LIVE STOCK MARKETS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 227, 25 September 1930, Page 4

LIVE STOCK MARKETS.

EXPORT POSITION IMPROVES.

LAMB !N GOOD DEMAND

LOCAL BUSINESS QUIETER

Latest reports from Smithfield are more encouraging than lias been the case for a considerable period. The demand for Xew Zealand lamb was evidently very keen last week, and the improvement extended to the second qualities. These had been a drug on the market during the last fewmonths, and have probably accumulated in the stores. It is of vital importance to Dominion farmers that the huge exports of lambs which have gone forward to Great Britain from last season's killings shall be cleared before the next season's shipments follow on. , Our mutton, too, is passing more rapidiy into consumption, and at long last prices have improved slightly on the extremely low levels that had been ruling. The progress of the London wool sales gives cause for only a moderate degree of satisfaction. It is evident that there is a ready demand for wool, but the prices realised must be disappointing to growers, and give little warrant for any belief that next year's prices will be above last year's low levels. A slight improvement in the dairy produce market has unfortunately been only partially sustained, and latest cables again indicate a slight easing in butter prices. The cheese position is unchanged. Country sales during the week still disclose a keen demand for all classes of c-attle, though dairy stock values seem a shade lower. Store sheep are largely neglected by buyers, and considerable difficulty is being experienced in readjusting values to the extent that is necessitated by export prospects. At Westfield yesterday there was again a full yarding of beef cattle, with unfinished sorts a trifle easier and best quality changing hands at the previous week's figures. Yeal calves were in good demand at late rates. Another heavy entry of fat sheep was penned, and, except in pens of special quality, vendors had to accept lower returns. Spring lambs were more plentiful, and values fell in consequence. Fat pigs were rather dull of sale, and the market was easier, particularly for baconers. The range of prices, together with those ruling the previous week was as follows: —

ALFRED BUCKLAND AND SONS. Alfred Buckland and Sons, Ltd., report on the Westfield fat stock market as follows:— Cattle. —Our supply of fat cattle totalled 358 head, as against 304 head at last Wednesday's market, comprising 234 steers and 124 cows and heifers. There were again several consignments of extra prime cattle. Plain beef was a trifle easier, choice and prime sold at last week's quotations. Extra choice ox sold to £1 19/ per 1001b; choice and prime, £1 16/6 to £1 18/; secondary and plain, £1 13/ to £1 16/; prime young cow and heifer beef, £1 14/] to £1 16/; ordinary cow beef, £1 8/ to £1 13/. Extra heavy prime steers ranged in price from £17 to £17 17/6. for steers from Mr. A. E. Urquhart, Karaka; 11 steers from the same vendor averaged £ 17 9/; heavy prime steers, £15 to £16 5/; lighter prime, £13 10/ to £14 17/6; light prime, £12 to £13 7/6; small and unfinished, £9 10/ to £11 17/6; extra heavy prime young cows and heifeTs, £11 10/ to £12 10/; heavy prime cows and heifers, £9 10/ to £11 7/6; lighter prime, £7 to £9 7/6; other killable cows, £4 10/ to £6 17/6. Sheep.