LIVE STOCK MARKETS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 196, 20 August 1931, Page 4

LIVE STOCK MARKETS.

DRY WEATHER WELCOMED.

ALL STOCK WILL BENEFIT.

EXPORT CONDITIONS FAIR.

The brighter and drier climatic conditions of the present week will have been heartily welcomed by farmers and graziers throughout the province. The long spell of wet weather with cold temperatures had cut pastures right down and stock beginning to show the effects of this uufavourable treatment.

Lambing has proceeded well and fortunately mortality has not been as great as was feared. With the advent of milder weather pastures will quickly revive and the appearance of stock will make a sharp change for the better.

Market conditions have not shown any great change since last report, thougi there is a better tone in the dairy produce export trade and butter is realising a few shillings higher.

Meat at Smithfield is selling well with a slightly better demand for wether mutton. Although prices generally are at low levels the outlook for sheepmen during the coming season would be fairly promising but for the comparative stagnation in wool, tallow and other by-prc-duets.

The local freezing works are still busily engaged in the bobby calf trade, which is just about passing its zenith for the piesent season. Somewhere near 20,000 were dealt with last week. At Westfield. At Westfield yesterday there was a yarding of 605 head of beef cattle, compared with 580 head last week, and 373 the week before. Quality generally was excellent and the yarding included same choice heavyweight lines, for which the demand was better than is usual for this class. Values of ox beef were on tne whole well maintained, but cows were inclined to be easier.

There "was a good demand for prime vealers and runners, and for these last week's higher rates -were again realisaJ. Unfinished and smaller sorts were dull ~d salt. A heavy yarding of sheep included a large proportion of plain and second quality. There -was a steady demand right through the sale, but values were lower, with the exception of a few pens of prime sheep, which held to late vplues. A small entry of Hoggets changed hands with little alteration in values, export buyers asata taking some of the pens. The yarding of pigs was an average one, with good bidding for 6tores but -oor for fats. Both porkers and baconers changad bands at lower rates. The range of prices, together with those ruling the previous week- was as follow:— This Week. Last Week. BEEF (per 1001b) — Extra choice ox 30/ 30/ Choice and prime ox ......... 27/ to 29/ 27/ to 29/ Choice and prime ... „„., cow and heifer 24/ to 27/ 24/ to 28/ Boner and rough 20/ to 23/ 20/ to 23/ SHEEP (per head)— Prime wethers . 21/ to 25/3 22/ to 25/6 Unfin. wethers . 11/ to 16/6 11/6 to 17/9 Prime ewes ... 18/6 to 20/9 20/ to 23/6 Unfln. ewes ... 8/ to 15/3 10/6 to 10/6 Hoggets 14/6 to 20/6 — Prime lambs .. 14/6 to 20/6 18/ to 20/ Unfln. lambs .. 8/6 to 11/6 8/ to 15/ CALVES (per head) — Eunners 50/ to 95/ 40/ to 98/ Vealers 25/ to 6S/ 35/ to 68/ PIGS (per head) — Baconers 47/ to 68/ 60/ to 73/ Porkers 30/ to 47/ 35/ to 65/ Stores 10/ to 32/ 14/ to 42/ 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 256 head, as against 261 head at last Wednesday's market, comprising 152 steers and 101 cows and heifers. The quality generally was first class. There was a keen demand for ox beef, and last week's advance was sustained. Cows and heifers were easier in price. ' Extra choice ox sold to 30/ per 1001b; choice and prime ox, 27/ to 29/; secondary and plain, 24/ to 26/; prime young cow and heifer beef, 24/ to 27/; ordinary cow beef, 20/ to 23/; extra heavy prime steers ranged in price from £12 to £12 17/6; heavy prime steers, £10 10/ to £11 15/; lighter, £9 to £10 7/6; light, £7 15/ to £8 17/6; small and unfinished, £6 5/ to £7 12/6; extra heavy prime young cows and heifers, £7 10/ to £9; heavy prime, £6 to £7 7/6; lighter prime, £4 10/ to £5 17/6; other killable cows, £2 to £4 7/6. Sheep.—We penned sheep to the number of 1374. They sold at values similar to those ruling last week. Extra heavy prime wethers made from 23/ to 25/6; heavy orime wethers, 22/ to 23/6; medium to heavy prime wethers, 19/ to 21/; light to medium prime wethers, 17/ to 18/6; unfinished wethers 12/6 to 16/6; extra heavy prime young ewes, 18/6 to £1 0/9; heavy prime ewes, 17/ to 18/3; lighter prime ewes, 15/6 to 16/9; other killable ewes, 13/6 to 15/3. Hoggets.—The 1 483 hoggets which came forward sold freely. Extra heavy prime hoggets made 18/6 to 20/6; heavy prime hoggets, 16/ to 18/3; lighter prime hoggets, 14/6 to 15/9; light prime hoggets, 12/ to 14/; small and plain hoggets, 8/6 to 11/6. One spring lamb made 21/. Calves. —The calf pens were again well filled. Well-finished vealers were keenly i competed for at slightly improved rates. Other classes realised last week's valiwe. Runners made from £2 5/ to £5 lb/j heavy vealers, £3 3/ to £3 10/; medium, £2 12/ to £2 18/; light, £1 16/ to £2 5/; small vealers, 14/ to £1 4/; rough calves, 10/ to 18/; bobby calves, 1/ to 6/ (314 calves were sold). Pigs.—We had an average entry of fat pigs. Bidding was very dull, and values for all classes receded. Choppers made £2 10/ to £4; heavy prime baconers, £3 to £3 7/; medium, £2 12/ to £2 16/; light, £2 4/ to £27/; heavy porkers, £1 18/ to £2 2/: light and medium, £1 10/ to £1 16/; best framed stores, £1 6/ to £1 12/; slips, 18/ to £12/; good weaners, 15/ to 18/; others, 10/ to 13/ (a total of 369 pigs was sold). LOAN AND MERCANTILE. The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Co., Ltd., report on the weekly Weetfield fat stock sale held yesterday as follows: — jßeef.—Average numbers were entered, and there was a eteady demand, with values firm at late rates. Extra choice ox sold to 30/ ,per 1001b; choice and prime, 26/ to 29/; ordinary and plain, 22/ to 25/; prime young cow and heifer beef, 23/ to 28/; ordinary cow beef, 15/ to 22/; extra heavy prime 6teers ranged in price from £11 10/ to £12 15/; heavy prime steers, £10 to £11 7/6; lighter, £8 15/ to £9 15/; light £7 to £8 10/; unfinished and small, £5 to £6 15/; extra heavy prime young cows and heifers, £8 to £9; heavy prime young cows and heifers, £7 to £7 17/6; lighter, £6 to £6 17/6; light cows, £5 to £5 17/6; other cows, £2 10/ to £4 15/. Extra prime steers from Mr. H. E. Heed, Waerenga, realised up to £12 15/; extra prime cows from Mr. W. M. Wright, Mauku, made up to £9. Sheep.—Large numbers were yarded, including many unfinished wethers, which were dull of sale and lower in value. Prime quality sold readily at late rates. Heavy prime wethers made from 23/3 to 25/3; medium, 20/ to 23/; light, 17/ to 19/9; small and unfinished, 11/ to 16/. Heavy : prime ewes sold from 18/3 to £1 1/; medium prime ewes, 16/3 to 18/; light, 14/ to 16/; inferiorly fatted ewes, 8/ to 12/. I Hoggets.—These were offered in average numbers, and competition was not so keen, with Prime hoggets realised from 11/ to 16/9; extra prime, 18/ to £1 2/6; small and unfinished, 7/6 to 10/6. (

