LIVE STOCK MARKETS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 205, 31 August 1933, Page 4

LIVE STOCK MARKETS.

LAMB AND MUTTON GOOD. BEEF VALUES DEPRESSED. ANOTHER FAVOURABLE SEASON. The trend of live stock markets has not altered materially since last report. Week-end cables from Smithfield reported a strong demand for New Zealand lamb and mutton, while porkers also were selling better. There was an improved demand for frozen beef owing to shorter supplies of Argentine chilled. Unfortunately this improvement is not likely to benefit the Dominion farmer, who has already parted with Ills surplus stock of last season, and in the matter of fresh shipments is virtually prevented from sending beef quarters to Britain before the end of November at the earliest. This fact is having a depressing effect oil beef values throughout the country. An outstanding event of the week has been the great strength of the wool market, as evidenced at the Sydney sales, and this has been reflected in renewed firmness in the sheep section. Dairy produce values in London have been fairly stable, and in this class the outlook is reasonably satisfactory, provided no hindrance is placed in the export of the whole of the Dominion's output. Of conditions in the country our Waikato correspondent says:— A week of better weather suggests that spring is already fast approaching, and unless some unfortunate setback is experienced in September dairy farmers will have no further cause to worry. Without doubt this has been one of the best winters experienced for a number of years, and most farmers are carrying more stock, and same is in better condition than is usual at this period of the year. The stock market is showing signs of activity, and large yardings, especially of cattle, are the order of the day. Although store cattle are not so popular now as they were a month ago, very few good quality cattle are coming forward, and most of the yardings comprise oddments and young cattle. Good supplies of beef still appear to be available, with prices showing no improvement. This section is causing a good deal of concern amongst graziers, especially as it is usual at this time of the year for an improvement to take place. At Westfield last week the best quotation was 18/ per 1001b, but a good proportion of the yarding did not realise more than 16/. This quotation is what could be expected to be seen in the summer time, winter quotations being usually much in advance.

' Fat sheep are still coming forward in 1 good numbers, and there appear to be ample supplies of both wethers and ewes in sight for the next few weeks. A good inquiry still exists for all classes of store 6heep, and there is no difficulty in effecting a_ sale of any that may be yarded. i Practically the only cattle being offered at the dairy section are in-calf heifers. ' Although it has been anticipated that there would be a rise in value in this class of stock, this has not yet materialised. In one or two centres 6ales held during the week have shown an improvement, but generally speaking dairy cattle are extremely low. Pigs are also coming forward in better numbers, and in this section also the price of fat pigs is showing a slightly firming tendency. At Westfield. At Westfield yesterday there was a much smaller entry of beef cattle, which totalled 425 head, compared with 750 last week. There was no improvement in the demand, and values showed little change. Calves were in full supply, and values were easier. A large yarding of fat 6heep met a ready sale, with values slightly firmer for all classes. Spring lambs were penned in increased numbers, and sold easily at U/ to 29/. The pig pens were well filled, and prices were a little easier for light baconers and porkers, but unaltered for prime medium and heavy baconers. The range of prices, together with those ruling the previous week, was as follows:— This Week. Last Week. BEEF (per 1001b)— Extra choice ox .. IS/ 18/ Choice and prime ox 14/ to 17/ 14/ to 17/ Choice and prime cow and heifer . 14/ to 17/ 14/ to 17/ Boner and rough . 10/ to 14/ 10/ to 14/ SHEEP (per head) — Prime wethers ... 18/ to 30/ 18/ to 27/6 Unfinished wethers 13/ to 17/G 12/ to 18/ Prime ewes 14/ to 23/6 15/ to 23/6 Unfinished ewes . 4/ to 12/6 2/6 to 15/ Hoggets 13/ to 24/G 13/ to 25/6 Unfinished hoggets 9/ to 12/9 9/ to 12/G Spring lambs .... 11/ to 29/ 21/0 to 30/ CALVES (per head) — Uunners 40/ to 88/ 45/ to 84/ Vealers 25/ to S4/ 27/ to 95/ TIGS (per head)— Baconers 30/ to 07/ 38/ to 59/ Porkers 22/ to 38/ 23/ to 39/ Weaners 9/ to 15/ 7/ to 15/6 Slips 10/ to 18/ 15/ to 18/ Large stores 17/ to 23/ 20/ to 23/ DALGETY AND COMPANY. Dalgety and Company, Limited, report: Beef. —Ox beef was yarded in small numbers, and met with a steady demand at values on a par with late rates. Cow and heifer beef also came forward ill under average numbers, finding a ready sale at full late rates. We sold no extra heavy steers. Our entry totalled 118 head, against 244 head last week. Extra choice ox sold to 18/ per 1001b; choice and prime ox, 15/ to 17/; just killable ox, 12/ to 14/; prime young cow and heifer beef, 14/ to 17/; just killable, 10/ to 13/; lighter prime steers, £5 10/ to £6 7/6; light prime steers, £4 15/ to £5 7/6; small and unfinished steers, £3 10/ to £4 12/6; extra heavy prime young cows and heifers, £4 10/ to £4 17/6; heavy prime cows and heifers, £3 7/6 to £4 7/6; lighter prime cows and heifers, £2 17/6 to £3 5/; other killable cows, £1 12/6 to £2 15/. Calves. —Calves were penned in heavier numbers than last week. Competition was fairly steady, but last week's values were not maintained. Our offering comprised no prime runn6rs or heavy and medium vealers. Xjiglit vealers, £2 to £2 7/; small vealers, £1 5/ to £1 11/; rough calves, 10/ to £1; small and fresh dropped, 4/ to £1 1/. Sheep.—Sheep again were yarded in full numbers, and sold under steady competition at values on a par with late rates. Prime heavy hoggets, 18/ to 20/9; prime medium hoggets, 16/9 to 17/6; light and unfinished hoggets, 12/9 to 16/; heavy prime wethers. 25/3 to 26/6; medium wethers, 23/ to 25/; light and unfinished wethers, 19/ to 22/6; heavy prime ewes, 20/ to 20/9; lighter prime ewes, 18/6 to 19/6; other ewes, 12/6 to 18/. Lambs. —A few pens of light spring lambs made from 15/9 to 20/. Pigs—An average yarding of pigs came forward, and sold steadily at values on a par with last week'd quotations. Heavy baconers, £2 14/ to £2 19/; medium baconers, £2 5/ to £2 9/; light baconers, £1 19/ to £2 2/; heavy porkers. £1 16/ to £1 18/: medium porkers, £1 12/ to £1 14/: | light porkers, £16/ to £1 10/; small and. unfinished, £1 to £1 4/.