—There was again a heavy yarding of sheep. The demand was not keen. In isolated cases last week's values luled, but, generally, the market was easier. There were 1476 sheep sold. Heavy prime wethers realised £1 7/6 to £1 9/; medium to heavy prime wethers, £1 5/6 to £1 7/3; light to medium prime wethers, £1 4/ to £1 5/3; unfinished wethers, £11/ to £1 3/9; extra heavy prime young ewes, £1 2/ to £1 4/; heavy prime ewes, £1 to £1 1/9; lighter prime ewes, 18/ to 19/9; other killable ewes, 16/ to 17/9; other ewes, 11/6 to 15/6. Spring Lambs.—lncreased numbers were penned, and were lower in price, especially light lambs. Heavy prime brought £1 7/6 to £1 9/6; lighter prime, £1 4/ to £1 7/; light prime, 18/6 to £1 3/; small and plain, 8/6 to 16/6. A total of 114 lambs was sold. Calves.—Fat _ and young calves again came forward in large numbers. All wellfinished sorts met a ready sale, although values eased toward the close. Runners made £5 5/ to £7 10/; heavy prime vealers, £5 4/ to £6 16/; medium, £3 15/ to £4 12/; light, £3 3/ to £3 10/; small veal ere, £2 to £2 8/; bucket-fed calves, £1 10/ to £1 16/; rough and unfinished, £1 4/ to £18/; small and fresh-dropped, 3/ to 18/. "363 calves were sold. Pigs.—We had a medium entry of fat pigs. Competition was not keen and values declined, baconers suffering most. Choppers made £3 to £4 15/; heavy prime baconers, £3 3/ to £3 9/; light and medium, £2 14/ to £2_ 19/; heavy porkers, £2 13/ to £2 15/; light and medium, £2 6/ to £2 10/; small and unfinished, £1 16/ to £2. Store pigs realised fully late rates. Best framed made £1 16/ to £2 2/; slips, £1 13/ to £1 15/; best weaners, £1 7/ to £1 11/; smaller. 19/ to £14/; sows, due to farrow, £5 2/6 to £6 15/. A total of 297 pigs was sold. LOAN AND MERCANTILE. The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Limited, report as follows on the Westfield fat stock market 3"esterday:— Cattle.—Beef was penned in average numbers, and there was a steady demand, with values on a par with late quotations. Extra choice ox sold to £1 19/ per 1001b; choice and prime, £1 16/ to £1 18/; ordinary and plain, £1 13/ to £1 15./; prime young cow and heifer beef. £1 14/ to £1 17/; -ordinary cow beef, £1 10/ to £1 13/. Heavy prime steers realised £14 to £15 15/; lighter prime. £12 10/ to £13 17/6; light prime, £10 to £12 5/; unfinished and small, £8 to £9 17/6; extra heavy prime young cows and heifers, £10 5/ to £12 10/; heavy prime. £9 to £9 17/6; lighter, £7 10/ to £8 17/6; light | cows. £6 5/ to £7 7/6; other cows, £5 to £6 2/6. i Sheep.—Large numbers were penned, ■ prime wethers selling at late rates. Prime ewes and hoggets were easier in values. Heavy prime wethers brought £1 9/6 to £1 11/6; medium prime, £1 7/6 to £1 9/3; light prime, £1 6/ to £1 7/3; small and unfinished, £1 2/6 to £1 5/9; extra •heavy prime ewes, £ 1 3/9 to £ 1 5/; heavy prime, £1 2/ to £1 3/6; medium prime, 18/ to £1 1/6; light prime, 15/ to 17/9; inferiorly fatted ewes, 5/ to 12/6; heavy prime hoggets, £1 4/ to £16,/9; prime, to £1 9/6; medium, £1 1/ to 3/9; light, 18/ to £1 0/9; unfinished hoggets, 12/6 to 17/9. Sprang Lambs—lncreased numbers were penned, supply exceeding the demand, and values were decidedly easier. Prime lambs sold at from 18/ to £1 6/9; unfinished 13/ to 17/9. , , • • _ Pigs.—A larger yarding of pigs met witli an easier sale. Values cased on last week's quotations. Choppers sold from £"- 10/ to £4 17</6; heavy and medium baconers, £3 to £3 9/; light baconers and heavy porkers, £2 13/ to £2 IS/; medium and

light porkers, £2 5/ to £2 11/; small and unfinished porkers. £1 18/ to £2 4/. The demand is still good for store pigs and values were firm. Laree stores. £2 to £2 7/; slips. £1 12/ to '£1 18,'; weaners, £1 to £1 12A

