LIVE STOCK MARKETS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 18, 22 January 1931, Page 4

LIVE STOCK MARKETS.

PRICES STILL DECLINE.

MEAT EXPORT VALUES LOW

DAIRY PRODUCTS STEADIES

RAIN WELCOME TO FARMERS

The position of the live stock markets has shown no improvement since last report. On the contrary, values have declined still further. The local wool sale on Saturday saw values drop further. This movement was accentuated at Wanganui, and confirmed at the opening of the London sales. Reporting on the Wanganui sale, Dalgety and Company state:—

"The hope that prices would improve as the season progressed is far from being realised, and it does not seem to us that there Is any prospect of a decided rise taking place during the remainder of the local selling season. From Bales lately held, growers must have a fairly accurate idea of present market values, and unless they are prepared to sell at such, it is useless to catalogue wools with prohibitive reserves. In odd cases when brokers' valuations go out at from 4d to 4%d, growers wire reserving their wool at, from 6d to 7d, with no prospect of such prices being obtained. In the sales lately held in the South and at Napier and Wellington, clearances from catalogues have been from 90 to 95 per cent, whereas in Wanganui the quantity sold is only about 50 per cent. Growers would be well advised not to offer their clips unless they are prepared to sell at current rates."

The only favourable features in the wool market are that there are no reports of accumulated stocks, showing that low prices have stimulated consumption, and that the exchange position gives a welcome preference of 7Yz per cent to the exporter. Unfortunately, it would appear from the report of the London sales that the concession thus available on our exports is being discounted in advance bybuyers.

Smithfield reports tell of heavy arrivals from many sources having congested the meat markets, and this position has been reflected in still lower rates being offered by exporting firms. • Sales all over the Dominion have followed the same trend, and stock values generally are lower than has been the case for many years. on prices at the Wanganui Farmers' Union yesterday, Mr. T. Currie, president, said that in November, 1929, at the best wool sale of the season, he received 12% d for his best wool. At the last sale he received 5%d, the same price as he got for locks last year. In 1913 fat wethers were worth 18/, in January and February of last year 26/ to 27/; now they were hardly worth 11/6. In January last year pelts were worth 6d per lb, and to-day 2%d, while tallow was worth only 10/ per cwt.

Fortunately, the slump in prices will be partly counteracted by increased production. Local freezing works are all working to capacity in an endeavour to cope with the large quantities of fat lambs that are offering. Yesterday's heavy downpour of rain will have come as a "godsend" to fanners, for the ground was rapidly becoming parched after a succession of hot, dry days. The rain will have been particularly welcome in Wairarapa and Hawke's Bay, where drought conditions have prevailed.

The dairy markets, though not overactive, ahow signs of comparative stability, and it" would appear that our heavy shipments of produce are going into regular consumption.

At Westfield yesterday an average entry of fat cattle again met a slack demand, and a further reduction in price was recorded. Runners and vealers were dull of sale and sold at lower rates. The entry of fat sheep and of lambs was much less than at the previous week's sale, and a brisk demand, especially for lambs, saw an advance in prices. An average entry of' pigs was quitted at about late rates. The range of prices, together with those ruling the' previous week, was as follows:—

This Week. Last Week. BEEP (per 1001b)— Extra choice ox 27/ 28/ Choice and prime ox 23/ to 25/ 24/ to 26/ Choice and prime cow and heifer 17/6 to 25/ 18/ to 26/ Boner and rough . 10/ to 16/ 10/ to 16/ SHEEP (per head)— Prime -wethers .. 12/6 to 17/ 10/ to 16/6 Unfin. wethers .. 7/6 to 10/6 8/to 9/6 Prime ewes .... 6/ to 10/0 7/to 10/6 Unfin. ewes 1/9 to 5/6 3/to 5/9 Hoggets 10/ to 15/6 7/ to 10/9 Prime lambs ... 10/6 to 18/9 10/ to la/9 Unfin. lambs .. 5/9 to 9/6 4,/ to 976 CALVES (per head) — Runners 52/ to 68/ 60/ to 90/ Vealers . ; 12/ to 48/ 12/ to 55/ PIGS (per head) — Baconers 49/ to 60/ 49/ to 60/ Porkers ........ 35/ to 48/ 35/ to 48/ Weaners 8/ to 14/ 8/ to 14/ Slips 15/ to 23/ 15/ to 23/ Large stores 25/ t0,32/ 25/ to 32/

N.Z. LOAN AND MERCANTILE,

The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Co., Ltd., report on the weekly Westfield fat stock sale, held yesterday, as follows:—

Beef.—Beef was penned in average numbers, and although there .was a steady demand values again receded. Extra choice ox sold to 27/ per 1001b; choice and prime ox, 23/ to 26/; ordinary and plain ox, 20/ to 22/; prime young cow and heifer beef, 23/ to 26/; ordinary cow bcef_, 13/ to 22/; heavy prime steers, £9 10/ to £10 15/; lighter prime steers, £8 to £9 7/6; light prime steers, £6 15/ to £7 15/; unfinished and small, £5 10/ to £6 10/; heavy prime young cows and heifers, £6 10/ to £7 10/-J lighter, £5 to £6 5/; light cows, £4 to £4 17/6; other cows, £2 10/ to £3 17/6.

