LIVE STOCK MARKET.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 95, 23 April 1931, Page 4

LIVE STOCK MARKET.

A HEALTHY TONE.

EXPORT LAMBS SELL WELL

STOCK IN GOOD FETTLE

The markets for live stock continue in a fairly healthy condition, as farmers and dealers have become accustomed, if not reconciled, to the lower values that have ruled within the last few months. Unfortunately, the recent sharp advance in the price of wool has not been fully maintained, but values are still well above the ' extremely low levels at which the season started. Some of the prices realised at New Zealand sales were well above London parity, and under these circumstances it is not surprising that there has been a recession. Latest cables from Smithfield indicate that cheap prices are having the result of increasing the consumption of New Zealand lamb and the market is steady. At local sales turnover and prices have been fairly steady. The good demand for store sheep has continued, while fats are bringing higher prices on the domestic market. A compensation for poor prices and economic stress is provided in the climatic conditions, which have been ideal for this season of the year. Plenty of moisture, with temperatures still comparatively mild, should improve pastures and put stock in good heart to face the coming winter. Latest rains were particularly welcome in the Poverty Bay district, and it is reported that killings of sheep and lambs at the Kaiti works (Gisborne) have decreased in number by about one-tlnrd since the drought broke in the district, farmers now being able to keep their stock until properly fattened, whereas previously they were sending them to the works very light in condition. At the local freezing works there ig still a fair amount of activity, though the volume has eased off considerably. A tew lambs, moderate supplies of wether sheep, good quantities of pigs and a fair number of boner beef cattle comprise the daily output. , . At Westfield yesterday there was a large yarding of cattle, including a number of choice lines. The demand was good at about late rates. Choice handy-weight calves sold well, but heavy and plain soits were hard to quit. Fat sheep were not over-plentiful, and in response to brisk competition prices advanced. Lambs sold readily at recent quotations, ihere was a much better inquiry for fat pigs, and prices improved for all classes. Ihe range of prices, together with those ruling a week ago, was as follows: — This Week. Last Week. BEEF (per 1001b) — Extra choice ox 23/ 23/ Choice and prime ox 20/ to 22/ 20/ to 22/ Choice and prime cow and heifer IS/ to 22/ 18/ to-.-/ Boner and rough 10/ to 17/ 10 to 17/ SHEEP (per head) — Prime wethers . 12/6 to IS/G 11/0 to 17/3 Unfin. wethers . 8/0 to 12/ 8/ Prime ewes ... 10/11 to 14/ 10/ _to 14/j; Uniin. ewes ... 5/9 to 10/ ;■>/(» to J/t» Prime lambs .. 10/0 to 17/0 10/6toli/0 Untin. lambs .. 7/ to 10/3 0/0 to 10/3 CALVES (per head)— Runners 47/ to 00/ 47/ to 04/ Vealers 15/ to 43/ 35/ to !.>/ PIGS (per head)-— Baconers 40/ to 59/ 40/ to 59/ Porkers ....... 30/ to 44/ 25/ to 41 / Weaners 7/ to 12/ 4/ to 9/ Slips 13/ to 18/ 10/ to 13/ Largo stores .. 19/ to 25/ 14/ to 20/ N.Z. LOAN AND MERCANTILE. The Xew Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Limited, report on the weekly Westfield fat stock sale held yesterday as follows:— Beef. —Beef was penned in average numbers. There was a keener demand for choice and prime quality, and although quotations are the same, these qualities were slightly firmer. Extra choice ox sold to 23/ per 100 lb; choice and prime ox, i'J/ to 22/; ordinary and plain ox, 15/ to 18/; prime young cow and heifer beef, 18/ to 22/; ordinary cow beef, 13/ to 17/; heavy prime steers, £9 to £10 5/; lighter prime steers, £7 17/6 to £8 15/; light prime steers, £0 15/ to £7 15/; unfinished and small, £4 10/ to £0 10/; heavy prime young cows and heifers, £6 to £6 15/; lighter, £4 15/ to £5 17/6; light cows, £3 15/ to £4 12/6; other cows, £2 to £3 10/. Sheep.—Sheep were penned in average numbers. Competition was again keen, with a further advance in values of to 2/ a head. Prime wethers sold at from 13/6 to 18/6; unfinished wethers, 8/6 to 13/3; prime ewes, 10/6 to 14/; poorer ewes, 7/6 to 10/3. Lambs.—Lambs were penned in large numbers. There was keen competition for choice and prime quality, with values very firm. Prime lambs sold at from 10/ to 17/6; smaller and unfinished, 7/ to 9/9. . Pigs.—Pigs were penned in short numbers, and* l alues again improved, porkers benefiting particularly. Choppers sold from 30/ to £2 5/; heavy and medium baconers, £2 12/ to £2 19/; light baconers and heavy porkers. £2 2/ to £2 11/; medium and light, 30/ to £2 1/. Store pigs were offered in usual numbers, and prices improved. Large stores, 17/ to 23/; slips. 13/ to 16/; weaners, 7/ to 12/. Calves. —Calves were penned in average numbers, and hardened slightly on kite quotations. Runners, £2 15/ to £3 12/; heavy vealers, £2 4/ to £2 12/; medium, 34/ to £2 3/; light, 25/ to 33/; smaller, 15/ to 24/; small and fresh dropped, 7/ to 14/; rough calves, 6/ to 15/.

