LIVE STOCK MARKETS.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 246, 17 October 1929, Page 4

LIVE STOCK MARKETS.

BETTER TONE IN WOOL. MORE PIGS FOR EXPORT. SHEEP SOMEWHAT DULL. The best news of the week has been ai increased firmness on the Australian woo market and an acknowledgment fron Bradford of a slight improvement there Cables from the great Yorkshire centre aix usually ultra-conservative, if not actually pessimistic, and the information cabled on Tuesday may be given its full weight as a hopeful indication. It is stated that there has been more activity in Bradford in Merino wools at advanced prices, and a rise of 5 per cent in Melbourne has been notified. Our wools are not Merino, but the trend of market conditions for crossbred is not usually very different from that of the finer staple. There is yet time for the market to make some recovery before our own clip is ready for marketing in about a month's time. Smithfield markets show no great change, though the demand for New Zealand lamb and mutton was somewhat dull at the close of last week. Pork and bacon, however, were still selling well. Locally, beneficial showers last week, followed by bright, sunny weather, have, helped the young stock on substantially. Local freezing works are still busy handling the bobby calf trade, although the quantities have now dropped off considerably. The receipts this season have been about the same as last year, but as the proportion of condemned has been much less the total of exports is likely to be well above the figures for last season. During the last week or ten days pigs have been coming forward to the works in increased numbers. The pig industry has rarely looked better than at present. The export market continues good, and with the surplus thus happily disposed of local fatteners have little difficulty in Commanding high prices on the domestic .market. In the South values are even higher, and at Addington yesterday prime porkers realised the equivalent of ild per lb (top The one great need to make this one of the Dominion's most important industries is cheap grain foods, fOr without grain in some form or another it is difficult to finish off the animals properly and maintain the standard of quality necessary to establish and maintain a big export trade. Cattle of all classes are still in keen demand, and a big sale at Papakura tomorrow is likely to see some spirited bidding. Sheep, on the other hand are comparatively dull of sale, with values gradually tending downwards. - AT WESTFIELD. At Westfield yesterday there was a fair yarding of beef cattle, and a particularly keen demand for well-finished lightweights. Heavy sorts were unaltered in price. Good veal calves also sold well. _ There was a good demand for spring lamViß. which are steadily improving in

condition, but the demand for sheep was not keen. Pigs were more plentiful, ■ and prices were a shade easier. The range of prices, together with those ruling a week ago, was as follows:— This Week. Last Week.

DALGETY AND COMPANY. Dalgety and Company, Litnited report: We offered ox beef ia average numbers.. The quality was good, and last week's values were improved upon for' lightweight cattle. Heavy-weight cattle were harder of sale and values were easier. Bullocks from the Towere Estate. Matamata, realised £11 7/6 to £16 7/6. Bullocks from Tirau made £14 10/ .to £14 12/6- Cow and heifer bee! came forward in smaller numbers than last week,. but the quality was good and last week's values were eaeilv maintained. Prime heavy cows and iheifere realised £11 10/ to £12 5/; medium. £9 2/6 to £10 15/; light ,£7 12/6 to £8 15/. Extra choice ox sold to 43/ per 1001b; choice And prime, 39/ to 41/; secondary, plain, 35/ ito 37/; prime young cow and heifer beef, 38/ to 40/; just killable, 34/ to 36/. Sheep came fonvard in lesser numbers than has been the case for the past few weeks. Very few lines, of woolly tfheep were penned, end taken •throughout the market was firm at round about last week's prices.. Heavy prime wethers, woolly, 33/6; shorn, 29/6; medium, woolly, 31/;. shorn, 26/6; -light and unfinished. eh6rn, 24/6; -heavy prime ewes, 29/ to 22/6; lighter, 25/ to 21/; other' ewes, 19/3. A large yarding of fat lambs cam« forward, tfie quality being finst-ckss. Bidding wae brisk and values, were about on a par with last week. Heavy prime lamb made 32/6; medium, 29/6; light, 28/6. Calves were .penned in average numbers and sold under S'teady competition. Heavy vealers made £4 4/ to £5 10/; medium, £3 5/ to £4; light. £2 5/ to £3; small, £1 5/ to £2 2/. I?igs met with a fair inquiry with values inclined to be steady. Heavy baconers made £4 to £4 7/; heavy porkere, £2 12/ to £2 17/; medium ibaconers, £3 10/ to £3 18/; medium and light baoonere, £2 18/ to £3 8/; light porkers, £2 4/ to £2 10/.

BEEF (per 1001b) — Extra choice ox 43/ 42/ Choice and prime ox 38/ to 42/ 38/ to 41/ Choice and prime „ , , cow & heifer 36/ to 40/ 36/ to 40/ SHEEP (per head) — Prime wethers: ,, Shorn .. 28/ to 29/6 26/ to 29/6 Unshorn 32/6 to 39/ 33/ to 41/9 Prime ewes 17/ to 29/ 21/ to 31/3 Hoggets .. 22/ to 28/9 20/ to 29/6 Spring lambs 25/ to 27/9 18/ to 30/ CALVES (per head) — Runners ... 100/to 197/ 152/6 to 207/6 Vealers .. 40/ to .106/ 46/, to 124/ PIGS (per head) — Baconers ••• /&/ to 100/ 77/ to 99/ Porkers .... 60/ to 78/ 47/ to 76/ Weaners ... 10/ to 24/ 9/ to 32/ Slips 27/ to 38/ 25/ to 35/ Large stores . 40/ to 52/ 35/ to 50/