Sheep.—Sheep were yarded in large numbers, and competition was steady throughout, with values slightly improved for prime wethers. Prime ewes and store sheep sold at late values. Prime wethers, 11/6 to 15/9; small and unfinished wethers, 7/6 to 10/9; prime ewes, 6/ to 9/; poor and inferior ewes, 1/9 upwards; prime hoggets, 11/ to 15/6; unfinished hoggets, 7/ to 10/9. Lambs. —Lambs were penned in average numbers, and competition improved, values for both prime and unfinished. Prime lambs sold at from 11/ to 16/6; store lambs, 5/6 to 9/6. Pigs.—Pigs were penned in average numbers. Values again eased. Choppers sold from £2 to £3 12/6; heavy and medium baconers, £2 7/ to £2 15/; light baconers and heavy porkers, £2 to £2 6/; medium porkers and light porkers, £1 10/ to £1 18/; small and unfinished porkers, £1 to £1 8/. Store pigs sold at late quotations: large stores, £1 to £1 6/; slips, 12/ to 18/; weaners, 10/ to 18/. Calves—A smaller yarding of calves met with a very dull sale. Values agam declined on late quotations. Rough calves were not wanted. Runners, 21/ to £4 5/; heavy vealers, £2 10/ to £3 10/ for an extra choice vealer; medium, £1 16/; to £2 6/; light, £1 5/ to £1 14/; smaller 16/ to £13/; small and fresh dropped, of to 14/; rough calves, 7/ to 15/.

ALFRED BOCKLAND AND SONS. Alfred Buckland and Sons, Limited, report on the weekly Westfield fat stock sale held yesterday as follows:— " Beef.—Our supply of fat cattle totalled 276 head, as against 244' head at last Wednesday's market, comprising 197 steers and 70 cows and heifers. There was only a limited demand, and, generally, values were easier. Extra choice ox sold to £1 7/ per 1001b; choice and prime ox, £14/ to £1 6/; scondary and plain ox, £1 1/ to 3/; prime young cow and heifer beef, £1 4/ to £I' 6/; ordinary c-ow beef, 12/ to £ 1 3/. Extra heavy prime steers ranged in price from £11 to £11 17/6; heavy prime steers, £10 to £10 17/6; lighter prime sters, £9 to £9 17/6; light prime steers, £7 10/ to £8 15/; small and unfinished steers, £5 to £7 5/;-. extra heavy prime young cows and heifers, £7

17/6; heavy'• prime cows and heifers, £5 15/ to £6 17/6; lighter prime cows and heifers, £4 10/ to £5 12/6; other killablo cows, £2 10/ to £4 7/6. Sheep.—The. 870 sheep penned represents about half of last week's total. Competition was more keen and all fat sheep were dearer. Heavy prime wethers, 16/ to 17/; medium to heavy prime wethers, 14/ to 15/9; light to medium prime wethers, 12/6 to 13/9; unfinished wethers, 9/ to 12/3; extra heavy prime young ewes, 9/ to 10/9; heavy prime ewes, 7/6 to 8/9; lighter prime ewes, 6/ to 7/3; other killable ewes, 5/6 to 6/; other ewes, 3/3 to 5/6. Lambs.—The 513 lambs which came forward were with few exceptions of prime quality. There was a keen demand and all finished lambs sold at improved values. Extra heavy prime lambs, 17/6 to 18/9; heavy prime, 16/ to 17/3; lighter prime, 14/ to 15/9; light prime, 12/6 to 13/9; small and plain, 7/ to 12/3. Calves. —We had a smaller offering of fat and young calves. Competition was very slack and values again receded. Runners made £3 to £3 8/; heavy vealers, £2 8/ to £2 15/; light and medium, £16/ to £2 2/; small vealers, 16/ to £1 4/; rough calves, 9/ to 15/; fresh dropped, 2/ to 9/ (165 calves sold). Pigs.—There was an average yarding of fat pigs. The demand was steady, and values were equal to those ruling last week. Choppers made £2 10/ to £3 2/; heavy baconers, £2 10/ to £2 17/; light and medium, £2 6/ to £2 9/; heavy porkers, £2 3/ to £2 5/; light and medium, £1 18/ to £2; small and unfinished, £1 10/ to £1 15/; stores, £15/ to £18/; slips, £1 to £1 2/; weaners, 12/ to 18/; sows, due to farrow, £2 10/ to £3 *10/ (361 pigs sold).