ALFRED BUCKLAND AND SONS. Alfred Buckland and Sons, Limited, report on the weekly Westfield fat stock sale held yesterday as follows: — Beef.—Our beef pens contained 373 head, as against 267 head at last week's market, comprising 189 steers and 184 cows and heifers. The quality, generally, of the ox beef was hrst-class. Competition was even throughout without alteration in values from our last report. Extra choice ox sold to £13/ per 1001b; choice and prime ox, £1 to £12/; secondary and plain ox, 16/ to ID/; prime young cow and heifer beef, £1 to £12/; ordinary cow beef, 10/ to 19/. Extra heavy prime steers ranged in price from £9 5/ to £10; heavy prime, £8 to £9 2/6; lighter, £7 to £7 17/6; light, £5 15/ to £6 17/6; small and unfinished, £3 10/ to £5 12/6; extra heavy prime young cows and heifers, £6 15/ to £7 10/; heavy prime, £5 15/ to £6 12/6; lighter, £4 10/ to £5 12/6; other killable cows, £2 to £4 7/6. Sheep.—The sheep pens were comfortably filled with a nice class of mutton. There was again a keen demand, and last week's advance was improved upon (1007 sheep sold). Extra heavy prime wethers, 17/6 to 18/3; heavy, 16/ to 17/3; medium to heavy, 14/6 to 15/9; light to medium, 13/ to 14/3; unfinished, 10/6 to 12/6; extra ''heavy prime young ewes, 12/6 to 13/6; heavy, 11/6 to 12/3; lighter, 10/ to 11/3; other killable ewes, 9/ to 9/9; other ewes, 6/9 to 8/9. Lambs.—The 573 lambs penned sold freely at fully late rates. Extra heavy prime lambs, 15/6 to 16/9; heavy, 14/ to 15/3; lighter, 12/ to 13/9; light, 10/6 to 11/9: small and plain. 7/6 to 10/. Calves—We had a large entry of calves. There was competition for all *ood quality light and medium vealers, but heavy- | weights and plain calves were hard to [quit. Runners made £2 to £3 2/; heavy vealers, £2 3/ to £2 8/; medium. £1 13/ [to £1 18/; light, £1 7/ to £1 11/; small, £1 1/ to £1 5/; rough calves, 8/ to 14/; fresh dropped, 2/ to 7/ (283 calves were sold). Pigs.—Fat pigs were penned in numbers short of requirements. All classes met a brisk sale and prices improved. Choppers made £1 5/ to £2 9/: heavy prime baconers, £2 13/ to £2 17/: medium, £2 9/ to £2 12/; light, £2 5/ to £2 7,/; heavy porkers, £2 3/ to £2 5/: medium. £1 16/ to £2 1/; light, £1 9/ to £1 14/; small and unfinished, £1 3/ to £1 7/. Stores were in full supply and sold readily at higher rates. Best framed. £1 4/ to £1 9/; smaller. 18/ to £12/; slips, 14/ to 16/; weaners, 9/ to 12/. (A total of 394 pigs iwas sold.)

DALGETY AND COMPANY. Dalgety and Company, Limited, report on the weekly Westfield fat stock sale held yesterday as follows:— Beef. —Ox beef was yarded in average numbers and sold under a steady demand at values on a par with late rates. Cow and heifer beef was also penned in about usual numbers and realised late rates. Extra choice ox sold to 23/ per 1001b; choice and prime, 20/ to 22/; secondary and plain, 16/ to 19/; prime young cow and heifer beef, 20/ to 22/; ordinary cow, 10/ to 19/; extra heavy prime steers ranged in price from £8 17/0 to £9 7/6; heavy prime, £7 15/ to £8 15/; lighter, £6 15/ to £7 12/6; light, £5 12/6 to £(j 12/6; small and unfinished, £4 5/ to £5 2/6; extra heavy prime young cows and heifers, £6 7/6 to £6 17/13; heavy prime cows and heifers, £5 10/ to £6 5/; lighter, £4 7/6 to £5 7/6; other billable cows, £2 to £4 5/.