Pigs.—A email yarding of pigs met withal dull sale, and values w-ere easier. Choppers sold from £2 to £2 12/; heavy and medium baconers, £2 15/ to £3 7/; light baconere and heavy porkers, £2 7/ to £2 12/. medium porkers and light porker.s, £2 to £2 5/; small and unfinished, £1 10/ to £1 18/. Store pigs sold at late quotations. Large stores made from £1 6/6 to £1 12/; slips, IS/ to £1 4/; weaners, 12/ to £1 4/. Calves. —Large numbers were offered, the yarding comprising mostly small calves, for which values were easier. Values for good vealers were firm. Runners sold from £J 10/ to £6 2/6; heavy vealers, £3 to £3 18/; medium, £2 8/ to £2 18/: light. £1 16/ to £2 6/; smaller, £1 5/ to £1 14/; email and fresh dropped, 5/ to £1 2/; rough calves, 7/ to 14/. DALGETY AND CO. Dalgety and Co., Ltd., report on the weekly Westfield fat stock sale held yesterday as follows: — Beef.—Ox beef was penned in average numbers. The demand wae keen and last week's values were maintained. Cow and heifer beef came forward in more than average numbers, and here values were a little easier. Extra choice ox sold to 30/ per 1001b; choice and prime ox, 27/ to 29/; just killable, 24/ to 26/; prime young cow and heifer beef, 24/ to 27/; just killable, 20/ to 23/. Heavy prime steers made from £9 10/ to £9 15/; lighter, £8 17/6 to £9 7/6; light, £7 17/6 to £8 15/; email and unfinished, £5 to £7 10/; heavy prime cows and heifere, £7 5/ to £8 7/6; lighter. £6 5/ to £6 17/6; other killable cows, £4 5/ to £6 2/6. Sheap.—The pene were very well filled and sold under a steady demand at values below last week's values. Extra heavy prime wethers made from 24/ to 24/9; heavy prime, 21/ to 23/6; medium, 19/6 to 20/9; light and unfinished, 13/ to 18/9; heavy prime ewes, 20/6; lighter, 18/9; other ewes, 8/ to 12/6. Lambs.—Moderate numbers were yarded and eold eteadily at no alteration in value. Heavy prime lamb brought up to 14/6; medium, from 13/ to 14/3; light, 11/ to Calves.—Average numbers were yarded, but very few good quality vealers were offered. The market was again easier for most lines. Runnere made from £2 10/ to £4 15/; heavy vealers, £2 10/ to £3 5/; medium, £1 10/ to £2 5/; light 20/ to 30/; rough, 11/ to 20/; small and fresh dropped, 2/ to 8/. Pigs-, —Average numbers were offered, but prices were considerably easier for all gradee. Choppers realised from £3 to £3 10/; heavy baconers, £3 to £3 8/; medium £2 12/ to £2 18/; light, £2 7/ to £2 11/' heavy porkers, £2 2/ to £2 7/; medium, £1 15/ to £2; light, £1 10/ to £1 15/. IN THE WAIKATO. HAMILTON, Wednesday. This has been the most severe winter on etock that has been experienced for a number of years. Dairy cattle especially are showing the effects, and in practically every instance have lost all their bloom. Although the inquiry still holds good, and a larger number are changing hands, there is very little improvement in the price. Like dairy cattle, all classes of stores are also in much poorer condition this year than usual, and although it has been customary at this time of the year for a demand to set in, so far the store market is lifeless. Fat sheep and beef still maintain their upward tendency, but owing to the small number offering little has been done in store sheep. Conditions are as follow: — Beef.—Good entries of beef are coming forward, and the quality has shown a big improvement in recent sales. At Frankton this week there was again a heavy yarding of prime cattle, including a number of well-finished fat bullocks. Competition was steady throughout and late quotations were fully maintained. Fat ox has been making from 24/ to 25/ per 1001b; medium quality, 20/ to 22/; plain cattle, 15/ to 16/. Fat Sheep.—So far the expected shortage in fat sheep has not been realised, although a good number that are being i offered in the fat pens are really only forward stores. There is always good competition for any prime quality lots, and quite \ satisfactory prices are realised. At Frankton sale this week fat hoggets showed a slightly easing tendency. Heavy prime wethers are worth 26/; medium, 20/ to 22/; light, 16/ to 18/; heavy prime ewes, up to 18/6; medium, 14/ to 16/; heavy fat hoggets. 17/ to 18/; medium, 15/ to 17/; light, 12/ to 14/. Store Sheep.—Practically the only store sheep now offering are wethers and hoggets. A few ewes are changing hands by private treaty, but very few will come forward to the yards until lambing is over. There is still a good inquiry for store wethers, and these are worth from 12/ to 14/6, with two-tooth wethers from 10/ to 12/; smaller wethers, 8/ to 9/; best hoggets, up to 9/6; ewe hoggets, 12/6 to 14/; medium, 7/ to 8./: small, 5/ to 6/. Store Cattle. —This section is still very quiet, and most of the cattle that are finding their way to the yards are store and boner cows, with a few young cattle which are mostly a nondescript lot. There is a small inquiry for male cattle, but at prices that are not tempting to holders. Grown steers have been making from £4 to £4 10/; three-year-old steers, £3 to £3 10/; two-year-old steers, from £2 to £2 10/; yearlings, 20/ to 30/; forward-conditioned cows, 25/ to 35/; boner cows, 15/ to 20/; best yearling Jersey heifers, £2 15/ to £3 5/; medium, 35/ to £2 5/; mixed coloured, 10/ to 20/. Dairy Cattle.—Good entries have been submitted at the various sales, and a slightly better tone has been noticeable. This, to some extent, is due to the better weather, and it is anticipated with the improvement in the pastures prices will show an advance. Genuine young cows continue to be the most popular, and usually meet with good competition. Incalf heifers, close to profit, have their value, but backward and poor-conditioned heifers are not wanted. Best dairy cows at clearing sales have been making from £10 to £12, with medium £8 to £9; later calvers, £5 to £6; two-year Jersey heifers, close to profit, £7 to £8; later calvers. £6 to £7; backward heifers, £4 to £5.