DALGETY AND COMPANY, LIMITED

Dalgety and Company, Limited, report on the weekly Westfield fat stock sale held yesterday as follows: — Beef.—Ox beef was penned in larger numbers than last week. The demand was not improved.and values again eased. Our offering comprised all lightweight prime cattle. Lightweight steers realised £6 to £7 10/. Cow and heifer beef came forward in lesser numbers than last week, and here also values eased. Prime heavy young cows and heifers realised £7 2/6 to £8; medium cows and heifers, £6 2/0 to £7; lighter prime, £5 5/ to £6; light •prime, £4 to £5 2/6; other killable cows, £2 7/6 to £3 17/6. Extra choice ox, 27/ per 100!b; choice and prime ox, 24/ to 26/; secondary and plain ox, 21/ to 23/; prime young cow and heifer, 24/ to 26/; ordinary cow beef, 12/ to 23/. Sheep—Sheep were penned in lesser numbers than last week, the quality being first-class. A better demand existed, and values were easily 1/ to 2/ per head improved on late rates. One pen of extra well-finished two-tooth wethers realised 10/. Extra heavy prime wethers, 14/6 to 15/9; heavy prime, 13/9 to 14/3; medium, 12/9 to 13/6; light and unfinished, 9/9 to 12/6; heavy prime ewes, 7/3 to 7/9; lighter, 6/3 to 7/; other ewes, 2/9 to 5/6. Lambs. —Lambs were offered in lesser numbers than last week and sold under good competition at improved rates. Heavy prime lamb, 15/9; medium, 14/3; light, 12/; store lambs, 3/6. to 6/. Calves. —A smaller number of calves was yarded at to-day's sales, notwithstanding which values again receded on those ruling at last week's market. Runners, £3 5/ to £3 10/; heavy vealers, £2 10/ to £2 17/; .medium and light, £1 6/ to £2 5/; rough, 8/ to 16/; small, 2/ to 8/.

Pigs.—Pigs were yarded in average numbers and the demand for all classes of fats was firm at late rates, while stores were slightly easier. Choppers, £3 to £3 10/'; heavy baconers, £2 12/ to £3; medium and light, £2 6/ to £2 10/; heavy porkers, £1 18/ to £2 6/; medium and light, £1 10/ to £ 1 18/; stores, 25/ to 30/; slips, 18/ to 23/; weaners, best, 14/ to 2.1/; small, 10/ to 15/.

IN THE WAIKATO. FAT LAMBS LOWER. (From Our Own Correspondent.) HAMILTON, Wednesday. The market generally during the past week has shown a further decline. The uncertainty of the export price from week to week naturally reflects in the price realised for store sheep. Last week witnessed a further drop of Vtd per lb all round in fat lambs, and even at this low iigure it is hard to say whether a further decline will not take place in the immediate future. Conditions are as follow:— . Beef.—An average yarding of cow and ox beef was penned at the Frankton yards this week, and competition was not so keen. Ox beef showed a decline of 20/ per head, and cow and heifer beef was also easier. Prime ox beef was making 23/ to 24/; second quality, 21/ to 22/; prime young cow and heifer beef, about 22/ to 23/; medium quality, 18/ to 20/.

Fat Sheep.—An average yarding of fat sheep came forward, and the market generally was dull. Fat ewes made from 6/ to 6/6, whilst the best wethers sold up to 13/, with quite good sheep fetching from 10/ to 12/. Fat lambs also showed a decline on previous quotations, the top price being 15/6, with good medium fat lambs at 10/ to 12/, and small from 7/6 to 9/6. Store Cattle. —Store cattle are still being yarded in average numbers at the various centres, and competition is still weak. Male cattle, which have been changing hands at recent sales, appear as though they would show a good margin of profit to the purchaser. Female cattle appear to be losing their popularity, and at the majority of sales male cattle change hands more readily. Very few in-calf heifers have appeared oh the market of late, and there is a small inquiry for this class of stock. Three-year-old station-bred steers have been making from £6 to £6 10/; two-year-old, from £5 to £5 10/; yearling to 18-months, from £3 10/ to £4; two-year-old heifers, from £3 10/ to £4 10/; yearling heifers, from 30/ to £2 10/; store cows, from £2 10/ to £3; forward-condi-tioned cows, from £3 10/ to £4 10/.

