LIVE STOCK MARKETS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 115, 18 May 1933, Page 4

LIVE STOCK MARKETS.

EXPORT POSITION IMPROVES. BUT BEEF VALUES DEPRESSED. Favourable features of the export markets have been a sustained improvement in the .tone cf the wool trade, the maintenance of advanced prices tor dairy products, and a keen demand for hides at higher prices. The position with regard to frozen meat is not greatly changed, but Smith field dealers report an easier tendency for lamb and wether mutton. The British beef market is apparently suffering from acute indigestion, due to large supplies of chilled and frozen beef from ail sources. This depression ol values is being reflected in the Dominion, and both in Auckland and at Addington prices of beef arc lower than has been the case for a considerable period. Of conditions in the . country our Waikato correspondent says: —

"A week of wet weather has had the effect of driving out large quantities of both beef and mutton. At Frankton yards on Tuesday a heavy yarding of both ox and cow beef was again penned, but unfortunately there was no improvement in price, and in fact very few cattle that were sold in the beef pons could show any margin of profit to the sellers. The absence of export competition was keenly felt, but reports of frozen beef 011 the London market do not appear particularly bright. This, together with the congestion at the works, has apparently made all export operators very cautious, and practically the only class of cattle that is being handled ill the open market is boner cows.

"This reduction ir. the price of fats has to some extent been reflected in store cattle. A yardinir of good quality cattle at Cambridge last week sold at reduced prices, with the exception of eighteen months' steers, for which competition was better than ever. Female cattle of all classes have also lost their popularity. "Another good/entry of fat sheep at Frankton 011 Tuesday saw last week's values fully maintained. All extra heavy yarding of fat lambs came forward; in fact more lambs were yarded at this sale than at any other sale for some considerable time. Although most of the entry was purchased by the exporters, the prices given were considerably better than the "011 hooks" schedule. Store sheep are also in keen demand, and all that are yarded never fail to change hands. A slight imnrovement can also be recorded in fat haconcrs and norkers. although the supply of heavy-weight baeoners is showing a falling off."

| At v/est&eld. At Westfield yesterday the total yardinrr of beef cattle was about SOO head. 1 compared with 700 at the previous week's j sale. Demand was dull, and values eased about 1/ to 2/ pet' 1001b. There was also a slack sale for calves. Sheep and lambs sold readily at about late rates. In the classes there was a keen demand for baeoners, which made better prices, and porkers realised late quotations. The ranee of prices, together with those ruling the previous week, was as follows: — Tliis week. Last week. BEEF (per 1001b) — Extra choice ox 17/ 10/ Choice & prime ox 14/ to 10/ 10/ to 18/ Choice & prime cow & heifer 12/ to 15/ 1.3/ to 17/ Unfinished .... 7/ toll/ 8/ to 15/ SHEEP (per head) — Prime wethers . 11/3 to 17/ 12/0 to 17/ Untin. wethers . 9/ to 12/(5 10/ 1011/f) Prime ewes .. 8/ to 13/0 7/ toll/0 Unfin. ewes .. 3/ to 8/ 5/ to 7/11 Prime lambs .. 0/ to 15/3 0/ to 14/ li Untin. lambs . 3/ to 8/9 5/ to 9/ CALVES (per heail) — Kunners 30/ to 51/ 28/ to 42/ Vealers 18/ to 37/ 12/ to 38/ PIGS (per head) —

