LIVE STOCK MARKETS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 106, 7 May 1931, Page 4

LIVE STOCK MARKETS.

FAIR GENERAL DEMAND. EXPORT PRICES STILL LOW. LAMBS SELL READILY. There has been little alteration in the livestock markets since last report. Export values still rule very low, and the only consoling feature is that our produce is apparently going into quick consumption The lamb market in particular, which concerns the Auckland province very materially, shows a better rone, and last week-end cables report that the "market is firmer with better prices, and consumption remains exceiient." This is good news, as far as it goes, for although the local export season is almost concluded very large quantities of our meat has still to be dealt with at the consuming end. Operations at the local freezing works are how confined to small quantities of late lambs, boner beef and pigs. Locally dealers are entering upon a quiet season. Business in store sheep has eased off materially. Fate are coming forward freely, and with pasture conditions as favourable as they are there is every indication that supplies will continue ''to meet all requirements during the winter months. Fortunately for graziers the lower trend «f values has materially increased the domestic demand. Cut prices in the city and retail auctions are all useful stimulants in this connection. In the dairy division latest cables are far from reassuring. Cheese in particular is at such a low ebb that farmers supplying to cheese factories are faced with an acute problem. The probability' of low levels ruling for our dairy products next season is necessarily having its effect in the demand for dairy stock. Graziers, however, are still ready to stock up store cattle in the beef classes. At Westfield yesterday there was a very large entry, and the sale continued well into darkness. However, it was noticeable that this fact did not seriously prejudice the sale of the latest lots offered, for some of these, thanks to export competition, realised well up to earlier rates. There was again a good demand for beef cattle, and last week's advance was fully maintained. Good quality vealers sold well, but other lines of calves were somewhat easier. Both sheep and lambs sold readily at recent values, though secondary lines of ewes were occasionally hard to quit. The demand for pigs was keen, and a further improvement in prices for baconers was noted, with porkers well up to recent valuations. The range of prices, together with those ruling the previous week, was as follow:— This Week. Last Week.' BEEF (per 1001b) — Extra choice ox 26/ 26/ Choice and prime ox 23/ to 23/ 23/ to 25/ Choice and prime cow and heifer 21/ to 25/ 21/ to 25/ Boner and rough 9/ to 20/ 10/ to 20/ SHEEP (per head)— Prime wethers . 14/ to 19/ 12/6 to 18/6 Unfin. wethers . 9/ to 13/6 8/6 to 12/ Prime ewes .. 8/6 to 13/ C 10/6 to 14/ Unfin. ewes .. 5/ to 8/ 5/6 to 9/6 Prime lambs . . 10/ to 17/6 10/0 to 16/6 Unfin. lambs .. 5/ to 9/6 1/9 to 9/6 CALVES (per head) — Runners 45/ to 91/ 50/ to 65/ Vealers 15/ to 44/ 15/ to 49/ PIGS (per head) — Baconers 49/ to 65/ 47/ to 62/ Porkers 27/ to 46/ 30/ to 46/ Weaners 8/ to 13/ 8/ to 12/ Slips 14/ to 10/ 13/ to IS/ Large stores .. 17/ to 25/ 19/ to 24/ ALFRED BUCKLAND AND SONS.