Store Sheep.—The anticipated rush for store lambs has set in, and taking all things into consideration the prices realised are quite satisfactory. In fact, in many cases store lambs are bringing more than what the freezing price warrants. The most disappointing feature in this section is the low price being realised for store wethers. These have been sold at prices which must show a good return to the purchaser.

Very few breeding ewes have been submitted to auction during thc week, but with the sheep fairs starting towards the end of this month, considerable activity can be looked forward to in this section.

Best store lambs have been making up to 8/; medium quality, from 6/ to 7/; small, from 4/ to 5/; two-tooth wethers, from 8/ to 9/; four-tooth wethers, from 9/ to 10/; two-tooth ewes, 16/; five-year-old ewes, 8/ to 10/.

Pigs—Pigs have been coming forward in large numbers, and the prices again show an all-round decline, especially is this noticeable in store and weaner pigs. Heavy baconers £2 8/ to £2 12/; light, £2 to £2 5/; porkers, 35/ to 38/; good stores, 25/ to 30/; slips, 20/ to 25/; veaners, 10/ to 18/.

THE ADDINGTON MARKET. FURTHER DECLINES RECORDED. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) CHRTSTCIIURCH, Wednesday. At the Addington market there were substantial declines in values recorded in both.the fat cattle and fat sheep sections. The former was the most severe this season and has reduced values to a lower level than for many years. Store Sheep.—The entry of store sheep was not as large as at the last few sales, and that of adult sheep was especially small and inferior in quality generally. As a result the adult sheep sale was a dull one throughout. Store lambs sold firmly at last week's rates. Values were:— Best rape lambs, 7/2 to 8/1; ordinary 4/3 to 6/: backward and small, to 3/4; best halfbred wether lambs, to 8/2; good fourtooth Romney ewes, to 14/3; medium sixtooth halfbred ewes, to 10/4; backward two-tooth halfbred ewes, to 7/; backward two-tooth c-ossbred ewes, to 8/6; soundmouthed ewes, to 4/3; aged and backward ewes, 1/2 to 2/8; aged and backward ewes and lambs, to 2/6. r

Fat Lambs—The fat lamb entry totalled 4400 head. The quality was an average one. The sale was conducted on much the same basis as that of last week. Values were: —Extra prime lambs, to 19/1; prime, 15/6 to 17/6; medium, 13/ to 15/; light, 10/6 to 12/6; store, 8/ to 10/.

Fat Sheep.—The fat slieep entry was 3600 head and the sheep were drawn from within the province. The sale was a dispirited one, and there was an easier tone ruling throughout the auction. Wethers declined in.value by up to 2/ a head and ewes by up to 1/6 a head. Prices were:— Extra prime heavy wethers, to 20/4; prime heavy, 16/ to 17/6; medium, 13/ to 15/6; second quality, 8/ to 12/6; light, to 7/6; extra prime ewes, to 13/4; prime,' 9/ to 11/6; medium, 6/6 to 8/6; light, 4/6'; to 6/; aged and inferior, 3/ to 4/.

Fat Cattle.—The entry of fat cattle was 574 head, easily the largest at an ordinary sale this season. There were no cattle from outside sources. The sale was dull throughout and the easing was the sharpest for a long period. Cows and heifers eased by £1 10/ to £2 a head and steers by £2 to £3 a head over the whole sale. The drop, brought values to a lower level than has been known in Addington for a great many years. There were many passings and withdrawals. The best mediumweight prime beef made from 29/ to 33/ per 1001b, and in the case of only a very few pens was the top figure exceeded -or even equalled.

Fat Pigs.—There was a medium yarding in the fat pig pens, with choppers in small supply. Prices were easier all round. Values were:—Choppers, to £4 13/6; baconers, 50/ to 55/; heavy, 57/6 to 67/6; extra heavy, to £3 19/6 (average price per lb, 4Vzd to 5%d); porkers, 31/6 to 37/6; heavy, 43/ to 46/6 (average price per lb, 6d to 6%d).

HAWKE'S BAY VALUES.

(By Telegraph.—Special to "Star.")

HASTINGS, Wednesday,

At Stortford sale to-day there was an average attendance. There was a large yarding of fat cattle also of fat and store sheep, and a small entry of store cattle. Fat bullocks realised to £8 4/, and averaged about 22/ per 1001b. Cows brought up to £5 2/6, and averaged about 18/ per 1001b. Store cattle were not wanted. Fat ewes realised to 9/, and fat wethers to 12/. There was a keen demand for store lambs, but second quality sheep had no demand. Good five-year station ewes realised to 8/.