Horses. —There appears to be a keen demand for useful farm horses, and at the various clearing sales and horse fairs held recently good clearances have been effected. It is the aged, quiet and reliable farm horse that is the most popular, and this class of animal usually brings more in proportion than horses that are much younger. Unbroken draught horses are worth £10 to £15; four and five-year-old heavy draughts are worth £28 to £35; medium draughts, from £25 to £30; good useful farm horses, from £18 to £22; aged horses, £10 to £15. Pigs.—Only small entries of fat pigs are now coming forward, and most of the yardings comprise stores and weaners, which usually meet with good competition. There is also a good demand for breeding sows in pig. Heavy baconers make up to £3 15/; heavy porkers, £2 to £2 10/; stores, 25/ to 30/; slips, 20/ to 25/; weaners, 10/ to 18/; sows in pig, best, from £5 to £6; others, from £3 to £4. MATAMATA. The Farmers' Co-op. Auctioneering Co., Ltd.. (inducted the weekly Matamata stock sale on Wednesday. There was a lecord yarding of yearling cattle, beef and stores for the season of the year. Store pigs also.came forward in big quantities, and were in keen demand, causing a sharp rise. Competition was good for choice dairy heifers. Sheep were light in supply. Prices were:— Beef.—Fat steers, £9 11/; fat heifers, £6 to £7 19/; heavy fat cows, £6 6/ to £8; medium, £4 15/ to £6 2/; light, £2 12/6 to £4 6/; killable cows, £2 to £2 10/; fresh stores, 26/ to 30/; boners, 10/ to 20/; two-year-old empty heifers, 30/ to £2 9/; yearling Jersey heifers, 25/ to £2 10/. Dairy Cattle. —Best Jersey heifers, £5 15/ to £7 15/; poorer sorts, £2 10/ to £5; Jersey cows, £5. Pigs.—Light baconers, £2 11/ to £2 12/; porkers, £2 6/ to £2 8/; sows, in pig, £2; good store pigs, 35/ to £2; others, 29/ to 33/; slips, 24/ to 29/: extra forward weaners, 30/; weaners, 12/ to £1. Sheep.—Fat ewes, 19/; fat hoggets, 15/3.,

