LIVE STOCK MARKETS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 219, 15 September 1932, Page 4

LIVE STOCK MARKETS.

FARMERS WELCOME RAIN

WORTH THOUSANDS TO COUNTRY.

MEAT PRICES STILL, LOW

The rain which is falling steadily at time of writing is exceptionally welcome to farmers iu the Auckland province. The spell of dry weather, while accompanied by genial sunshine, had been prolonged to a point where its continuance would have materially interfered with all classes of farm production, and particularly the output of butterfat. In many instances pastures had barely recovered from the severe winter frosts, and feed was scarce. If the present break in the weather should result in a complete soaking farmers will benefit to the extent of many thousands of pounds. A chief feature in the export markets since last review, has been a continuation of the improvement in Tooley Street valuations of butter and cheese, and, although latest advices note a check to consumption as a result of the higher prices asked, ' the general situation is satisfactory. Better reports come from Smithficld. The lamb market is firmer, and dealers have been able to raise their prices. This is good news, for it increases the chances of Dominion stocks being cleared in Britain before new season's come on the market. Values, however, still rule, at very low rates, with New Zealand lamb selling from 4%d to 5%d per lb, and mutton from 2%d to 3%d. The wool position looks more hop ?ful than it did, and there is a much brighter tone in the market for hides, skins and other byproducts. At country sales the inquiry for cattle, both beef and dairy, is quite good, but the demand for store sheep has been affected by the long spell of dry weather. At Westfield. There was a full yarding of beef cattle at Westfield yesterday, and a brisk demand. Heavy-weights maintained late rates, while light and well finished animals showed an advance of 1/ per 1001b. There were good supplies of calves and values eased, except for pens of special quality. A heavy yarding of fat sheep proved to be beyond the market's requirements and lower values ruled. Spring lambs, on the other hand, were in short supply, and for these there was a sharp rise. An extra heavy yarding of pigs was responsible follower juices for porkers, with baconers barely maintaining late rates. The range of values, together with those ruling the previous week, was as follows:— This Week. Last Week. BEEF (porlOOlb) — Extra choice ox 24/ 23/ Choice and prime „ , ox 21/ to 23/ 20/ to 22/ Choice ami prime cow and heifer 20/ to 23/ 19/ to 22/ Boner and rough 15/ to 19/ 13/ to 18/ SHEEP (per head) — Heavy prime , __.„ wethers 14/ to 15/6 W tol(/6 Medium prime wethers 12/6 to 13/9 12/6 to 14/6 Unlin. wethers.. 7/0 to 11/ 8/6 to 11/ Prime ewes .... 9/ to 12/6 9/9 to 14/6 Untin. ewes 4/. to 8/6 7/6 to 0/ Hoggets 7/ to 13/6 7/ to 10/6 Spring lambs . . 10/ to 29/ 5/ to 24/ CALVES (per head) — Runners 40/ to 110/ 40/ to 115/ Vealers 18/ to 94/ 20/ to 108/ PIGS (per head) — Baconers 33/ to 50/ 34/ to 56/ Porkers 20/ to 37/ 16/ to 38/ Weaners 5/ to 14/ 7/ to 16/0 Slips 10/ to 17/ 12/ to 18/ Large stores ... 18/ to 22/ IS/ to 22/ LOAN AND MERCANTILE. The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Ltd., report on the sale as follows: — Beef.—Ox beef was penned in more than average numbers. There was a ready demand for the lighter-weight prime cattle, which improved in value as the sale advanced. Heavier-weight cattle sold at late rates. Cow and heifer beef in less than average numbers sold readily, being very firm at late values. Extra heavy prime steers realised up to £11 2/6 for cattle fattened by Mr. W. J. Ralph, Mahuta. Heavy prime steers made £9 to £10 2/6; medium, £7 7/6 to £8 15/; light, £6 to £7 5/; small and unfinished steers, £4 10/ to £5 15/; extra heavy prime cows and heifers, £7 to £7 15/; heavy prime cows and heifers, £5 15/ to £6 15/; medium, £4 15/ to £5 12/6; light, £3 to £4 10/; other cows, £1 5/ to £2 15/. Extra choifce ox sold to 24/ per 1001b; choice and prime ox, 20/ to 23/; ordinary and plain ox, 16/ to 19/ per 1001b; prime young cow and heifer beef, 19/ to 23/ per 1001b; ordinary cow beef, 15/ to 18/ per 1001b. Sheep.—Sheep were penned in very large numbers, and although there was a steady demand, values were lower by 1/ to 2/ per head on all classes. Heavy prime wethers made 14/ to 15/; medium prime wethers, 12/ to 13/9; light prime wethers, 10/ to 11/9; unfinished wethers, 7/6 to 9/9; prime maiden ewes, 10/ to 12/; heavy prime ewes, 9/9 to 10/9; medium prime ewes, 8/9. to 9/6; light prime ewes, 7/6 to 8/6; poorer ewes, 6/ to 7/; prime hoggets, 9/3 to 13/6; unfinished hoggets, 7/ to 9/. Lambs. —Spring lambs were in less numbers than last week, with values decidedly better. Prime lambs sold at from 17/6 to £1 6/; small, 10/ upwards. Calves.—There was a large yarding of calves and the demand was not so keen as last week. Values consequently were easier. Runners made £3 10/ to £5 10/ for a runner from Mr. B. L. Orr, Hoe-o-Tainui; heavy vealers, £4 to £4 14/; medium, £3 to £3 15/; light, £2 to £2 15/; smaller, £1 10/ to £1 18/; small and fresh-dropped, 3/ to £ 1 2/. Pigs.—An average yarding of pigs sold at easier values. No extra heavy baconers were penned. Choppers made £1 to £1 15/; heavy baconers, £1 18/ to £26/; light baconers and heavy porkers, £1 10/ to £1 16/; medium and small, £1 to £1 8/. Values for store pigs were easier. Large stores made 18/ to £1 2/; slips, 10/ to 15/; weaners, 5/ to 13/6.

