LIVE STOCK MARKETS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 290, 8 December 1932, Page 4

LIVE STOCK MARKETS.

LOW PRICES ALL ROUND. LAMB EXPORT IN FULL SWING. PASTURES NEED HEAVY RAIN. I There have been no important developments in the live stock markets since last week. Smithtield reports that the lamb is selling a shade easier, but that consumption is satisfactory for the time of year. The local freezing works are all busy dealing with lambs for export. These are now coming forward in large quantities. The result of the first wool sale of the season was far from encouraging, and it seems very clear that this season's clip will have to be disposed of at very low figures. Our Waikato correspondent reports that, with prices at their present level, very few farmers who are dependent on the sheep industry will be able to carry on. The position in regard to dairy produce is little better, for increase in production has had a boomerang effect in lowering the price level. At the moment the market is depressed, and it is not possible to say with confidence that bottom has I been reached, even at 82/ to 84/ per cwt. Fortunately, weather conditions continue ideal for stock, although a good spell of heavy rain is needed to ensure the pastures against drying up in the long, hot days that are now commencing. Business in the country is comparatively dull, as farmers and dealers are hesitant about declaring values with the export position so unsatisfactory. Conditions regarding the pork and bacon trade show some improvement, and the output of pigs for the current season is likely to show a substantial increase. At Westfleld. There was a larger entry of fat cattle at Westfield, and, r'espite a steady demand, vendors had to accept lower prices. Calves were much cheaper. In the fat sheep section wethers, which were in short supply, maintained late values, but ewes were down in price. Lambs were penned in average numbers, and sold readily at late quotations. There was a full supply of fat pigs, with a firm demand for all classes. The range of prices, together with those ruling a week ago, was as follow: — This week. Last week. BEEF (per 1001b)— Extra choice ox .. 17/ 18/ Cox C ?. a ." ( !. 15/ to 16/ 16/ to 17/ c cow e anif heifer 13/ to 16/ 14/ to 17/ Boner and rough 0/ to 13/ 9/ to 14/ SIIEEP (per head)— Prime wethers .. 10/ to 14/ 10/6 to 14/6 Unfinished wethers i/ to 9/ '/*> to .I/O Prime ewes 0/ to 12/6 b/ to S/b Unfinished ewes .. 4/ to o/9 ~/ to o/ Houji'cts o/ to 11/6 8/6 to 1-/ Prime lambs 9/ to 14/ 9/9 to 13/9 Unfinished lambs, o/ to 8/(i 8/ to 9/9 CALVES (per head)— Runners 18/ to 50/ 24/ to 35/ Vealers 8/ to 40/ 1-/ to 46/ PIGS (per head)— Baconers 30/ to 51/ 24/ to 46/ Porkers 18/ to 36/ 22/ to 3-/ Weaners 4/ to 10/ </ to l-'b Slips 8/ to 13/ 7/ to 13/ Large stores 12/ to 16/ 15/ to 20/ ALFRED BUCKLAND AND SONS. Alfred Buckland and Sons, Ltd., report on the sale as follows: — Beef—Our supply of fat cattle numbered 223 head, as against 183 head at last w'eek s market, comprising 125 steers and 10.> cows and heifers. The ox beef wae ot excellent quality. Competition was not keen, and the slight advance recorded last week was not sustained. Extra choice ox sold to 17/ per 1001b; choice and prime ox, 15/ to 16/; secondary and plain ox, 12/ to 14/; prime young cow and heifer beef, 14/ to 16/; ordinary cow beef, 7/ to 12/. Extra heavy prime steers ranged in price from £6 17/6 to £7 7/6 for steers from a local vendor; heavy prime steers, £6 to £6 15/; lighter prime steers, £5 to £5 17/6; light prime steers, £3 17/6 to £4 17/6; small and unfinished steers, £2 10/ to £3 15/; extra heavy prime young cows and heifers, £4 to £4 17/6; heavy prime cows and heifers, £3 to £3 17/6; lighter prime cows and heifers, £2 5/ to £2 17/6; other killable cowe, £15/ to £2 2/6. - Sheep—There was a full yarding of sheep, the major por'uon of which were ewes, and values for these again receded. Wethers were in short supply, and were very firm. (A total of 1342 sheep was sold.) Extra heavy prime wethers realised 13/6 to 14/3; heavy prime wethers, 12/ to 13/3; medium to heavy prime wethers, 11/ to 11/9; light to medium prime wethers, 9/6 to 10/9; heavy prime maiden and young ewes, 9/ to 12/6; extra heavy aged ewes, 5/6 to 6/6; lighter prime ewes, 6/9 to 7/6; other killable ewes, 4/9 to 5/3. Lambs.—Lambs were penned in increased numbers, the quality again being first-class. Values realised were easily equal to late sales. Extra heavy prime lambs made 12/6 to 13/6 for Ryeland lambs from Mr. John Schlaepfer, jun., Paerata; heavy prime lambs, 11/ to 12/3; lighter prime lambs, 10/ to 10/9; light prime lambs, 9/ to 9/9. A total of 840 lambs was sold.