Alfred Buckland and Sons, Ltd., report on the weekly Westfield fat stock sale held yesterday as follows: — Beef.—We penned fat cattle to the number of 309 head as against 249 head at last week's market, comprising 139 steers and 170 cows and heifers. There was a strong demand, and last week's advance was easily sustained. Extra choice ox sold to £1 6/ per 1001b; choice and prime, £1 3/ to £1 5/; secondary and plain, £1 to £1 2/; prime young cow and heifer beef, £1 3/ to £1 5/; ordinary cow beef, 10/ to £1 2/; extra heavy prime steers ranged in price from £11 10/ to £12 7/6; heavy prime, £10 to £11 7/6; lighter, £8 15/ to £9 17/6; light, £7 10/ to £8 12/6; small and unfinished, £4 to £7 7/6; extra heavy prime young cows and heifers, £7 5/ to £8 5/; heavy prime, £6 10/ to £7 2/6; lighter, £5 to £6 7/6; other killable cows, £2 to £4 17/6. Sheep.—There was a heavy yarding ot sheep. Plain ewes were yarded in more than usual numbers, and prices were slightly lower. Prime mutton sold at about'last week's values (1843 sheep sold). Heavy prime wethers, 17/ to 18/; medium to heavv, 15/ to 16/9; light to medium, 14/ to 14/9; unfinished wethers, 11/6 to 13/9; extra heavy prime young ew_es, 12/ to 13/3; heavy, 10/6 to 11/9; lighter 8/6 to 10/3; other killable ewes, 6/6 to 8/3; other ewes, 5/ to 6/3. . Lambs—Lambs were also penned in large numbers. We sold 952. Values were much the same as those ruling last week. Extra heavy prime lambs, 15/ to 16/3; heavy prime, 13/ to 14/9; other prime, 11/ to 12/9; light prime, 10/ to 11/3; small and prime, 8/ to 9/9; cull lambs, 5/ to V. , _ . Calves.—We had a large offering of calves. Good quality vealers sold at about last week's rates, but the demand for other classes was hardly so firm. Runners made £2 5/ to £4 11/; heavy vealers, £2 6/ to £2 10/; medium, £1 18/ to £2 4/; light, £1 10/ to £1 15/; small, £1 4/ to £1 8/; rough calves, 8/ to 14/; fresh dropped, 2/ to 8/. (272 calves were sold.) Pigs.—Fat pigs were also in fully supply. The demand for baconers was again keen, and our quotations show a further improvement. Porkers sold steadily at prices equal to last sale. Choppers, £1 10/ to £2 19/; heavy prime baconers. £2 19/ to £3 5/; medium baconers, £2 13/ to £2 16/; light. £2 9/ to £2 12/; heavy porkers, £2 5/ to £2 7/; medium, £1 18/ to £2 3/; light, £1 11/ to £1 15/; small and unfinished, £1 5/ to £1 8/; stores, £1 to £1 5/; slips, 13/ to 15/; weaners, 8/ to 13/. (A total of 475 pigs was sold.)

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 more than average numbers, and there* was again a keen demand for choice and prime quality beef, values being very firm at late rates. Extra; choice ox sold to 26/ per 1001b; choice and prime, 23/ to 25/; ordinary and plain, 20/ to 22/; prime young cow and heifer beef, 22/ to 25/; ordinary cow beef, 15/ to 21/; heavy prime steere, £9 7/6 to £10 7/6; lighter prime, £85/ to £9 5/; light prime, £6 10/ to £8 2/6; unfinished and small, £5 to £6 5/; extra heavv prime young cows and heifers, £7 5/ to £7 15/; heavy prime. £6 5/to £7 2/6; lighter, £5 to £6 2/6; light cows £4 to £4 17/6; other cows, £2 10/ to £3 Sheep.—Sheep were yarded in large numbers, and sold at late values, prime wethers selling at from 13/ to 18/6. Small unfinished wethers, 9/ to 12/6; prime eives, 8/6 to 13/6; poorer ewes, 5/ to 8/3. Lambs.—Lambs were penned in large numbers, and sold at late rates. Extra heavy prime, 15/ to 17/9; light to heavy prime lambs, 9/9 to 13/6; small and unfinished lambs, 5/6 to 9/3. Pigs.—Pigs were penned in large numbers. Values Avere on a par with last week s quotations for porkers. There was a good demand for baconers, and values improved. Choppers sold from £1 10/ to £2 7/; heavy and medium baconers, £3 to £3 4/; light baconers and heavy porkers, £2 10/ to £2 18/; medium porkers and light porkers, £2 to £2 18/; small and unfinished porkers, £1 6/ to £6 16/. Store pigs sold at late quotations. Large stores, 16/ to £1 4/; slips, 10/ to 15/; weaners, 5/ to 13/. Calves.—Calves were penned in smaller numbers, and sold at values on a par with ,laat week's quotations. Runners, £2 5/ to