DALGETY AND COMPANY. Dalgety and Company, Limited, report on the Bale as follows: — Beef.—Ox beef was offered in larger numbers than last week. The quality throughout was first-class, and the entry contained many lines of heavy cattle. A good demand resulted in values for heavy prime ruling at late rates, while values for prime light and medium-weights improved freely 1/ per 1001b. Cow and heifer beef came forward in average numbers and sold freelv at advanced rates. Extra choice ox sold to 24/ per 1001b; choice and prime ox, 20/ to 23/; just killable, 17/ to 19/; prime young cow and heifer beef, 20/ to 23/; just killable, 16/ to 13/. Extra heavy prime steers ranged in price from £8 15/ to £9 2/6 for steers from Messrs. Keid Bros., Opotiki; heavy prime steers, £7 15/ to £8 12/6; lighter prime steers, £7 5/ to £7 12/6; light prime steers, £6 5/ to £7 2/6; small and unfinished steers, £5 10/ to £0 2/6. Extra heavy prime young cows and heifers, £6 7/6 to £6 17/0, for cows from Messrs. Thompson and Ernest, Whakatane; heavy prime cows and heifers, £5 15/ to £6 5/; lighter prime cows and heifers, £4 15/ to £5 12/6; other killable cows, £2 to £4 12/6. A line of 40 extra prime heifers sold on account of Messrs. Holdsworth Bros., Whakatane. made the firm average of £5 15/, and a fine line of well finished heifers and young cows on account of Mr. J A. Hill, Ohinewai, averaged £6 1/9. . , Sheep.—Sheep came forward m_ large numbers and the quality left nothing to be desired. The offering, however, proved more than equal to requirements, and values generally were lower by 1/6 per head. Extra prime hoggets, shorn, realised 13/; medium prime hoggets, 0/ to 10/3; extra heavy prime wethers, woolly, 13/9 to 14/6; heavy prime wethers, woolly, 12/ to 13/6; shorn. 11/; medium, 10/9 to 11/9; light and unfinished, 8/9 to 10/6; heavy prime ewes, 10/6 to 12/; lighter, woolly, 8/3 to 10/3; shorn, 7/3; other ewes, 4/ to 8/.