Calves. —Average numbers were penned. Values showed an easing tendency on last week's quotations. Runners made £5 to £S 16/; heavy vealers, £5 to £C 5/; medium, £4 to £4 IS/; light, £3 to £3 16/; smaller, £2 8/ to £2 18/; small and fresh dropped, 7/ to £2 6/; rough calves, £1 to £2 5/. DALGETY AND COMPANY. Dalgety and Company. Limited, report on the Westfield fat stock market yesterday as follows: — Cattle. —We offered ox beef in well up to usual numbers. Competition was not keen, but values for all well finished lines were on a par with late rates. Poorly finished cattle were in slack -demand, and here a drop dn value was recorded. Extra heavy prime bullocks realised £17 15/ to £18; heavy crime, £15 to £15 17/6; lighter prime,* £13 15/ to £14 17/6; light prime steers, £12 5/ to £13 12/6; small and unfinished, £10 to £11 5/. Cow and heifer ;beef came forward in about average numbers and values for well-fattened cattle were steady at late rates. Values for all other classes were easier. Extra prime young cows and heifers realised £12 5/ to £13 10/; heavy prime, £10 to £12; lighter prime, £8 5/ to £9 17/6; light prime, £7 5/ to £8; other killabk cows, £5 to £7. Extra choice ox told to 39/ per 1001b; choice and prime, 36/6 to 38/; just killable, 33/ to 35/; prime young cow and heifer, 34/ to 37/; just killable, 28/ to 33/. Sheep.—Sheep were again penned in large numbers, and selling under _ a weak demand late rates for well-finished lines were barely maintained. Hoggets also did not reach last week's level. Heavy prime wethers, woolly, made 28/ to 28/3; shorn, 24/ medium wethers, woolly, 26/6 to 27/; shorn, 22/9; light and unfinished wethers, woolly, 21/6; heavy .prime ewes, woolly, 20/ to 21/; lighter prime ewes, woolly, 16/ to 18/6; other ewes, woolly, 5/ to 11/6. Lambe.—Spring lambs came forward in large numbers and proved more than equal to the demand. Late rates were not maintained. Heavy prime lamb made 28/; medium, 26/3; light, 20/. Calves. —Calves were penned in good numbers and maintained late values under steady competition. Heavy vealers brought £4 10/ to £5 10/; medium, £3 5/ to £4 5/; light, £2 2/ to £3; small, 15/ to 35/. Pigs.—Baconers and porkers were rather easier in price than last week, while stores sold briskly at high values. Heavy ibaconers made £3 5/ to £3 8/; medium, £3 to £3 3/; light, £2 15/ to £2 IS/; heavy porkers, £2 12/ to £2 15/; medium and light, £2 3/ to £2 10/. IN THE COUNTRY. The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Limited, report:—Sales were held during the past week at Weatfield, Pukekohe (cajttle and pigs), Papakura, Kaukapakapa, and Whitford, and Pukekohe (special bull sale). We report good sales, with late values ruling for all classes of cattle, except for bulls, which are inclined to be slightly easier in value on last year's sale. The advertised store bullocks met with a ready sale at Papakura, a complete clearance being made at most satisfactory prices. We quote:—Best dairy cows and heifers, £10 10/ to £16 5/; others, £7 to £10 7/6; aged cows and inferior heifers, £4 to £6 17/6; boner cows, £2 10/ to £4 15/; potter bulls, £2 to £5 15/; store cows and heifers. £4 10/ to £6 15/; yearling heifers, £2 10/ to £6 5/ for odd pens of good quality Jerseys; yearling to 18-months steers, £3 10/ to £0 7/6; 2 to steers, £6 10/ to £7 15/; 3 to steers, £8 to £9 5/; grown steers, £9 10/ to £11 2/. Beef and pigs at Westfield quotations. Herd