v for a pen of four steers from Messrs. .1. ilassey ani. Son, Pukatutu Island, Man- ? nA lu -- fers . -*-« 15/ to £13 12/6. The highest averages for steers were:-Sixl teen from Messrs. .1. Massev and Sons M? W tU W» r!f nßere V £-*»'l9/sfs from .Mr. w. Wright, Otaua. Waiuku, £18 17/6----l'/o ri 'S m , Mr ' 3no - B'oady, Te Aroint £18 9/0; S from the Hon. E Miti-helsou W-ii WaSe-gf £a\n. t«° m Mr ' ~as' Muir - -4 from Mr , n ° Wl™ c * ™ a <-- -CIS 3/; 5/ fr , n fr Mr: i eO H'Xo?a n ua M Walu r revk e u *%& 21 , J*Z* n %r* U & Ka *" a . £17'lf/6* i £16 2/3; 16 Irom S r 00 v ? to T k ' l , T f Awamutu, £13 6/1; 23 smaVl ' ?' J " ? alnh ' Huntly Harris; Wot,* Ma_-_ T e e ™i?°, ,n - £*• *"*- ---from Mr W r ■£" , c'„e'„* sl4 16/: 9 cows ■ 9/". 9 cows from Mr c* T Awamut -'. -213 " £10 16/1: The™ was arrntn lo ,* B ' Piron S- iaa of sheep anffa atSS/SJS a J arse "Ming J Prime wether mutton d^ ma *- ( - throughout a ar-d sold at sligm 1 v u let1etw S . n , ot P-^tlful,

prime wetbers, £1 17/6 to £1 199; heavy ! prime wethers, £1 14/6 to £1 16/6: lighter prime wethers, £1 11/0 to £1 13/6; light fat wethers, £1 8/ to £1 10/; large-framed, unfinished wethers, £1 8/ to £1 11/; other wethers, £1 2/ to £1 6/9; extra heavy prime ewes, £1 8/6 to £1 11/; heavy fat ewes, £1 4/ to £1 7/6; other killable ewes, £1 2/ to £1 3/6; other ewes, 12/6 to 19/6 (-267 sold). Lambs were also penned in large numbers. Unfinished sorts did not sell too freely, but all prime lambs met with a spirited sale. Extra heavy prime, £1 9/ to £1 11/9; heavy prime, £1 6/ to £1 8/6; good fat lambs £1 .1/0 to £1 0/6, lighter £1 1/ to £1 j."./, unfinished 13/ to 16/ for best, others liov to 12/6 (781 sold). The 156 fat and I young calves were above requirements, , and prices eased iv accordance. Runners made from £4 to £4 12/6; nothing choice yarded. Vealers, heavy, £3 5/ to £3 10/; riedluin, £2 -3/ to £3 3/; light, £1 10/ to £.2 2/; small nnd fresh dropped, 5/ to £1 8/. AYe had a full market of piss. Weaners and stores were again easier. All others sold iiuiler keen competition at late values. Large choppers and heavy baconers made from £5 10/ to £7 10/; 11 choice heavy "j.-.coners from Mr. T. D. Reid, Waiuku, averaged £6 2/; small choppers and light baconers, £4 12/6 to £5 5/; porkers, large, £3 16/ to £4 10/; medium £3 3/ to £3 13/, small £2 10/ to £3; slips, £1 S/ to £2 2/; weaners, 13/ to £1 (282 sold). Dalgety and Company, Limited, report having held their weekly fat stock sale at Westtield on Wednesday, as under:— Beef: Good yarding, prices on par with late rates. Kxtrn choice pens prime ox sold at equal to £2 10/ per lonl'o, ordinary quality £2 4/ to £2 6/, cow and heifer £2 to £2 6/. Veal: An average yarding, which sold at late rates. ltunuers made £6 13/; ordinary suckers, £2 10/ to £3 S'; others, 3/ to £2. Sheep: Large yarding, which sold at a decrease ou last week's prices. Extra heavy wethers up to 33/6: good quality, 28/ to 30/: heavy good quality ewes to 28/; light, 22/ to 23,'. Lamb: Average yarding, selling at lute rates. Good quality lambs. 22/; medium, 13/ to 20/; others, 11/ to £1. i'ork: Medium yarding, prices about llie same as last week. Heavy baconers to £6 3/; porkers, £2 3/ to £3 13/; weaners, £1 2/ to £1 12/. HIDKS, SKINS. AND TALLOAV. Dalgety and Company. Limited, report having held their weekly sale of hides, etc., on Tuesday. The .market was very bare, extreme prices ruling. Hides.