Lambs. —Spring lambs were penned in lesser numbers than last week and sold under good demand at improved rates. Heavy prime lamb made 23/3; medium, 19/6; light, 17/3. Calves.—There was a very full yarding of calves, and some good quality vealers and runners were penned. The bulk of the offerings wold under good competition, but prices were lower than last week's quotations. Runners realised £2 10/ to £4 17/0; heavy vealers, £2 15/ to £4 10/; medium, £2 6/ to £2 13/; light, £1 14/ to £2 4/; small, £1 2/ to £1 12/; rough calves, 5/ to 14/; small and fresh dropped, 2/ to 18/. Bigs.—Pigs were yarded in average numbers, and baconers sold at late rates, but porkers were rather easier. Choppers made £1 10/ to £2 10,'; heavy baconers, £2 7/ to £2 11/; medium, £2 2/ to £2 6/; light, £1 16/ to £2; heavy porkers, £1 12/ to £1 17/; medium, £1 8/ to £1 11/; light, £1 to £1 7/.

BUCKLAND AND SONS. Alfred Buckland and Sons, Limited, report on the sale as follows: — Keef.—Our supply of fat cattle totalled 278 head, as against 217 head at last Wednesday's market, comprising 221 steers and 57 cows and heifers. The quality of the ox beef was superior to anything yarded this year. Competition was brisk throughout, and last week's advance was fully sustained, and exceeded in cases of extra choice light-weight local steers. Extra choice ox sold to £1 4/ per 1001b: choice and prime ox, £1 1/ to £1 3/; secondary and plain ox, 18/ to £1; prime young cow and heifer beef, £1 to £12/; ordinary cow beef, 15/ to 19/. Extra heavy prime steers ranged in price from £9 to £9 15/. We had HI steers, which sold at from £8 upward. Heavy prime steers made £8 5/ to £8 17/6; lighter prime steers, £7 10/ to £8 2/6; light prime steers, £0 to £7 small and unfinished steers, £5 5/ to £5 17/0; extra heavy prime young cows and heifers, £6 10/ to £7 10/; heavy prime cows and heifers, £5 5/ to £6 7/0; lighter prime cows and heifers, £4 10/ to £5 2/6; other killable cows, £'i 10/ to £4 7/6. Sheep.—There was a heavy yarding of sheep, and the quality was equal to last week's entry, which was better than the average. Although there was a steady demand, vfilucs generally receded 1/ to 1/6 a head. (A total of 1777 sheep was sold.) Extra heavy prime wethers realised 15/ to 15/6. A line of 354 extra good quality wethers from Mr. E. E. Vaile, Broadlands, Waiotapu, averaged 14/3; heavy prime wethers brought 14/ to 14/9; medium to heavy prime wethers, 12/6 to 13/9: light to medium prime wethers, 11/ to 12/3; unfinished wethers, 8/6 to 10/9; extra heavy prime young and maiden ewes, 11/ to 12/6; heavy prime ewes, 9/6 to 10/9; lighter prime ewes, 8/6 to 9/3; other killable ewes, 7/ to 8/3: prime hoggets, 11/6 to 13/6; others, 7/0 to 10/6. Lambs.—The 63 spring lambs penned were far below requirements, and met with a sharp rise. Best lambs brought £1 6/6 to £1 9/, for lambs from Mr. A. B. Carpenter; lighter lambs, £1 1/ to £1 6/. Calves.—We had a full yarding of calves. All extra good quality calves maintained last week's prices, but other classes cased slightly. Runners made £2 to £5 10/, for a choice heavy heifer fattened by Mr. J. Johnston, Manurewa; heavy vealers, £2 18/ to £3 8/; medium, £2 5/ to £2 12/: light, £1 14/ to £1 18/; small, 18/ to £1 6/: rough and bucket fed, 8/ to 16/: bobby calves, 2/ to 5/. (A total of 278 calves was sold.) Pigs.—There was an extra heavy offering of pigs. The increased yarding was responsible for a further easing in values. Choppers made 19/ to £2 4/, according 'to weight and quality; heavy prime baconers, £2 7/ to £2 10/; medium, £2 to £2 4/; light. £1 13/ to £1 16/: heavy porkers, £1 8/ to £1 10/; medium, £1 5/ to £1 II: light and unfinished. 16/ to £1 3/. Store pigs again sold readily. Best-framed made 18/ to £1 3/; slips, 15/ to 17/; best weaners, 12/ to 14/; smaller, 8/ to 10/; sows due to farrow, £1 10/ to £4 17/6. (A total of 557 pigs Mas sold.)

