LIVE STOCK MARKET.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 198, 23 August 1928, Page 4

LIVE STOCK MARKET.

BEEF STILL VERY DEAR.

FIRST LAMB OF SEASON. PORK PIGS CHEAP. The. live stock market continues to exhibit a healthy tone, with prices on a level satisfactory to growers. The only exception 'is in regard to porkers, for which values are comparatively low. At this time last year New Zealand pork was realising from B'/id to 9d per lb on the London market; at present the rate is from 7d to 7'.2d. Following on the extreme prices obtained at Westfield last week for beef «:attl« there has been a keen demand at all the country sales, either for stores nr fats. Dairy cattle, too, are eagerly sought after, bringing prices that range Irom £9 to £16. Bacon pigs have realised up to £5 apiece, but porkers are i datively cheaper at £2 to £2 18/. Ewes with lambs have brought 38/9. [•'at sheep still maintain past values, but there may be an easing shortly as offerings usually become more plentiful after shearing has commenced. In this connection it should be noted that the first Australian wool sales, which at Sydney, disclose a decline in prices ranging from sto 7Vis per cent. The weaker tendency of the market is reflected more in the finer grades than in ordinary crossbred. A erutching sale in Wellington also showed lower values. Westfield. At Westfield yesterday there were more beef cattle offering. Rates for choice ox were inclined to be easier, but cow and heifer beef fully maintained the previous week's high figures. An average yarding of sheep sold readily at late quotations. A line of shorn wethers realised £1 10/6. Prime hoggets met a good sale and a spring lamb, the first of the season, brought 37/. Bobby calves were in heavy supply and the lot were disposed of at prices ranging from 7/ to 17/. Following is the range of prices, together with those ruling the previous week:— This Week. Last Week. BEEF (per 1001b) — Extra choice ox 46/ 48/ * 'boice and priuie ox 42/ to 45/ 44/ to 47/ Choice and prime row and heifer 37/ to 42/ 39/ to 42/ , SHEEP (per head) — I'rfme wethers . 42/6 to 54/ 44/6 to 47/6 Unfln. wethers . 34/ to 37/ 35/ to 37/3 Prime fiwes .... 35/ to 37/6 35/ to 38/9 I'rfme hoggets . 28/ to 35/6 25/ to 34/ CALVES (per head) — Kunners 70/ to 107/6 70/ to 137/6 Vealers 64/ to 90/ 68/ to 93/ J'ICS (per head) — Baconers 70/ to 100/ 74/ to 85/ l'orkers 55/ to 78/ 08/ to 63/ Weaners 11/ to 21/ 8/ to 24/ Slips 20/ to 25/ 17/ to 28/ Large stores .. 29/ to 40/ 30/ to 36/ DALQETY AND COMPANY. Dalgety and Company, Ltd., report:— Beef: There was an average yarding of cow beef and a small yarding of ox beef. In spite of the small yarding of ox beef values were slightly easier, while values for prime young cow and heifer beef were on a par with last week's rates. Extra choice ox sold to 46/ per 1001b; prime young cow and beef, 42/. Sheep: An average yarding of wethers sold slightly better than late rates. The bulk of the entry comprised good sheep. Extra heavy prime wethers, woolly, made £2 2/6; heavy prime, woolly, £2 1/9; shorn, £1 10/6; medium, woolly, £1 19/3; shorn, £1 9/9; light and unfinished, woolly, £1 10/6; shorn, £1 7/6. Lambs: Only a small yarding of lambs came forward, selling at late rates. Medium prime lamb made £18/; light, £1 4/. Calves were yarded in large numbers and sold at late values. Heavy vealers made £3 10/ to £4 5/; medium, £2 15/ to £3 8/; light, £1 15/ to £2 14/; small, 14/ to £1 10/. Pigs: A small yarding sold at about recent values for baconers. Porkers declined in price. Choppeis made £2 1/ to £2 15/; heavy baconers, £3 15/ to £4 2/; medium baconers, £3 5/ to £3 14/; light baconers, £2 18/ to £3 4/; heavy porkers, £2 15/ to £3 3/; medium porkers, £2 8/ to £2 14/; light porkers, £1 15/ to £2 5/.