Sheep.—Sheep were yarded in average numbers, for which there was a keen demand, and values again improved on late rates. Extra heavy prime wethers, 17/9 to 18/3; heavy, 16/6 to 17/6; medium, 15/3 to 10/3; light and unfinished, 14/3 to 14/6; heavy prime ewes, 12/3 to 13/6; lighter, 10/6 to 11/9; other ewes, 5/6 to 9/6. Lambs.-—Lambs were yarded in usual numbers and sold under a steady demand at full late rates. Heavy prime lambs, 14/3 to 15/6; medium, 13/1 to 14/; light, 10/6 to 12/9. Calves. —We offered an average yarding of calves at to-day's market, the greater proportion of which were station-bred cattle. The market held firm at late rates. Rfinners, up to £3 3/; heavy vealers, ."2 to £2 6/; medium, £1 12/ to £1 18/; light, £1 2/ to £1 11/; rough, 8/ to 16/; small, 3/ to 9/. Pigs.—Pigs were yarded in lesser numbers and all classes were keenly competed for at a slight advance oh last week's prices. Choppers, up to £2 16/; heavy baconers, £2 13/ to £2 16/; medium, £2 8/ to £2 12/; light, £2 4/ to £2 7/; heavy porkers, £1 19/ to £2 3/; medium, £1 14/ to £1 18/; light, £1 10/ to £1 13/; small and unfinished, £1 4/ to £1 9/. THE ADDINGTON MARKET. FIRM FOR STORE SHEEP. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, Wednesday. Heavy entries were the rule in the major sections of the market at Addington to-day. Features of the market were the slight easing of values for fat lambs, a decline of 1/ to 1/6 a head in the price for fat ewes, an easing in secondary beef values of £1 a head, and a further advance of 1/ a head for store lambs.

Store Sheep.—The market was firm at late rates for good ewes and wethers; unattractive sorts were hard to quit except at lower rates. Extra good two-tooth halfbred ewes made 18/ to 20/; ordinary, 10/6 to 11/9; ordinary four and six-tooth, 10/ to 11/6; backward, 6/6 to 8/6; ordinary six and eight-tooth, 7/6 to 8/0; soundmouthed, 4/ to 6/; medium two-tooth Romncy cross ewes, 13/ to 15/6; ordinary. 10/ to 12/6; good six and eight-tooth Romncy cross ewes, 10/ to 11/3; good soundmouthed crossbred ewes, 8/ to 9/; good two-tooth Corriedale ewes, to 17/3; medium two-tooth three-quarterbred ewes, to 14/10; ordinary, to 10/; good four and six-tooth halfbred wethers, 10/0 to 12/6; ordinarv, two, four and six-tooth halfbred wethers. 6/ to 8/6; good two, four and six-tooth Roniney cross wethers, to 12/. Store Lambs.—A select entry met with a very keen sale. Good rape lambs made 10/ to 12/3: others, 6/6 to 9,/; backward, 5/ to G/; good ewe lambs, 11/ to 13/1; medium, to 9/6; medium wether lambs, 8/ to 9/; ordinary, 6/ to 7/. Fat Lambs.—The entry was 5500 head and the quality was mixed. For best lambs late rates were maintained, but under the pressure of the heavy entry lighter sorts were a shade easier. Extra prime lambs realised up to 19/6; prime, 15/9 to 17/; medium, 14/6 to 15/6; light, 12/ to 14/. „ Fat Sheep.—An entry of /000 head. Ewes sold at 1/ to 1/6 below last weeks values. Wethers sold at late rates. Extra prime heavy wethers brought up to 18/10; prime, 14/6 to 16/6; medium, 12,-6 to 14/, second quality, 10/ to 12/3; //6 to 9/6; extra prime ewes, to 16/7; prime, 11/6 to 13/; medium, 9/ to 11/; light, 7/ to 8/6. . Fat Cattle.—The entry was 36.) head and the quality was below average. Choice beef sold to a keen demand, but other sorts recorded a decline in value. Choice beef brought 31/ to 35/ per 1001b. and in the (rase of one line of sliow oullocks, lip to 44,/; good medium-weight beef. 26/ to 30/; plain heavy beef, 21/ to 25/; cow beef 19/ to 23/; secondary beef, 14/ to 18/. IN THE WAIKATO. GOOD INQUIRY FOR STORE SHEEP. HAMILTON, Wednesday. The beneficial rains that have fallen during the past week will no doubt ha\e very good results on the winter pasture. If we get a few days' good warm weather before the frosts set m it will ensuie a good supply of winter feed. This will no doubt give all olas&es ot stock a haidening tendency, although the prices for export do not show any likelihood ot increasing. It certainly appears as though fat sheep will be in short supply during the winter months, although unfortunately the same cannot be said with regard to beef. Store cattle are still arriving from the East Coast district, and the inquiry is still good. The Waikato graziers are this year having a rare opportunity of stocking up with good quality stationbred cattle, and although the prices are in advance of those anticipated, still the quality is better than is usually available in this district. There is still a good inquiry for store sheep, more particularly wethers and lambs, although breeding ewes are being absorbed in small numbers.