Baeoners 35/ to 50/ 35/ to 53/ Porkers 18/ to 32/ 15/ to 33/ Weaners 2/0 to 8/0 3/ to 8/0 Slips 7/ to 10/ 5/ to 0/ Large stores . . 12/ to 15/ 10/ to 10/ LOAN AND MERCANTILE. The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Limited, reports:— Beef.—Beef was penned in fully average numbers, the demand was dull and values receded 1/ to 2/ 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, 13/ to 15/; ordinary cow beef, 9/ to 12/. Extra heavy prime steers ranged in price from £6 10/ to £7 5/; heavy prime steers, £5 15/ to £6 7/6; lighter prime steers, £5 to £3 12/6; light prime steers, £4 5/ to £4 17/6; unfinished and small, £2 10/ to £4; extra heavy prime young cows and heifers, £4 to £4 10/; heavy prime young cows and heifers, £3 5/ to £3 17/6; lighter, £2 12/6 to £3 2/6; light cows, £2 to £2 10/; other cows, £1 to £1 17/6. Sheep.—These were yarded in large numbers with a ready demand for wethers, which sold at late values. There was i keen demand for prime ewes which improved 1/ to 2/ per head. Heavy prime wethers, 15/9 to 16/9; medium, 14/3 to 15/6; light, 12/6 to 14/; small and unfinished, 9/ to 12/3; heavy prime ewes, 12/ to 13/6; medium, 10/ to 11/9; light, 8/ to 9/9; inferiorly fatted, 3/ to 6/9. Lambs.—Lambs were penned in large numbers and again sold readily at late values. Heavy to medium. 11/ to 14/; light prime, 8/6 to 10/6; unfinished, 3/ to 6 6. Pigs.—Pigs were penned in more than average numbers. Values were on a par with last week's quotations. Small and unfinished porkers were dull of sale. Choppers sold from £ 1 to £2 14/; heavy and medium baeoners, from £2 5/ to £2 12/; light baeoners and heavy porkers, from £1 10/ to £1 16/; medium porkers and light porkers, from £1 5/ to £1 8/; small and unfinished porkers, 12/ to 18/. There was a better demand for store pigs with improvement in values. Large stores, 12/ to 15/; slips, 7/ to 10/; weaners, 3/6 to 8/3. Calves.—There was a large yarding of calves, which sold at values on a par with last week's quotations. Runners, £1 10/ to £2 4/; heavy vealers. £1 10/ to £1 16/; medium, £1 5/ to £1 0/; light, £1 to £1 3/; smaller, 10/ to 18/: small and fresh dropped, 3/ to. 8/; rough calves, 4/ to 8/.

DALGETY AND COMPANY. Dalgety and Co., Ltd., report:— Beef.—The offering of ox beef was again a heavy one, which proved too large for requirements, and values eased considerably. Cow and heifer beef also came forward in large numbers, and here again a limited demand resulted in values easing on late rates. Extra choice ox sold to 17/ per 1001b; choice and prime, 14/ to 16/; just killable, 11/ to 13/; prime young cow and heifer, 12/ to 15/; just killable, 7/ to 11/. Heavy prime, £5 10/ to £6 2/6; lighter, £4 2/6 to £5 7/6; light, £3 10/ to £4; small and unfinished, £1 15/ to £2 17/6. Heavy prime cows and heifers, £3 15/ to £4 5/; lighter prime cows and heifers, £2 17/6 to £3 12/6; other killable cows, £1 17/6 to £2 7/6. Sheep—Sheep were yarded in large numbers, and although the demand was steady last week's rates were not in all cases reached for wethers, but ewes sold fully on a par with late quotations. Extra heavy prime wethers, 16/3 to 16/9; heavy prime, 15/ to 16/: medium, 12/9 to 14/9: light and unfinished, 11/6 to 12/6; heavy prime ewes, 11/ to 12/6; lighter, 9/ to 10/9; other ewes, 4/9 to 8/9. Lambs. —An average yarding of lambs came forward and sold under keen competition at improved values. Heavy prime iamb, 13/ to 13/9; medium, 11/9 to 12/9; light. 8/9 to 11/6. Calves.—An average yarding of calves came forward. The demand showed no improvement. and a slack sale resulted with values a little easier than last week's quotations. Runners, £1 5/ to £2 1/; heavy vealers. £1 7/ to £1 14/; medium, £1 2/ to £1 0/; light, 18/ to £1 1/: I small, 10/ to 17/; rough calves, 5/ to 10/; small and fresh-dropped. 3/ to 8/. Pigs.—Pigs were yarded in more than I average numbers, and with the exception of light and unfinished porkers, which were [ not in demand, all classes sold steadily at

