LIVE STOCK MARKETS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 72, 26 March 1931, Page 4

LIVE STOCK MARKETS.

BETTER TONE FOR SHEEP

CATTLE DEPRESSED

FATS CHEAP AT WEST IT ELD

The improved tone in the live sto'.k markets referred to last week has been maintained in most sections. Ihe revival in the wool trade has completely altered the outlook for pas'toralists, and this, it is gratifying to note, has been now accompanied by improved conditions at Smithheld. Latest cables indicate a better demand both for sheep and lambs. It is true that prices continue exceedingly low, and this remark also applies to wool, but the fact that stocks in each case are going into immediate consumption is all important, for it indicates a healthy and sufficient demand which should sooner or late place values on a reasonably payable basis.

Another welcome factor is the break in the long spell of dry weather. So far only light rains have fallen, just sufficient to freshen up pastures, but these are quite likely the forerunner of the heavy downpour which the country badly needs at the present time. ,

Unfortunately, the improvement in export conditions does not apply to beef cattle. The Argentine, with heavy shipments of chilled beef, still dominates the Home market, and the London office cf the Meat Board reports that little interest is being taken in frozen beef. In the absence of an active export market and •with both lamb and mutton selling at unusually low values, farmers are having a difficulty in quitting fat cattle, and prices have gradually eased to a point low enough for export buyers to take limited quantities. This, however, docs not apply in the South, for at Addington yesterday beef advanced £1 /a. head, and sold from 29/ to 32/6 per 1001b for choice quality. This leaves a substantial margin compared with local values of 23/ to 24/, and may result in a movement of surplus stocks from the North to the South. Freezing works are still operating, but thqre are not large quantities in any particular class. Fat lambs and wethers, a fair number of pigs and real calves, with a sprinkling of boner and ox beef, make up the total. Unfortunately, the butter market, which had seemed fairly stable at about I'2o/, has eased again, and a cable received in Auckland tc-day states the price as 112/. Cheese, too, continues to be quoted at low levels.

Position at Westfield. At Westfield yesterday an average entry of beef cattle met a dull market, and a further easing of prices was recorded. There was a large yarding of calves, and, while choice, well finished animals sold well, others were hard to quit, and lower rates had to be accepted. For fat sheep and lambs a fair entry was disposed cf, with little alteration in prices. Pigs were entered in average numbers, and met a good market at about late rates. The range of prices, together with those ruling the previous week, was as,"follows: — This Week. Last Week. BEEF (per 1001b)— Extra choice ox 23/ 24/ Choice and prime ox ... ... 17/ to 20/ 19/ to 23/ Choice and prime cow & heifer. 14/ to 22/ 16/ to 23/ Boner and rough 8/ to 12/ 10/ to 14/ SHEEP (per head)— Prime wethers.. 11/ to 14/6 11/ to 14/6 Lnnn. wethers. 7/6 to 10/ C 7/ to 10/fi Prime ewes ... 6/ to 9/ 5/6 to 8/9 Unfin. ewes ... 3/6 to 5/9 3/ to 5/ Prime lambs .. 9/ to 16/6 8/9 to 16/ Unfin. lambs .. 3/ to 8/9 4/ to 7/6 CALVES (per head) — Runners 51/ to 65/ 55/ to 70/ Vealers 20/ to 50/ 25/ to 50/ PIGS (per head) — Baconers 40/ to 54/ 42/ to 56/ Porkers 20/ to 38/ 25/ to 40/ W'eaners 5/ to 8/ 4/ to 8/ Slips 8/6 to 14/ 8/6 to 14/ Large stores... 14/6 to 20/ 14/0 to 21/