ALFRED BUCKLAND AND SONS. Alfred Buekland and Sons, Limited, report:— Beef. —We penned fat cattlc to the number of 143 head, as against 231 head last week, comprising 82 steers and 65 cows and , heifers. Although the yarding was smaller ( there was no improvement in the demand, ! with the exception of light prime cattlc, < which were a little firmer. Extra choice 1 ox sold to 18/ per 1001b; choice and prime ] : ox. 14/ to 17/; secondary and plain ox. 12/ , ' to 13/; prime young cow and heifer beef, . 15/ to 17/: ordinary cow beef. 10/ to 13/. Extra heavy prime steers ranged in price ■ I from £7 17/6 to £8 5/: heavy prime steers, 1 I £7 to £7 15/; lighter prime steers, £6 to £6 17/6; light prime steers, £5 to £."> 117/0; small a.id unfinished steers, £3 7/6 *

to £4 10/; extra heavy prime young cows and heifers, £4 15/ to £5 5/; heavy prime cows and heiiers, £4 to £4 12/ti; Lgnter prime cows and heifers, £3 5/ to £3 15/; otiier killable cows, £2 to £3. * Sheep.—Siieep were penned in increased uumucrs, and sold under keen competition, good quality wetliers showing a sugnt improvement on last week's prices, while ewes and hoggets remained nrm; litoU slieep were sold. Lxtra heavy prime wetners, £1 7/ to £1 10/ (.the latter price being lor a pen of Kyelaud wetners liom JtC. and A. Bcnlaepier, raerata); heavy prime wethers, £i 3/tj to. £1 0/; medium lo heavy prune wethers, £1 1/ to £13/; light to medium prime .wetliers, IS/ to iu/9; unfinished wetners, 16/ to 1//6; extra heavy prime young ewes, £1 0/9 to £i 2/; heavy prime ewes, 18/U to £1; lighter prime ewes, 17/ to 18/; other killable ewes, 14/ to 15/6; other ewes, 9/3 to 10/3; extra heavy prime hoggets, £i 1/ to £1 2/6; iieavy prime, 18/o to £1; lighter prime, 16/ to 17/6; light prime, 14/ to W; small and plain, 10/ l J to 12/9. Lambs. —Eight spring lambs made from £1 4/9 to £1 9/. Calves.—We had a full yarding of calves, the increased entry accounting lor a slight drop in values. Kunners made £2 to £4 8/; heavy vealers, £3 12/ to £1 4/; medium, £2 18/ to £3 4/; light, £1 18/ tu £26/; small, £1 5/.to £1 12/; rough and bucket-fed, 10/ to 18/; bobby calves, 3/ to 9/; (15 heavy vealers and runners Irom Messrs. Thomas Bros., iviwitahi, averaged £4 0/3). (A total of 322 calves was sold.) Figs.—Fat pigs were also in fully supply. Competition tor prime, medium and heavy bacouers was keen, with prices fully up to recent rates. Light baconers and porliers were not in such good request, and values were lower. Choppers made £15/ to £2 10/, according to weight; extra heavy prime baconers, £3 to £3 7/; heavy baconers, £2 13/ to £2 19/; medium, £2 7/ to, £2 10/; light, £1 16/ to £2; heavy porkers, £1 13/ to £1 15/; medium, £19/ to £1 12/; light, £1 5/ to £1 7/; small and unfinished, 19/ to £13/; good stores, £1 to £1 3/; slips, 16/ to 18/; good weaners, 13/ to 15/; smaller, 9/ to 11/. (A total of 365 pigs was sold.)