—Best butcher's, ox, stout to 14d, medium 12d to 13d, light lid to 12ii: cows, best lid to ll*d, light lod to lid; yearlings ltid to ll'd; calfskins, best 17d, heavy and meaty lod to 13d; cut, damaged, or dirty hides at 3d to 6<l less. Tallow.—Tins 22/ to 28/, casks 22/ to 30/ per cwt. Hair.—Tail, 1/3 to 1.6}; mane, JOd. Bones, £8 per ton. Messrs. Abraham and Williams, Ltd., report:—At our monthly s.-le held on the 6th inst. we offered a large catalogue to a good attendance of buyers, who competed keeuiy for everything offered with the exception of tallow, which met with no competition whatever. Hides si Id at an advance of }d to Jd per lb better than last sale, while calfskins were Id to 3d below. We quote: Ox: Hcavv 13tl to 13* d, medium Hid to 12} d, light* 10jd to Hid. Cow: Heavy 10id to lljd. medium 103 dto Hid. light 10' d Ito Hid. cut, sllppv aud inferior 73d to lod. Horse hides, 6/6 to 10/6 earb. Calfskins: Best lines ]7d to 17Jd, good 13d to 16' d, stained 13d to 13d, cut. slippy an«\inferioi' 9d to 13d. Tallow: No demand. Horsehair, 9d to 1/3 per ll>. Our next sale will be held on April 3, 1919. ADDT.NGTON. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) CIirUSTCHUKCH, Wednesday. At Addington market there were rather smaller yardings of fat and store sheep, anil fat cattle, and increased entries of fat lambs, store and dairy cattle, aud pigs. There was a large attendance of tho ,c interested iv store sheep. Store sheep of all classes were easier,, and the sauie A may be said of unfinished lambs .irrjfat pens. Fat cattle were also down "in prices, as there was no business done for export until towards the end of the sale. Fat sheep sold well, as the ynrdiug was a short one. There was little demand for store cattle. Pigs were not in active demand. The range of prices was as follows: — Store Sheep.- Best rape iambs to 24/, good 19.'0 to 20/5, medium 13/7 to 18/. cull lambs from 8/9, ewe lambs to 21/1, wether lambs to 19/; best two-tooth ewes 28/6 to 30/6, good 2.")/ to 27/. medium 2*7 to 24/6, poorer sorts 16/5 to 20.': best six aud eighttooth ewes 24/ to 24/7. medium 10/10 to 23/6: good four aud six-tooth ewes 27/3 to 29/: best four, six, and eight-tooth ewes to 33/0, medium 18/ to 21/6; good two-tooth wethers 23/6, 27/7. Fat Lambs. —Prime lambs 28/ to 31/11, medium 24/0 to 27/6, lighter 21/S to 24/. Fat Sheep.—lixtra prime wethers to 35/, prime 35/6 to 42/, lighter 28/ to 35/, Merino 15/ to 20/; prime ewes 34/6 to 38/6, medium 30/ to 34/, lighter 22/ to 29/6. Fat Cattle. —Extra prime steers to £21. prime £13 15/ to £19. ordinary £13 to £13 10: extra prime helfei-3 to £17, prime £10 17/6 to £13 17/6. ordinary £7 3/ to £10 10/; prime cows £12 to £13 13/, ordinary £S 2/6 to £11 15/. Store Cattle.—Extra good calves to £5 11 /. eighteen-months calves to £6 12/6: dry cows, £4 to £9 9/; bulls, £10 to £19; dairy cows, £7 to £16. Pigs.—Cliop*>er3 £5 to £9, extra heavy baconers to £8, hea*y £6 10/ to £7 5/. lighter £2 to £2 15/; unfinished pigs, £3 5/ to £4. equal to 9Jd a lb; heavy porkers £3 io/ to £.8 5/, lighter £2 15/ to £3 10/, equal to lOd to 10' d a lb: medium stores 38/ to 54/, smaller 28/ to 35/: weaners, 12/ to 28/; breeding sows to £3 17/6.