Calves. —There was an increased offering of calves. Bidding was not keen, and with the exception of prime light vealers all classes suffered a drop in values. Runners made £12/ to £2 10/; heavy vealers, £2 to £2 3/; medium, £1 13/ to £1 16/; light, £1 2/ to £.1 9/; small, 14/ to 18/; rough and bucket-fed, 6/ to 12/; bobby calves, 2/ to 5/. A total of 202 calves was sold. Pigs.—Fat pigs were in full supply. The demand was firm, and a steady sale resulted for all classes. Choppers realised £1 to £2 15/; extra heavy prime baconers, £2 4/ to £2 7/ (one particularly heavy made £2 10/); medium baconers, £1 16/ to £1 19/; light, £1 12/ to £1 14/; heavy porkers, £1 8/ to £1 11/; medium, £1 5/ to £1 7/; light and unfinished, 15/ to £1 4/. No large stores were offered. Slips made 11/ to 13/; weaners, 4/ to 10/. A total of 561 pigs was sold. LOAN AND MERCANTILE. The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Co., Ltd., report on the sale as follows: — Beef.—Beef was penned in increased numbers, being fully equal to an average yarding. Although there was a steady demand values were easier by about 1/ per 1001b. Extra choice ox sold to 17/ per 1001b; choice and prime ox, 14/ to 16/; ordinary and plain ox, 12/ to 13/6; prime young cow and heifer beef, 14/ to 16/; ordinary cow beef, 10/ to 13/. Heavy prime steers, £6 7/6 to £7; lighter prime steers, £5 17/6 to £6 5/; light prime steers, £5 to £5 15/; unfinished and small, £3 15/ to £4 17/6; extra heavy prime young cows and heifers, £4 7/6 to £4 17/6; heavy prime young cows and heifers,. £3 15/ to £4 5/; lighter, £2 7/6 to £3 12/6; light cows, £2 to £2 15/; other cows, £1 to £1 17/6. Sheep—Prime wethers were yarded in smaller numbers, and sold readily at values somewhat better than last week, selling at from 9/6 to 14/9. Prime ewes in average numbers were easier in values, selling at from 5/ to 8/. Unfinished wethers made 7/6 to 9/3; poorer ewes, 3/6 to 4/9; prime hoggets, 9/ to 11/6; unfinished, 5/ to 8/9. Lambs. —Lambs were penned in average numbers, and sold readily at late quotations. Prime lambs made 9/ to 13/; small unfinished lambs, 4/9 to 8/9. Pigs.—There was a heavy yarding of pigs, which sold under steady competition at values firm on last week's quotations. Choppers sold from £1 to £1 19/; heavy and medium baconers, from £1 18/ to £2 4/; light baconers and heavy porkers, from £1 10/ to £1 16/; medium porkers and light porkers, from £1 2/ to £1 8/. Store pigs were easier in values. Largo stores, 12/ to 16/; slips, 8/ to 11/; weaners, 5/ to 10/.