LOAN AND MERCANTILE. Beef.—Beef was penned in smaller numbers than last week. There was an improved demand and, although quotations remain the same, there was a firmer tone in the market. Extra choice ox sold to 18/ per 1001b; choice and prime ox, 15/ to 17/; ordinary and plain ox, 12/ to 14/; prime young cow and heifer beef, 14/ to 17/; ordinary cow beef, 10/ to 13/; heavy prime steers, £6 2/6 to £7 12/6; lighter prime steers, £5 to £6; light prime steers, £4 to £4 17/6; unfinished and small, £3 to £3 17/6; extra heavy prime young cows and heifers, £5 2/6 to £5 15/; heavy prime young cows and heifers, £4 7/6 to £5; lighter, £3 7/6 to £4 5/; light cows, £2 5/ to. £3 5/; other cows, £1 5/ to 2/6. Sheep.—s.ieep were yarded in large numbers, and there was a ready demand, with values slightly firmer for all classes. Heavy prime wethers made £1 6/ to £1 8/; medium .irime wethers, £1 3/6 to £1 5/9; light prime wethers, £1 to £1 3/3; small and unfinished wethers, 13/ to 19/6; heavy prime ewes, £1 1/ to £1 3/6; medium prime ewes, 19/ to .£1 0/9; light prime ewes, 14/ to 18/6; inferiorly fatted ewes, 4/ to 12/6; extra prime hoggets, to £1 4/6; heavy prime hoggets, £1 to £1 2/6; medium prime hoggets, 17/ to 19/; light prime hoggets, 13/ to 16/6; unfinished hoggets, 9/ to 12/9. Lambs.—Spring lambs were penned in increased numbers. Here again there was a ready demand, with values easier on last w-ek's sale. Heavy prime made £1 2/ to £1 5/9; medium prime, 18/ to £1 1/9; light prime, 11/ to 17/9. Figs.—Pigs were penned in average numbers. There was a ready sale, with values firm on last week's quotations. Choppers sold from £1 to £2; heavy and medium baconers, £2 12/ to £3 4/; light baconers and heavy porkers, £1 18/ to £2 10/; medium porkers and light porkers, £1 10/ tai £1 16/; 6mall, £1 2/ to £1 8/. Store pigs were in keen demand and sold well up to last week's quotations. Large stores, 17/ to £1 3/; slips, 10/ to 16/; weaners, 10/ to 14/6. Calves. —There was a large yarding of calves. Though a steady sale throughout, values were easier on last week's quotations. Runners, £2 to £4 .7/; heavy vealers, £3 17/ to £4 5/; medium, £3 5/ to £3 15/; light, £2 10/ to £3 3/; ! smaller, £1 17/ to £2 6/; small and fresh dropped, 5/ to £1 15/; rough calves, 8/ to 16/.

THE ADDINGTON MARKET. FAT SHEEP ADVANCE. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) ' CHRISTCHURCH, Wednesday. The sharp rise in wool values early in tho week was reflected in store sheep prices at Addington to-day, which increased by 2/6 to 3/6 a head on late rates. The auction of fat sheep was keen, ewes passing 30/. There was an advance of 2/6 a head on all classes. Wethers also sold above late rates. The beef market was very dull. Store Sheep.—The sale was very keen for a small yarding. Values advanced by 2/6 to 3/6 a head on an average, and in cases the advance was 5/ a head. Values were:—Good sound-mouth ewes, 16/ to 17/9; ordinary, 13/6 to 15/9; sound and failing-mouth, 11/ to 13/; aged and inferior, 7/ to 9/; ewes and lambs (all counted), 6/ to 8/6; good three-quarter-bred ewe liofigets, to 20/; ordinary, 14/ to 16/6; medium Jialfbved ewe, to 17/4; good wether, 15/3 to 15/9; ordinary, to 12/6.

Spring Lambs. —There was an entry of 29 head. Top price was 32/4, Fat Sheep.—The entry consisted of 3400 head. Consignments from Southern provinces were smaller than for weeks. There was a keen sale, especially for ewes. Values were: —Extra prime heavy wethers, to 33/7; prime, 28/6 to 31/; medium-weight, 25/6 to 28/; ordinary ; 22/ to 25/; light, 18/ to 21/6; extra prime heavy ewes, to 30/4; prime, 25/ to 27/6; medium-weight, 22/ to 24/6; ordinary, 19/ to 21/6; light, 14/6 to 18/6. Fat Cattle. —The entry of 460 head included approximately 100 North Island, also Southern consignments. It was a slack sale, with a general decline on late rates of 10/ to 15/ a head, and there were heavy passings. Best beef made 23/ to 25/ per 1001b; good, 19/ to 22/; heavyweight, 16/ to 20/; good heifer, to 20/; medium quality, 12/. to 15/; rough, down to 11/. „ . , Fat Pigs.—The demand was fair for a medium entry. Values were:—Choppers, 30/ to £3 16/; baconers, 36/ to 44/6; heavy, 47/6 to 53/6: extra heavy, to 60/6; average price per lb, 4d to 4V6d; porkers, 20/ to 24/6: heavy, 27/6 to 30/6; extra heavy, to 33/6; average price per lb, 4d to 4Vfd.