ALFRED BUCKLAND AND SONS. Alfred Buckland and Sons, Ltd., report: Our beef pens contained 338 head, as against 277 head at last Wednesday's sale, comprising 239 steers and 99 cows and heifers. TUere were many lines of extra prime cattle, and, although competition was keen throughout, last week's sharp advance was scarcely sustained. Extra choice ox sold to £2 6/ per lOQlb; choice and prime, £2 2/ to £2 5/; secondary and plain, £1 17/ to £2; prime young cow and heifer beef, £ I 17/ to £22/; ordinary cow beef, £1 10/ to £1 16/. Extra heavy prime steers ranged in price from £20 5/ to £22 10/, the latter price for steers from Mrs. A. Main, Tamahere, and bought by Mr. Thos. Hastcr, Ponsonby Road; 24 steers from Mrs. Main averaged £18 12/11; 24 from Mr. Geo. Voeper, Maungatautari, £17 17/10; 16 from Mr. B. Reed, Waerenga, £16 12/8; 32 from the Waikato, £16 2/. Heavy prime steers made £18 to £19 15/; Tighter prime, £16 to £17 17/6; light prime, £13 to £15 17/6; small and unfinished, £9 17/6 to £12 15/; extra heavy prime young cows and heifers, £12 10/ to £15 10/ for a cow from the Waikato purchased by Messrs. Bridges and Overington, Wellesley Street; heavy prime cows and heifers, £10 10/ to 7/6; lighter prime, £8 10/ to £10 7/6; other tillable cows, £6 to £8 5/. The sheep pens were moderately filled, with a nice class of mutton. There was a steady demand, and generally values were slightly firmer. Extra heavy prime wethers made i' 2 4/9 to £2 6/, an odd special wether making up to £2 10/; heavy prime, £2 to £2 4/6; medium to heavy prime, £2 to £2 1/9; light to medium prime, £1 18/ toj £1 19/9; unfinished, £1 14/ to £1 17/; extra heavy prime young ewes, £1 15/ to £1 17/6; heavy prime ewes, £1 13/ to £1 14/9; lighter prime, £1 11/ to £1 12/9; other killable ewes, £18/ to £1 10/6. Prime hoggets made £1 13/ to £1 15/6; other hoggets, £1 5/ to £1 10/ (732 sheep wold). A spring lamb, the first of the season, from Mr. W. Newconibe, Runciman, made £1 17/, and was bought by Mr. 1). Brideson. There was a particularly heavy yarding of calves. Competition was steady, but values eased slightly on last week's quotations. Runners made £3 10/ to £5 7/6; heavy vealers, £3 4/ to £4 6/; medium, £3 2/ to £3 12/; light, £2 to £2 18/; rough and plain, 15/ to £18/; small nnd fresh dropped, 7/ to £1 12/ (468 sold). An average number of pigs was offered. Values for baconers improved, while porkers were hardly in such good request, especially toward the conclusion of the sale. Choppers made £2 8/ to £3 14/; extra heavy prime baconers realised £4 18/, for h pen of particularly well-done pigs, which were purchased by Mr. Geo. Harrison, Oneiiunga; medium to heavy baconers, £3 10/ to £4 2/; light, £3 5/ to £3 8/; heavy porkers, £2 15/ to £3; medium, £2 7/ to £2 11 A light, £2 1/ to £2 5/; small and unfinished, £1 13/ to £1»/. Stores met a ready sate. Good-framed, up to smaller, £1 V to £1 4/; veuners, 17/ to £1 1/ for b«it; «nal] and weedy, 18/ to 18/ i ■uckew, 9/ to 11/ (324 pigs sold).