values on a par with late rates. Choppers, heavy baeoners, £2 8/ to £2 10/; medium, £2 4/ to £2 6/; light, £1 15/ to £2; heavy porkers, £19/ to £1 12/; medium, £1 6/ to £18/; light, 18/ to £1 4/. ALFRED BUCKLAND AND SONS. Alfred Buckland and Sons, Ltd., report: — Beef.—Our beef pens contained 274 head, as against 281 iiead last week, comprising 140 steers and 128 cows and heifers. There was a steady demand "at slightly lower values than last week, extra heavy cattle being affected most. Extra choice ox sold to 1// per 1001 b; choice and prime, 15/ to 10/'; secondary and plain, 12/0 to 14/; prime young cow and heifer beef, 12/ to 14/0; ordinary cow beef, 8/ to 11/. Extra heavy prime steers ranged in price from £6 15/ to £7 10/. Thirteen from Mr. Geo. Hastie, I'apatoetoe, averaged £7 4/9, and seven from .Mr. 11. 10. Reed, Wacrcnga, averaged £7 2/' l. Heavy prime steers, £<> 10/ to £0 i 2/0; lighter, £1 12/6 to £5 5/; light, £4 5/ to £4 10/: small and unfinished, £2 10/ to £4 2/0. Extra heavy prime young cows and heifers, £4 10/ to £5 5/, for a prime cow from Mr. M. Rcnnie, Ihumata; heavy heavy cows and heifers, £3 10/, to £4 5/; lighter prime cows and heifers, £2 5/ to £3 5/: other billable cows and heifers, £1 10/ to £2 2/0.

Sheep.—Wo had less than an average yarding of fat sheep, values for wethers : being on a par with hint week. Ewes were better value. Extra heavy prime wethers, 10/ to 17/; heavy prime, 15/ to 15/6; medium to heavy, 13/(5 to 14/6; light to medium, 11/3 to 12/9; unfinished, 9/ to 10/ti. Extra heavy prime voung ewes, 12/ to 13/; heavy. 10/6 to 11/3: lighter, 8/i) to 10/; other killable, 7/3 to 8/. A total of 732 sheep was sold. Lambs.—We had a heavy yarding of lambs, which met with a free sale at values equal to lust week. Extra heavy prime lambs, 14/ to 15/3: heavy, 12/6 to 13/6: lighter. 11/ to 12/; light, 9/ to JO/6: small and plain lambs. 6/6 to 8/9. A total ol 1269 lambs was sold. Calves.—Wo had an average yarding of calves, the quality throughout being good. the demand showing no improvement on last week's sale. Runners made £1 10/ to £2 11/; heavy vealers, £1 5/ to £1 17/; medium, £1 to £1 4/; light and small, 14/ to £1; rough and bucket-fed, 6/ to 11/: bobby calves, 2/ to 5/. A total of 192 calves was sold. I'igs.- We had an extra large yarding of both pork and bacon pigs. Rood bacon pigs showing an increase of about 3/ a head. Good porkers sold at. late rates, light and unfinished declined in price. Choppers made £1 5/ to £2 0/; heavy prime baconers. £2 12,/ to £2 16/: medium, £2 8/ to £2 10/; light. £1 18/ to £2 2/: heavy porkers. £ I 8/ to £ 1 12/: medium. £1 3/ to £1 -I; light and unfinished, 12/ to £1; good stores, 12/: slips. 7/ to 8/: wcaners. 3/ to 6': weedy, 1/ to 3/. A total of 712 pigs was sold. THE ADDINGTON MARKET. BEEF CATTLE LOWER. CHRISTCHURCH, Wednesday. A new low record for fat cattle values was established at the Addinglon market to-day. The market is being shaken by a succession of over supplies. In ail other major sections the general demand was keen. Store Sheep.—A small entry met w.th a dull sale. Lambs were slightly easier. Values were: Medium ewe lambs, oft to 6/; inferior, to 3/0; good mixed sex, to 6/5; ordinary, 3/6 to 4/6; inferior, to 2/7; medium four, six and eight-tooth Romney-cross ewes, to 9/10; ordinary sound-mouth, 4/4 to 4/6; aged and failingmouth, to 1/6; inferior two-tooth half- i bred, to 4/7.