N.Z. LOAN AND MERCANTILE. The New Zealand Loaij and Mercantile Agency Company, Ltd., report on the weekly Westfield fat stock sale held yesterday as follows:— Beef.—Beef was penned in average numbers. The demand was dull and values again receded. Extra choice 'ox sold to 23/ per 1001b; choice and prime ox, 18/ to 22/; ordinary and plain ox, 15/ to 17/6; prime young cow and heifer beef, 17/ to 22/; ordinary cow beef, 13/ to 16/; heavy prime steers, £8 to £8 17/6; lighter prime steers, £7 to £7 17/6; light prime steers, £6 to £6 17/6; unfinished and small, £4 to £5 15/; heavy prime young cows and heifers, £6 to £7 5/; lighter, £5 to £5 15/; light cows, £3 15/ to £4 15/; other cows, £2 to £3 10/. Sheep.—Sheep were yarded in average numbers and sold readily at late rates, prime wethers selling at from 10/ to 14/; unfinished wethers, 7/6 to 9/9; prime ewes, 6/ to 9/; poor ewes, 3/6 to 5/9. Lambs. —Lambs were penned in average numbers and sold at late values, prime lambs selling at from 9/ to 16/6; unfinished, best, 6/ to 8/9; others, 3/ to 5/9. Pigs.—Pigs were penned in average numbers. Values eased on last week's quotations. Choppers made £2 to £2 14/; heavy and medium baconers, £2 8/ to £2 13/; 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 £18/. Store pigs sold at late quotations. Large stores, 14/ to £1; slips, 9/ to 14/; weaners, 5/ to 11/.

Calves. —Calves were penned in large numbers, the yarding consisting of good quality vealers. Values were easier on last week's quotations. Runners, £2 10/ to £4 18/; heavy vealers, £2 to £2 11/; medium, £1 10/ to £1 18/; light, £1 to £1 8/; smaller, 10/ to 18/; small and fresh dropped, 5/ to 10/; rough calves, 7/ to 15/.

DALGETY AND COMPANY. Dalgety and Company, Limited, report on the weekly Westfield fat stock sale held yesterday as follow: —■- Beef.—Ox beef was offered in slightly lesser numbers than last week. The quality was again first-class, but the demand was not improved and late rates were not maintained. Cow and heifer beef was penned in usual numbers and here, also, a drop in values was recorded. Extra choice ox, sold to 23/ per 1001b; choice and prime ox, 19/ to 22/; just killajblc, 16/6 to 18/; prime young cow and heifer, 19/ to 22/; just killable, 9/ to 18/. Extra heavy prime 6teers ranged in price from £9 to £9 5/; heavy prime steers, £7 15/ to £8 5/; lighter, £6 15/ to £7 12/6; light, £5 17/6 to £6 12/6; extra heavy prime young cows and heifers, £6 5/ to £6 10/; heavy prime, £5 to £6; lighter, £3 10/ to £4 17/6; other killable cows, £2 to £3. , Sheep.—Sheep were yarded an large numbers and drew forth steady competition at values on a par with last week s rates. Values for fat ewes were a shade better. Extra heavy prime wethers, shorn, 13/ to 14=/; heavy prime, 12/3 to 12/9; medium, 10/6 to 12/; light and unfinished, 8/9 to 10/3; heavy prime ewes, 7/6 to 8/6; lighter, 6/ to 7/3; other ewes, 4/6 to 5/6. . . Lambs—Lambs were offered m larger numbers and the offering included a fair number of store sorts. Values f° r prime lines were fully on a par with late rata?, while, second quality and store condition lambs also sold readily at late values. Heavy prime lambs, 13/3 to 14,; medium, 11/6 to 12/9; light, 9/6 to 10/9. Calves.—A heavy yarding of calves was offered at to-day's market. Good quality well-finished calves were in demand, while inferior conditioned and plain cattle 'were hard to quit. Runners, £2 10/ to £3 15/; heavy vealers, £2 2/ to £2 S/; medium, £1 14/ to £2; light, £1 2/ to £1 12/; rough, 10/ to 19/; small, 8/ to 13/. Pigs.—Pigs were yarded in average numbers and met with a steady sale at full late rates. Choppers, up to £3 10/; heavy baconers, £2 11/ to £2 14/; medium, £2 6/ to £2 10/; light, £2 1/ to £2 5/; heavy porkers, £1 18/ to £2 2/; medium, £1 |IV to £1 17/; light, £1 8/ to £1 13/J small and unfinished, £1 2/ to £16/; slips, 112/ to 14/; iweaners, 0/ to 1(V.