LOAN AND MERCANTILE. The New Zealand Loan ano Mercantile Agency Co., Ltd., report:—Ox b«et was penned in less than average numoere, nd cow and heifer beef in average numlicr«. Values obtained for ox beef /were, t. lightly lower, but cow and heifer, beef was vepry firm at late rates. Extra choice nx sold to £'2 6' per 1001b; choice and jnime, £2 2/ to -X 2 5/; ordinary and plain, •CI 18/ to £2 1/: prime young cows and heitar beef, 30/ iu £2 2/; ordinary cow

beef, 34/ to 38/; heavy prime steers, £15 15/ to £17 5/; lighter prime, £14 to £15 12/6: light nrime, £12 to £13 17/6; unfinished and small, £10 to £11 17/6; extra heavy prime young cows and heifers,- £13 5/ to £14 15/; heavy prime, £12 to £13 2/6; lighter, £10 to £11 17/6; light cows and heifers, _£7 to £9 17/6; other cows, £."> 10/ to £6 17/6. Sheep were yarded in average numbers. Competition was steady throughout and values were very firm at late quotations. Extra heavy prime wethers made up to £2 14/ for a pen of prime crossbred Suffolk wethers fattened by Mr. ■T. R. Sell, Papatoetoe, and purchased by the Auckland Meat Company, heavy prime, £2 2/0 to £2 5/; medium prime. £2 to £2 2/3; light prime, £1 17/ to £ 1 19/9; small and unfinished, £1 15/ to £1 16/9; heavy prime ewes. £1 15/3 to £1 17/; medium prime, £1 13/ to £1 15/; light prime. £1 10/ to £1 12/6; prinu hoggets, £1 8/6 to £1 15/6. Pigs were penned in average numbers. There was an improved demand for baconers, which were better worth, porkers being firm at late rates. Choppers sold at £2 10/ to £3 15/; heavy and medium baconers, £4 to £5; light baconers and heavy porkers, £3 8/ to £3 18/; medium workers and light porkers, £2 to £2 18/. Stoie piss in large numbers sold readily at late rates. Large stores made £1 14/ to £1 19: slips. £1 3/ to £1 13/; weaners, best, 11/ to £1 1/; others, 5/ to 10/. Calves were, penned in very large numbers, which comprised mostly small calves. Very few runners and heavy vealers were yarded. Runners made £3 10/ to £5 4/; heavy vealers, £3 4/ to £4 10/; medium, £2 5/ to £3 3/; light. £1 11/ to £2 4/; smaller, £1 to £1 10/; small and fresh dropped, 5/ to 19/; rough calves, 15/ to £1 s'. IN THE COUNTRY. The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company Limited reports:--We held sales during the past week at Westheld and Waiuku (cattle and pigs) and one clearing sale. The dairy cow and heifer market shows an improvement, especially at Waiuku, where we had a large yarding and dairy cows and heifers were keenly competed for. This sale was probably the best held in that district for some time. The improved values obtained for beef last week at Westfield is being reflected in the sale of stores and boner cattle, and values for all classes have improved. We quote:—Dairy cows and heifers, best £10 to £15 10/, other £6 to £9 15/; aged cows and inferior heifers, £3 10/ to £5 15/; bulls. £3 10/ to £11 15/, according to weight and quality; store and boner cows, x 3 to £6 5/; yearling heifers, best, £3 15/ to £5 10/; others, £2 to £3 10/; yearling to 18-months steers, £3 10/ to £4 10/; two to 2'/i-year steers, £4 15/ to £5 15/; three to .3-year steers, £6 to £7 5/; four to 4%-year steers, £7 10/ to £85/: grown steers lu forward condition, £8 10/ to £9 15/.

New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Limited Hamilton, report:—At Cambridge on Monday we held our usual stock sale. An average yarding of cattle met with competition fully maintaining late rates. Dairy cattle were in demand and pigs showed a slight improvement on late sales. We quote;— Fat cows, £9 5/ to £14; forward cows, £5 5/ to £7; store cows, £3 to £4 15/; yearling heifers, £4 4/ to £5 12/; Shorthorn yearling heifers, £3 12/6; best dairy heifers,- £9 to £12 10/; others, £6 5/ to £8; dairy cows, £6 10/ to £9 and £14. Pigs: Porkers, £2 2/ to £2 12/; good stores, £17/ to £1 13/; slips, 17/ to £1 2/; weaners, 12/ to 14/6; others, 6/ to 10/; sows in pig, £2 5/ to £2 15/; veal calves, up to 19/.