THE ADDINGTON MARKET.

HEAVY YARDING, LOWER PRICES. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, Wednesday. There were heavy entries in the major sections of the weekly stock market at Addington to-day, the principal features being declines in beef and mutton values as a result of over-supply. Store Sheep.—A fairly large entry, with a good proportion of better class ewes, met with an easing in values. Good four and six-tooth half bred ewes made 15/2 to 18/1; good two-tooth halfbred ewes, to 16/10; medium, to 13/5; good two-tooth threequarterbred ewes, 16/6 to 17/; ordinary, to 10/6; good four and sis-tooth three-quar-terbred ewes, 15/ to 15/9; good soundmouthed, 12/6 to 14/7; medium, 9/ to 11/; extra good ewe hoggets, 15/6 to 16/3; ordinary, to 9/7; ordinary wether hoggets, 6/ to 9/; good four and six-tooth halfbred wethers, 13/6 to 15/6; plain, to 7/3. Spring Lambs. —A very small entry. The top price was 36/10. Fat Sheep.—The entry was 6150 head and the quality was very good. Values for wethers declined by 2/ a head and for heavy ewes 1/ a head. Light ewes sold at rates on a par with those of last market. Extra prime heavy wethers made up to 21/7; prime heavy, 16/6 to 19/; medium, 13/6 to 16/; light, to 13/; extra prime ewes, to 20/10; prime heavy, 16/6 to 18/; prime, to 16/; medium, to 14/; light, to 10/6; prime hoggets, 16/ to 18/4; medium, 13/ to 15/6; light, to 12/. Fat Cattle.—The entry was 455 head and practically half of the steers were from the North Island. Values for steer beef were easier by up to 30/ a head. Values ranged to 32/ per 1001b for primest sorts; 27/ to 30/ for medium weight; 23/ to 26/ for heavy weight; to 28/ for good beifer beef; to 24/ for best cow; 19/ to 23/ for medium cow. Fat Pigs.—There was a little better demand and baconers improved in value. Choppers made £3 to £5 1/; baconers, 50/ to 55/; heavy baconers, 57/6 to £3 5/; extra heavy, to £3 17/ C (average price per lb, 4y 2 d to 5%d); porkers. 35/ to 40/; heavy porkers, 42/6 to 46/6 (average price per lb, SVad to 6%d). HAWKE'S BAY VALUES. (By Telegraph.—Special to "Star.") HASTINGS, Wednesday. At the Stortford sale to-day there was a small attendance of the public. There was an average yarding of beef, and a few pens of store cattle. Ox beef realised to 24/ per 1001b. Store cattle were not wanted. A thousand fat sheep met a ready sale at late values. A very small entry of indifferent store sheep sold freely.