£4 7/; heavy vealers, £3 to £3 15/; medium. £2 8/ to £2 18/; light, £1 10/ to £2 0. : smaller, £1 5/ to £1 15/; small and fresh-dropped. 5/ to £1 3/; rough calves, 10/ to £1 5/. DALGETY AND COMPANY. Dalgety and Company, Limited, report on the "weekly Westfiekl fat stock sale held yesterday as follows: — Beef.—Ox beef came forward iu larger numbers than last week, but the offering was still below average numbers. The demand was steady, and late rates again ruled. Cow and heifer beef came forward in large numbers, all prime lines selling steadilv at full late rates. Extra choice ox sold to 26/ per 1001b; choice and prime, 23/ to 25/; secondary and plain, 21/ to 22/6; prime young cow and heifer beef, 23/ to 25/; ordinary cow beef, 10/ to 21/J lighter prime steers, £6 10/ to £7 10/; li°ht ,£5 17/6 to £6 7/6; small and unfinished, £4 10/ to £5 12/6; extra heavy prime voting cows and heifers, £7 17/6 to £0 10/; heavy prime cows and heifers, £6 12/6 to £7 15/; lighter, £5 10/ to £6 10/; other killable cows, £2 10/ to £4 17/o. Sheep—Sheep were yarded in big numbers, and drew steady competition, resulting in values ruling again at late rates. Ewes came forward in larger numbers than usual, and, except for well finished lines, values were a shade easier. Extra heavy prime wethers, 17/ to 19/; heavy prime,' 16/ to 16/6; medium, 14/6 to 15/9; light and unfinished, 13/3 to 14/; heavy prime ewes, 11/9 to 14/3; lighter, 8/ lo 11/6; other ewes, 5/ to 7/6. Lambs—Lambs were yarded in well up to average numbers, and sold under a steady demand at late rates. Heavy prime lambs. 14/ to 15/; medium. 12/6 to 13/3; light. 9/9 to 11/6. Calves.—A full yarding of good quality calves w-ere offered at to-day's market. Prices were inclined to be slightly easier than those ruling last week. Runners, £2 5/ to £3 7/; heavy vealers, £2 2/ to £1 5/; medium, £1 13/ to £2; light £18/ to £1 12/; rough, 9/ to 15/; small, 2/ to 9/. pj gs _An average yarding of pigß met with a keen inquiry, and last wee<£ s improvement was fully maintained. Choppers, £1 8/ to £2 W; heavy baconers, £3 to £3 5/; medium £2 12/ to £2 18/; light, £2 5/ to £2 10/; heavy porkers, £2 3/ to £2 6/; medium, £1 IS/ to £2 2/; light, £1 11/ to £1 15/; small and unfinished, £1 5/ to £1 16/; stores, £1 to £16/; slips, 12/ to 15/; weaners, 8/ to 12/. IN THE WAIKATO. BEEF SELLS BETTER. " HAMILTON, Wednesday. The most noticeable feature in the stock market during the week has been the maintaining of the advance in ox beef. A number of graziers have held their beef for a long period, and now with the likely chance of an increase in price are unwilling to yard same until lack of feed forces them to do so. Consequently the offerings have been small, and this no doubt accounts for the better all round tone. The cow beef that has been coming forward has in many instances been of inferior quality, and this too has show-n an increase in value. Fat sheep have remained steady at last weeK-s quotations. A large yarding came forward to Frankton this weeK, but with the exception of prime wethers no advance was registered. A number of fat ewes are finding their way on to the market, but taken all through the quality has not been up to standard, and quite a number of inferior sheep are being sold. Store sheep have taken a quieter turn, and are only being yarded in small numbers. There is still a good inquiry for store cattle, Gisborne and East Coast cattle receiving the preference. A few dairy heifers are changing hands, but this section has been a lot quieter than is usual at this time of the year. A good number of clearing sales have been listed, and it would appear that dairy farmers seem more inclined to wait and buy their requirements under the hammer. Conditions are as follow:— _ Beef—A sharp rise was again registered at Frankton sale this week for good quality ox beef. Cow and heifer also showed an increase in prices, but not to the same extent as ox. Prime ox has been making up to 24/ per 1001b; medium quality, 20/ to 22/; choice young cow and heifer, 17/ to 19/; medium cow, 14/ to 16/; boners, 8/ to 9/. Fat Sheep.—A large entry of fat sheep came forward to Frankton, including a number of fat ewes, of which qualitywas only medium. One pen of extra heavy prime fat wethers gold up to 18/3, but the average price for well-finished sheep was from 15/ to 16/; smaller wethers, 10/ to 12/; extra prime fat ewes, up to 14/; medium fat ewes, 8/ to 10/; heavy fat lambs, from 12/6 to 14/; medium, from 9/ to 11/. . .„ . Store Cattle—There is still a keen demand for all classes of store cattle, especially those from the Gisborne and East Coast districts. A few more sales are scheduled to take place of these cattle, but it will not be long before the last of them will arrive. In the meantime local cattle are still neglected. More Jersey heifer calves are finding their way into the market, but mixed calves are hard to dispose of. Four-year-old bullocks have been making from £4 10/ to £5 10/; 2y 2 -year-old steers, £3 10/ to £4; 18month steers, from £2 10/ to £3 5/; weaner station-bred calves, from 30/ to £2; 2%-year-old Hereford and Polled Angus heifers from £3 10/ to £4; Polled Angus and Hereford cows in calf, £3 5/ to £3 15/: empty cows, £3 to £3 10/; Jersey heifers in calf, £6 to £7; Jersey weaner heifer calves, from £2 to £2 10/; mixed coloured calves, from 10/ to £1. Store Sheep.—The store sheep sales appear to be over for this season, and the. inquiry generally has eased. A line of store wethers from the Gisborne district sold at Frankton on Tuesday at prices which look like good buying. East Coast ewes are getting difficult to sell, and not many more will arrive this season. Best store wethers have been making from 10/ to 11/; medium, 8/ to 9/; shorn lambs, from 6/ to 7/; two-tooth ewes, from 10/ to 11/6: four, six and four-year-old ewes, from 7/6 to 8/6; five-year-old ewes from 5/6 to 6/6: cull ewes, from 4/ to 5/. Pigs.—There has been a general improvement all round in all classes of pigs. Fate are being yarded in large numbers, and sell under keen competition at advancing prices. Store pigs are realising slightly better rates than previous quotations. Heavy baconers, from £2 10/ to £2 18/; heavy porkers, from 38/ to £2 5/; stores, from 25/ to 30/; slips, 15/ to 20/; weaners, 7/ to 14/. HAWKE'S BAY VALUES. HASTINGS, Wednesday. At the Stortford Lodge sale there was a good- yarding of fat cattle, and a small one of stores. Sheep had a heavy yarding, both fats and stores. Three thousand fat sheep were entered, and 18,000 stores. Prices were:—Cattle: Fat bullocks, very prime, £10 15/ to £12 16/; others, £7 7/ to £8 fat cows, £4 to £7. Sheep: Fat lambs, 10/ to 18/; fat ewes, 7/6 to 9/6: wethers, 12/6; stores, two-tooth wethers, 7/ to 8/3; four-tooth, 8/ to 10/; five-year ewes, 5/6 to If; four-tooth, up to 10/; six-tooth, 10/2; wether lambs, 5/ to 9/6.