bulls, yearling grades, made £2 2/ to £10 10/; registered pedigree yearling bulls, ogs to 20gs; 2-year grade bulls, £5 5/ to £12 12/; 2-year registered, pedigree bulls, 10gs to 2Sgs (all quotations for bulls subject to breed and quality). Dalgety and Company, Ltd., report:— During the past week we held stock sales at Helensville, Coromandel, Westfield, Kauroa, Ohaupo. Te Awamutu. Otorohanga, Matiere, Opotiki, Waikiekie, Oup, Ohaeawai, and Kaikohe. Heavy yardings were penned at all centres, and all classes sold well at fully late rates. Best dairy cows made £14 to £18 15/; good dairy cows, £12 to £13 10/: other dairy cows, £5 10/ to £10 10/; good springing heifers, up to £16; average heifers, £9 to £12; empty young cows and heifers, £5 to £7; store and boner cows, £2 to £65/; fat cows and heifers, £7 to £13 15/; fat steers. £11 10/ to £15; three to four-year-old steers, £8 10/ to £10 15/: two to three-year-old steers, £7 to £8 5/; yearling steers, £4 10/ to £6 15/; yearling heifers, £3 10/ to £6 10/. Pigs sold at Westfield rates. Alfred Buckland and Sons, Limited, report: —During the week we held cattle sales at Westfield, Waiuku, and Pukekohe, and a pig sale at Waiuku. Good yardings found ready buyers. All classes of store cattle are in keen demand, but dairy stock has eased slightly. Best dairy cows and heifers made £13 10/ to £16 10/; average cows and heifers, £10 to £13: other dairy cows and heifers, £5 10/ to £9 15/; empty young cows and heifers, £4 10/ to £6 15/; store and boner cows, £2 to £6; fat cows and heifers, £6 10/ to £13 5/; fat steers, £11 to £14 5/; grown steers in forward condition, £10 10/ to £11 10/; four-year-old steers, £9 5/ to £10 7/6; three-year-old steers, £8 10/ to £9 if; two-year-old steers, £7 to £7 15/; yearling to 18-month-old steers, £4 15/ to £6 17/6; cows with calves, £7 to £10 10/; well-bred yearling to 15-month-old dairy heifers, £5 10/ to £7 12/6; other yearling heifers, £3 10/ to £5 7/6: sound young herd bulls. £6 6/ to £15 15/; heavy bulls, £3 to £5 10/; other bulls, £2 to £5. The weekly Matamata stock sale was conducted by Dalgety and Co., Ltd., on Wednesday. Prices for store cattle were easier than has ruled recently. Dairy cattle were still short in supply. Pigs were yarded in large numbers, and late rates were maintained. A line of 100 Romney-cross hoggets yarded by Mr. Lucena, Walton, realised 19/. Prices were:—Cattle: Fat cows, £7 10/ to £9; forward conditioned cows. £5 2/6 to £6 15/; lighter cows. £4 5/ to £5; fat heifers, £7 to £7 10/; fresh-conditioned bullocks, £10 to £11; three and four-year Hereford and Polled Angus steers, £8 15/ to £9 5/; store cows, £4 10/ to £5 15/: others, 50/ to 65/; cows and calves, £3 5/' to £4 10/. Yearling Jersey heifers, good, £5 5/ to £6 6/; other yearling heifers, £4 1/ to £5. Dairy cattle: Springing heifers, £10 to £13; Shorthorn springers, £9 5/ to £10; Ayrshire and Friesian-cross heifers. £4 15/; poor Jersey heifers, £2 to £3 10/. Sheep: Fat and forward hoggets, 18/9; fat wethers, 25/3; fresh-conditioned ewes, 10/; pen Romney ewe hoggets, 19/7. Pigs: Stores, 33/ to 36/; slips, 26/ to 30/; weaners, 19/ to 30/6. THE ADDINGTON MARKET. FAT SHEEP CHEAPER. (By Telegraph.—Press Association. ) CHRISTCHURCH, Wednesday. There were smaller entries at the Addington market to-day. Beef and store sheep sold at slightly improved rates, but fat sheep eased rather markedly. Following are the details:— Store Sheep.