Conditions are as follow: — Beef.—Average yardings of beef are coming forward, but competition is still weak. At Frankton on Tuesday ox beef sold up to 19/ per 1001b; prime young cow and heiferj 16/ to 17/; cow beef, 12/ to 14/; boners, 8/. Fat Sheep.—The market for fat sheep is at present very bare, and a good rise has taken place during the last few weeks. A good number of wethers are being held in anticipation of a rising market, but farmers do not appear to be in any hurry to sell. Fat ewes are likely to be scarce right through the winter, but fat lambs are coming forward in more than average numbers for this period of the year. Best prime wethers make up to 13/3; medium, 10/9 to 11/1; light fat ewes. 8/9 to 9/8; best fat lambs, 13/ to 14/; medium, 10/ to 11/; small, 9/ to 10/. Store Cattle. —There is still a good inquiry for store cattle from the East Coast district, and more will be submitted to auction during the coming week. The influx of cattle from outside districts has no doubt had a detrimental effect on local cattle, and very few of the latter are coming forward. There is still a fair inquiry for well-bred Jersey heifer calves, although in-caif heifers are not changing hands to anything like the extent they were this time last year. Four-year-old store bullocks have been making from £4 10/ to £5 5/: 2%-year-old steers, £3 5/ to £3 15/; 18-month steers, £2 10/ to £3- 2%-year-old Hereford and Polled Angus heifers, from £3 to £3 10/; Polled Angus and Hereford cows in calf. £3 10/ to £4; empty cows, £3 to £3 10/; Jersey heifers, in calf. £6 to £7; store cows, 30/ to £2: Jersey heifer calves. £2 to £2 10/; mixed s?x calves. 10/ to £1. Store Sheep.—There is still a good demand for store wethers, and these are changing hands at prices very little behind those offered for fat sheep. Store lambs are practically off the market, although they are being sought after. There is still an inquiry for breeding ewes, but they are wanted in small lots. Apparently this is by farmers who are culling out fat ewes from their flocks and replacing with vounger sheep. Best store wethers make from 9/6 to 10/6; medium, 8/ to 9/: best woolly lambs, up to 7/6: shorn lambs. 6/ to 7/; two-tooth ewes, from 10/ to 12/; four, six and four-year-old ewes, from 8/ to 9/; four-year ewes, 7/ to 8/; five-year owes. 6/ 7/.

Pigs.—Good yardings of all classes of pigs have been coming forward, with fat pigs showing a slight increase in value, while stores and weaners are still declining in price. Heavy baconers make up to £2 12/; medium, £2 to £25/; heavy porkers, 35/ to £2; stores, 15/ to £1; slips, 8/ to 12/; weanere, 4/ to 7/6. POVERTY BAY VALUES. (By Telegraph.—Special to "Star.') GISBORNE, this day. At the autumn cattle fair's first day in fat cattle most of the entry lacked finish. Bullocks realised to £5 12/6; cows, £4 For store cattle, males only, the entry totalled 2400. Bay of Plenty buyers were operating. There was good competition, with values above local anticipations. The condition of the entry was fairly 'good, some showing effects of the recent drought. Bullocks, best, brought £5 to £5 5/; good, £4 3/ to £4 15/; fairly good, £3 15/. Size and condition of weaners were below the usual average, due to thousands going to the freezing works during the drought. Best realised 23/ to 27/; small, in moderate condition, 12/ to 15/; steers, eighteen months, £3 to £3 3/; good, £2 9/ upwards; two-year and a half, £3 16/; good, £3 4/ to £3 12/. On the second day the entry of store cattle totalled 2000. These were in average condition. Cows were moderate, dencing recent drought privations. Bay of Plenty buyers were operating. Ihere was a brisk sale. Breeding cows: Lxtra good, £3 7/; average, £2 to £2 11/;> P°°r condition, £1; empty cows, £- 1-/ to £2 7/; others, £1 to £2; two-year and a halt heifers, good, £3 3/ to £3 13/; eighteen months, extra good, £3 8/ to £3 5/; good, £2 to £2 16/; station weaners, choice, £2 2/; good, £1 9/ to £1 14/; fairly good, £1 3/ to £1 6/. MATAMATA. Dalgety and Co., Ltd., held their usual stock sale at Matamata on Wednesday. There -was a fair yarding of cattle, and prices were somewhat easier. Ihere was a good yarding of store and weaner pigs, which sold at late rates. No sheep were varded. Prices were:—Cattle: 1' atcows, , £3 10/ to £4 16/; others, £2 to £3 10/, good stores, up to 30/; boners, 10/ to 37/b, Jersey heifer calves, 16/; others, 20/ to 36/.