MATAMATA. The weekly Matamata stock sale was held by Dalgety and Co., Ltd., on Wednesday. A large yarding of fat and store cattle came forward, and met with improved demand. There was only a small yarding of sheep, but pigs were penned in usual quantities. Late rates were maintained for sheep and pigs. Prices were:— Cattle.—Heavy fat cows, £5 10/, £5 15/ to £6 3/; lighter fat cows, £4 *o £5; light fat Jersey cows, £3 to £3 10/; others, £2 10/ to £3: boner cows, 25/ to 37/6; lignt bulls, £2 to £2 3/; fair sorts Jersey heifers, small, £1 8/ to £1 14/; smaller sorts,. 20/ to 27/; 18-month Jersey steers, small, £1 9/; smaller sorts, 15/ to 20/. Pigs.—Baconers, up to £2 12/; unfinished baconers, £1 15/; light porkers, £1 6/ to £1 9/; large stores, 15/ to 19/; slips, 9/ to 12/6; weaners, 6/ to 7/6. Sheep.—Good store lambs, 7/, 8/6 to 9/.

THE ADDINCTON MARKET. A DULL SALE. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.! CHRISTCHURC'H. Wednesday. Entries were again heavy in most sections at the Addington stock market to-day. Except for fat lambs and light ewes and wethers, for which exporters were competing, the market was very dull, with a tendency towards lower values. Store Lambs.—The offering was of plain quality, and met with a dull sale Ewe lambs declined in price by 1/0 a head. Good ewe lambs realised 8/ to 10/; medium, to 7/; good wether lambs, 6/6 to 9/6; good mixed sex lambs, 7/9 to 9/. Store Sheep.-—Values showed little difference from last week, but the demand for ewes was dull, and passings were frequent. Good four and six-tooth C'orriedale ewes brought up to 11/6; good sound-mouthed C'orriedale ewes, 9/5 to 10/7; ordinary six and eight-tooth halfbred ewes, 8/ to 9/6; aged and failing-mouth ewes, i/ to 5/6; good six and eight-tooth halfbred wethers, 10/ to 13/; ordinary six and eight-tooth halfbred wethers, 6/ to 8/; good four and six-tooth three-quarter-bred wethers, to 12/; ordinary four and six-tooth crossbred wethers, 8/6 to 9/6. Eat Lambs. —A total of 4100 was penned and met with a firm sale at full schedule values and a shade better than last week. Extra prime lambs, to 20/9; prime, 15/9 to 17/6 medium, 14/6 to 15/6; light, 11/6 to 14/. Fat Sheep.—Another very heavy entry, with the quality good. Big ewes were slightly easier in price, but lighter weights sold freely under steady export competition. Prime heavy wethers made 14/ to 16/; medium, 11/6 to 13/9; light, 7/6 to 11/; extra prime ewes, to 15/4; prime, 10/ to 12/; medium, 8/6 to 9/9; light, 6/6 to 8/. Fat Cattle.—Another heavy entry of 419 head, and a further recession in values. Passings were fairly heavy, but much of the entry was of secondary and inferior quality. Best beef made from 28/6 to 31/ per 1001b; good, 23/6 to 28/; plain, 20/ to 22/6.