—There was a free sale with a shade of improvement. Good twotooth crossbred «wes made to 24/6; medium two-tooth ha.lfbred ewes (empty), to 16/5; good halfbred ewes and lambs, to 13/4; ordinary halfbred ewes and lambs, 10/ to 11/3; extra good two-tooth halfbred wethers, to ,23/3; good four-tooth halfbred wethers, .to 20/; medium six and eight-tooth halfbred wethers, 15/6 to. 16/10; good wether hoggets, to 15/; medium wether hoggets, 12/ to 13/4; ordinary wether hoggets, 7/6 to-8/5; medium ewe hoggets, to 14/5. Spring Lambs.—A small entry averaged from 1/3 to 1/4 per lb. Fat Sheep—Heavy wethers were lower by 3/ to 3/6, and medium weights and the hea.vier ewes by 2/6. Light sheep showed a smaller easing. The market was dragging and more sheep were passed than usual. Extra prime heavy wethers made to 37/6; prime heavy, 26/6 to SO/; medium-weight prime, 24/6 to 26/.; medium quakfe, 22/6 J

to 24/; light, 19/ to 22/; extra prime ewes, to 30/; prime, 22/ to 26/; medium, 1// to 22/: light, 14/ to 16/6. Fat Cattle— Nearly 140 head of_ the total entry of 304 came from the !North Island, and about 40 from Otago and Southland. It was a good quality entry except for light to medium-weight heifers, which sold at an advance. Values showed little change on last week. A South Otago line of 24 heifers averaged £18 5/, or about 57/ per 1001b. Best other beef made 46/ to 52/; heavy, to 43/; cow, to 42/: inferior, down to 35/. Fat Pips.—Porkers were in medium supply. The sale ivas a keen one, and prices were maintained. Baconers sold better. Porkers made £2 10/6 to £3 1/6; heavy porkers, to £3 14/6; average price per lb. 10d to lOVzd; baconers, £4 8/6 to £5; heavy baconers, to £5 11/6; average price per'lb, to 9d; choppers, £3 to £8 3/6. IN THE WAIKATO. DEMAND SLOWS DOWN. (From Our Own Correspondent.) HAMILTON, Wednesday. No doubt the e ethack which the spring grass has had, and the uncertainty of Conditions generally, are the main reasons for the stock market losing more or lees of its enthusiasm. Good quality beef is just about holding its own, but fat sheep appear to be dull of sale, btore cattle, which seem to be the most popular eection, seem to have steadied with the exception of store cows, which are still selling at satisfactory prices., A few weeks ago there appeared to be quite a shortage of yearling Jersey heifers; however, with one or two good sales taking place quite a number are now being offered, and also quoted for private treaty. Unfortunately the condition this year is not nearly so good as it has been in previous years. However, in most instances quite satisfactory prices are obtained for anything approaching good quality that has been yarded Competition for store sheep 16 practically lifeless, and the prospects of the eheep farmer generally seem to be in obscurity. Dairy cattle are etill as keenly sought after as ever, and it is difficult to keep up the supply. There appears to be a good demand for all usetul farm horses, and at the recent horse fairs quite satisfactory clearances have been reported. Conditions are as follow: — Beef.— Heavy yardings continue to come forward to the various centres, and values are about on a par with last week's quotations as far as ox and prime cow are concerned. Other classes of beef are slightly easier. Prime ox has been making up to 40/ per 1001b; prime young cow and heifer, 38/ to 40/; ordinary cow, 32/ to 34/; plain. 25/ to 30/. Fat Sheep.