Calves. —Calves were penned in average numbers. There was a poor demand, and values showed a considerable drop on late quotations. Runners made £1 lu/ to £2 17/; heavy vealers, £1 10/ to £1 17/; medium, £1 to £1 8/; light, 12/ to 18/; smaller, 7/ to 10/; small and fresh dropped, 3/ to 6/; rough calves, 5/ to 8/. DALGETY AND COMPANY. Dalgety and Company, Limited, report on the sale as follows: — Beef.—Ox beef was yarded in larger numbers tnau la.it week, and met with a weak demand. Last week's rise was not maintained. Cow and heiter beet also came 101' ward in larger numbers, meeting with a slack demand, and values also lor this class were lower. Extra choicc ox sold to 17/ per 1001b; choice and prune ox, Ij/ to 16/; just killable, 13/ to 14/; prime young cow and heifer beef, 13/ to 16/; just killable, 9/ to 12/. Heavy prime steers ranged in price from £6 to £6 10/; lighter prime steers, £5 to £o 17/6; light prime steers, £4 2/0 to £4 17/6; small anil unfinished steers, £1 2/0 to £4; heavy prime cows and heifers, £3 to £3 10/; lighter prime cows and heifers, £2 2/6 to £2 17/6; other killable cows, £1 10/ to £1 Sheep.—Sheep came forward in full numbers, and sold under steady competition at values fully equal to late rates. Prime hoggets made 10/ to 11/3; medium hoggets, 7/9 to 9/9; heavy prime wethers, 12/ to 12/6; medium, 10/ to 11/9; light and unfinished, 8/9 to 10/9; heavy prime ewes, 7/6 to 8/'; lighter, 6/ to 7/3; other ewes, 5/3 to 5/9. Lambs.—Lambs were yarded in full average numbers, and sold under good competition at full late rates. Heavy prime lambs made 12/0 to 13/; medium, 10/9 to 12/3; light, 5/9 to 10/6. Calves.—Calves were offered in larger numbers than last week, and, in consequence, prices eased in all classes, with the exception of light prime vealers, which sold at late rates. Runners made 18/ to £2 9/; heavy vealers, £1 14/ to £2 3/; medium, £1 10/ to £1 19/; light, £1 5/ to £1 12/; small, 12/ to 19/; rough, 5/ to 14/; small and fresh dropped, 2/ to 6/. Pigs.—A full yarding of pigs again met with a steady sale, with prices ruling firm at last week's quotations. Choppers made £12/ to £1 18/; extra, heavy prime baconers, to £2 11/, for a pen of heavy pigs on account of W. Mullins, Ardmore; heavy baconers, £2 2/ to £2 6/; medium, £1 14/ to £1 18/; light, £1 10/ to £1 13/; heavy porkers, £1 7/ to £1 10/; medium, £1 3/ to £1 6/; light, IS/ to £1 2/. THE ADDINGTON MARKET. LAMBS GO LOWER. (Dy Telegraph.—Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, Wednesday. A heavy fat lamb entry, with a sharp fall in values, bringing them to a parity with the export schedule rates, was a feature of the Addington market to-day. Store Sheep.—The entry was the smallest for months, and no importance was attached to the auction. Fat Lambs.—The entry of 3700 was the largest of the season. Freezing works were able to compete for the first time, as values were equal to or below export schedule. The decline compared with last week was 2/ to 2/6 a head. Fat Sheep.—An entry of 4000 head came forward, and met with a good sale, with a general advance in values of 1/ a head. Exporters were operating for a small quantity only. Values were: Extra prime heavy wethers, to 15/7; prime heavy. 13/ to 14/; prime medium-weight, 11/ to 12/9; ordinary and light, 8/(3 to 10/6; extra prime heavy ewes, to 14/4; prime heavy, 10/9 to 12/6; prime medium-weight, 8/ to 9/ and 10/6; ordinary and light, 6/0 to 8/6. Fat Cattle. —An entry of 380 head included Southern consignments. Values were practically unchanged. Best beef made up to 21/ per 1001b, and in odd instances to 22/6; good prime beef, 17/ to 19/; heavy, 15/ to 17/; ordinary, to 12/; rough, down to, 9/. Fat Pigs.—A medium entry maintained late rates. Values were: Choppers, 30/ to 48/6; baconers, 31/6 to 37/6; heavy, 42/6 to 47/6; extra heavy, to 54/6; average price per lb, 3%d to 4d; porkers, 19/6 to 23/6; heavy, 25/6 to 28/6; average price per lb, 3%d to 4d.

HAWKE'S BAY VALUES. (By Telegraph.—Special to "Star.") NAPIER, this day. At the weekly sale at Stortford Lodge there was a medium yarding of fat and store cattle, a large entry of fat sheep, and a small entry of store shtep. Prime bullocks realised £6 to £7 2/6; fat bullocks, £5 5/ to £6; light fat bullocks, £4 10/ to £5 2/6; fat heifers, £3 to £4 17/6; three-year Polled Angus steers, £3 6/; two-year Polled Angus steers, £2 8/; vealers, 12/6 to 32/6; fat ewes, 4/ to 6/; fat wethers, 10/ to 11/6; fat lambs, 10/ to 11/10; ewes and lambs, all counted, 3/4; forward wethers, 9/.