ADDINGTON MARKET. A BETTER SALE. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, Wednesday. Values were well maintained at to-day's Addington market, a small entry of fat cattle resulting in a sharp advance in beef Values. Fat sheep also sold a little better. Store Sheep.—There was an unattractive entry, with the exception of some good ewe hoggets. These went to 15/5, but passings of the general entry were frequent. Sound-mouthed ewes made 8/ to 10/6; sound and failing-mouthed, 5/10 to 6/6; ewes and lambs (all counted), 4/4 to 5/; good ewe hoggets, to 14/; medium ewe, to 11/6; wether hoggets, 8/ to 9/6. Spring Lambs. —In an entry of 160 moderately-grown spring lambs prices ranged from to 7Msd a lb. Fat Sheep.—A slightly smaller entry than last week came forward, but it was of outstanding quality. Wethers improved by 1/ a head and ewes by 6d. Extra prime heavy wethers made to 20/1; prime heavy, 17/ to 15/6; prime medium-weight, 14/6 to 16/6; ordinary, 13/ to 14/; light, 11/ to 12/6; extra prime heavy ewes, to 16/7; prime heavy, 13/6 to 15/6; prime mediumweight, 11/0 *o 13/; ordinary, 10/ to 11/; light, 8/6 to 9/6. Fat Cattle. —Only 212 head were penned, compared with well over 300 for a normal yarding. Some good beef was forward from the West Coast, Otago and Southland. Values improved by 25/ to 30/ a head. Good sorts of best beef made to 29/ per 1001b; good, 24/ to 27/; heavy and secondary, 20/ to 23/; rough, down to 13/. Fat Pigs.—A small entry met with a good sale. Choppers made 50/ to £4 13/6; baconers, 50/ to £3 16/6; average price per lb, 5d to 6d; porkers, 26/6 to 44/6; average price per lb, 5V6d to 6%d.

MATAMATA. The Farmers' Auctioneering Co., Ltd., held their usual fortnightly stock sale at Matamata on Wednesday, when there was a good yarding of beef cattle. Prices, with the exception of prime cattle, were not up to late Frankton quotations. Competition was fair on an extra heavy yarding of yearling heifers. Bidding on an advertised line of 150 heifers failed to reach the owner's reserve, but some good sales resulted on genuine farmers' lines. Quotations are: — Cattle.—Prime fat cows and heifers, £6 5/; fat heifers, £2 17/ to £A 14/; heavy fat cows, £4 15/ to £5 6/; medium fat cows, £3 15/ to £4 8/; light fat cows, £2 to £2 17/; killable cows, £1 10/ to £2; boner and store cows, 5/ to £1 5/; 18months to 2%-year-old steers, £1 16/ to £2 3/; two-year empty Jersey heifers, £1 7/ to £2 5/; choice yearling empty Jersey heifers, £3 16/ to £3 18/; others, £2 3/ to £2 16/; inferior sorts, 15/ to £1 6/; heavy steers, £7 2/6; medium steers, £5 17/; light steers, £4 17/ to £5. Sheep.—Fat hoggets, 12/9 to 14/; fat ewes, 10/0. Pigs.—Heavy baconers, £2 to £2 2/; medium baconers, 36/ to 38/; light baconers, 30/ to 34/; heavy porkers, 27/ to 30/; light porkers, 21/ to 26/; stores, 16/ to 22/6; slips, 14/ to 17/6; good weaners, 11/6 to 15/; smaller weaners, 7/6 to 10/; Berkshire ::„v.\s, in pig, 39/ to £2 ]/.