Alfred Buckland and Sons, Ltd., re-) port:—During the week we held sales at Pukekohe, Westfield, Pokeno, Clevedon and Runciman, pig sales at Pukekohe and Waiuku, also two clearing sales. There is a further advance in the price of all store cattle, while dairy cows and heifers continue to meet with a ready sale. Best dairy cows at profit made £12 to £16; extra, to £21; good cows, £9 to £11 15/; others, £6 10/ to £8 15/; aged and inferior, £3 to £5 15/; best springing heifers, £10 to £15; average heifers, £7 to £9 15/; small and backward, £4 10/ to £6 15/; empty yonng cows and heifers, £4 10/ to £6 10/; store cows, £2 10/ to £4 10/; heavy prime fat cows and heifers, £10 to £15 7/6, the latter price for a heifer sold at Clevedon on account of Mr. A. D. Bell and bought by Messrs. Hawthorn and Munro; lighter fat cows and heifers, £7 to £9 15/; fat steers, £10 10/ to £15 15/; grown steers in forward condition, £8 15/ to £9 18/: three to four-year-old steers, £7 to £8 12/6; two to three-year-old steers, £5 5/ to £7; yearling to 18-month-old steers, £3 10/ to £5; well bred heifer calves, £4 to £5 12/6; other heifers, £2 10/ to £3 17/6; calves, £2 to £3 3/; small calves, £1 5/ to £1 17/; cow 8 with, calves, £6 10/ to £9; heavy bulls, £7 to £9 5/; sound young herd bulls, £5 5/ to £13 13/; other bulls, £2 10/ to £5; fat wethers, £1 19/ to £2 3/6; store wethers. £1 8/ to £1 15/; fat hoggets, £1 8/ to £1 15/; fat ewes, £1 10/ to £1

ADDINGTON MARKET. CHRISTCHURCH, Wednesday. At the Addington saleyards there were fairly large yardings of fat cattle, fat sheep and pigs, and moderate offerings in the other sections. There was a email yarding of store eheep, mostly ewes and wethers, and with the exception of a ferw good lines of ewes, the quality was only medium. The hoggets were a very moderate lot, the demand for them being slack and prices easier. Good ewes with the promise of good lambing met with sound inquiry at prices on a par with those ruling a fortnight before. Other classes of ewes were more or less neglected. The range of prices was:—Extra good four, six and eight-tooth crossbred ewes, to 43/0; good three-quarter bred ewes, to 30/; others, to 26/6; good twotooth halfbred ewes, to 35/8; ordinary four, six and eight-tooth halfbred ewes, to 26/1, good halfbred wethers; 33/ to 35 '6: others, to 26/6; good crossbred wethers, t' to 35/; extra good crossbred ewe hoggets, to 38'; others, 28/ to 30/6; halfbred ewe hoggets, to 32/; crossbred wether hoggets, 24/ to 27/6; halfbred wether hoggets, 23/3 to 25/3.

There was a large entry of fat sheep, and an easier tone in the market. In some instances prices showed a decline of 1/6 to 2/ per head, as compared with the previous Prices were:—Extra prime wethers, to 54/; prime heavy, 42/ to 45/; prime medium-weight, 38/ to 41/: medium, 33/ to 37/; light, 31/1 to 32/6; extra prime ewes to 44/10; prime, 31/ to 38/; medium, 29/ to 33/; aged, 26/4 to 28/; prime hoggets, to 36/4; others, 24/4 to. 30/; sprifag lambs, 41/6 to 50/. The yarding of fat cattle totalled 560. Outside consignments included an exceptionally good line of steers from Hawke's i>ay, the tops of which were very prime, and the 44 head sold averaged £20 11/. Choice beef of handy weight touched 50/ per 1001b, and in some cases a little over, but the general range for prime beef was about 40/ to 48/; medium, 41/ to 44/; plain, 3j to 40/; and rough, down to 30/ I per 1001b. There was a very small yarding, of veal I,™™; High prices were obtained for all | killable lots. Values were:—Yearling to -months sorts, to £11 8/6; good vealers, in/ V, medlum vealers, £3 5/ to £5 10/; small calves, 20/ to £2. The market for porkers was weaker, while baconers sold at late rates. Baconers average price per lb, 6d to 7d; porkers 0d to 7d.