—Another very heavy entry was penned at Frankton sale this week. The market was very dull, and there appears to be very little demand at present. The top price for prime wethers was 28/8; medium quality, 25/ to 26/; fat ewes, up to 18/6; medium fat ewes, 14/ to 16/; fat hoggete, up to 21/ for extra prime; medium, 17/ to 18/. Store Cattle.—Yardings generally have shown an increase in price, and a few of the spring cattle fairs that have been held have been quite well patronised, although the same buoyancy that has been noticeable in previous years is lacking. Still fairly satisfactory prices have been obtained, and in most cases practically the whole yardings have changed hands. Undoubtedly at the present time the most popular are yearling Jersey heifers, and store cows, and it is seldom that this class of stock fails to reach the vendor's reserve. Grown steers in forward condition have been making up to £10; good storei?. from £8 10/ to £9 10/; three-year-old steers, £7 10/ to £8 10/; two-year-old steers, £6 10/ to £7 10/; yearlings, £4 10/ to £5 10/; forward-con-ditioned cows, from £6 to £7; good store cows, from £4 10/ to £5 10/; yearling Jersey heifers, good colours, from £7 to £7 10/, with an odd pen up to £8; medium, £5 10/ to £6 10/; smaller, £3 10/ to £4 10/; Shorthorn heifers, good, up to £4 15/; smaller, £3 10/ to £4 10/. Store Sheep.—Very little business has been done in this section. A few ewes and lambs are now being quoted for private sale, but in most cases the prices aeked are more than the purchasers are prepared to give. Very few hoggets are coming forward, and any that are yarded are not so keenly sought after as they were two or three weeks ago. At Frankton this week store sheep were very dragging, and it was difficult to get vendors and purchasers to meet. Forward woolly wethers have been making up to 22/6; store wethers, 21/; store hoggets, 16/ to 17/; ewe hoggets, up to 22/; -wether hoggets, woolly, up to 20/; store ewes, 8/ to 10/: ewes, with lambs at foot, 27/6. Dairy Cattle.—lt is difficult to keep up the supply of dairy cattle, as the inquiry is still good, and purchasers seem prepared to buy whatever they can get. Best dairy cows are making up to £14; medium £10 to £12; backward. £S to £9; best heifers, up to £13; medium, £10 to £11; backward and small, £7 10/ to £9. Pigs.—Heavy yardings of store pigs are still coming forward, and are being quoted at very satisfactory prices. Fat pigs are being offered in small numbers, and the demand is limited. Best baconers are making up to £3 5/: porkers, up to £2 15/; stores, 35/ to 38/; slips, 25/ to 32/: weaners, 15/ to 25/. Horses.—Reports of the recent horse fairs reveal that farmers are still anxious to purchase useful farm horses. The demand for the heavy draught is not so good, except in a few instances of outstanding quality, and these are mostly purchased for town orders. Young heavy draught horses have been making from £38 to £45; medium, £30 to £35; useful farm horses, from £25 to £30; medium £20 to £25: aged horses, £10 to £18. '

This Week. Last Week. BEEF (per 1001b)— Extra choice ox . 39/ 39/ Choice and prime ox 36/ to 3S/ 36/ to 38/ Choice and prime cow and heifer 34/ to 37/ 34/ to 37/ SHEEP (per head)— Prime 'wethers . 24/ to 31/6 24/ to 30/9 Unfin. wethers . 21/ to 25/9 20/6 to 26/3 Prime ewes ... 15/ to 25/ 17/6 to 25/6 Hoggets IS/ to 29/6 18/ to 26/6 Spring lambs .. 18/ to 29/9 24/5 to 31/ CALVES (per head)— Runners 100/to 176/ 110/to 165/ "Vealers 40/ to 136/ 42/ to 115/ PIGS (per head) — Baconers 54/ to 69/ 56/ to 75/ Porkers 36/ to 08/ 38/ to 61/ Weaners 20/ to 32/ IS/ to 31/ Slips 32/ to 38/ 34/ to 36/ Large stores — 35/ to 47/ 37/ to 44/