Fat Lambs. —The entry of 1900 was the smallest for a long period and there was a very keen sale, prices being firm at late rates. Values were: Kxtra prime heavy limbs, to 18/4; prime heavy, 13/ to 15/; prime medium-weight, 11/ to 13/; light, to 10/6. Fat Sheep.—There was a medium entry of 4300, including heavy supplies from southern provinces. Medium-weight and light ewes were firmer, while other classes maintained late rates. Values were: Extra prime heavy wethers, to 19/10; prime heavy, 15/ to 17/6; prime medium-weight, 13/ to 14/6; ordinary, 11/ to 12/6; light, 9/ to 10/6; extra prime heavy ewes, to 14/1; prime heavy, 11/6 to 13/; mediumweight prime, 9/ to 11/; ordinary, 7/ to 8/6; light. 4/6 to 6/0. Fat Cattle.—The entry consisted of 470 head. The West Coast and South Canterbury provided a poition. The sale was extremely dull and there was a fall of up to £1 a head for medium and good sorts. Best beef sold up to 16/6 per 1001b, good prime, 13/6 to 15/6; heavy-weight and medium, 11/ to 13/; good cow, 10/ to 13/; isecondary eow, 8/ to 10/; rough, down to 6d. Fat Pigs.—There was a medium entry. The demand was quite good. Choppers were in over-supply and prices for them were very low. Values were: Choppers, 15/ to £3 11/; baconers, 35/ to 40/; heavy, 47/6 to 54/6; extra heavy, to £3; average price per lb, 3%d to 4(1; porkers, 18/ to 23/6: heavy, 26/6 to 31/6; average price per lb, 3'/£d to i l £d. I

IN THE WAIKATO. HAMILTON, Wednesday. Conditions are as follows: — Beef.—There appears to, be a plentiful supply of beef available for winter requirements, and although a large quantity has been frozen, this has not so far had any reflection on the market. The highest price for extra prime quality heavy ox beef at Frank ton on Tuesday was £7, while good quality medium weight cattle sold from £5 to £5 10/; older and unfinished sold from £3 10/ to £4 10/; prime heavy cows made up to £3; medium quality cows and heifers, from £2 10/ to £2 15/; older cows, 30/ to 35/. Fat Sheep.—Plentiful supplies of fat sheep are everywhere coming forward, and the bulk of them appear to be absorbed for local consumption. The exporters are buying practically no big sheep, but are confining their operations entirely to lambs, and it is worth while mentioning that prices given in the saleyards invariably work out better to the vendor than the "on hooks" schedule. Prime heavy fat wethers made up to 15/6; medium, 1.3/ to 14/; heavy fat ewes, up to 10/; medium, 7/ to 8/; heavy fat lambs, up to 13/6; medium, 11/ to 12/. Store Cattle.—This scction lias shown a decided easing during the week, while there is also very little improvement in dairy stock. A few sales are reported of odd trucks of dairy heifers, while one big line was purchased during 'the week for the East Coast. A clearing sale of a large number of Taranaki heifers will be held during the coming week, and it will be interesting to see what the public's value of these cattle will be. Heifer calves are not so much sought after, neither are there many coming out. Grown steers in forward condition are worth from £3 to £3 10/, w r hile 2%-year-old steers are worth almost the same price; 18 months' steers, 30/ to £2; yearling steers, 15/ to 25/: forward empty cows, from 30/ to £2; store cows, £1 to 30/; boners, 18/ to 28/; two-year in-calf Jersey heifers, from £4 to £5, with odd truck lots of extra good heifers at a slightly higher figure; medium quality heifers, £3 10/ to £4; weaner heifer calves, 25/ to 30/; smaller calves, 10/ to 15/.

Store Sheep.—A good yarding of store hoggets was penned at Frank ton on Tuesday, and these met with a good reception. In fact all classes of store sheep are eagerly sought after, and there is practically no difference between store and fat prices. The demand for breeding eweti is increasing, if anything, especially for genuinely-farmed sheep. Good four-tooth wethers are worth 11/6 to 12/; two-tooth wethers, from 10/ to 11/6; small wethers, 8/ to 9/; good woolly lambs, 7/ to 8/; good shorn lambs, 6/6 to 7/6; mixed sex lambs, 6/ to 7/.