LIVE STOCK MARKETS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 283, 30 November 1933, Page 4

LIVE STOCK MARKETS.

SHEEP FARMERS PLEASED. DAIRYMEN ANXIOUS. EASING IN SHEEP VALUES. Since last report the best news from the farming aspect has been the great •success of the local wool sale and the worst has been the continued decline in the price of New Zealand butter on the London market. Values had fallen a further 6/ in the week to 72/, but have shown a slight recovery during the last couple of days and are now quoted from 73/ to 74/. It is to be hoped that there will be an improvement shortly, otherwise, so far a.s the Auckland province is concerned, more may be lost in dairying than is gained in wool. Smithfield reports a weak demand for old season's lamb, in view of the early new season's arrivals. Both the Argentine and Australia are already busy in this field, while New Zealand supplies wiii arrive in London shortly. During the first half of November Australia shipped 397.130 carcases of new season's lamb to th" United Kingdom ami the Argentine 143.233.

Of conditions in the country, our Wai kato correspondent says:—•

Undoubtedly the best news that the sheep farmers have had for quite a long time has been the excellent results obtained at the recent Auckland wool Kale. Although it, was generally anticipated that wool would show a big improvement in price, even the most sanguine sheep farmer hardly anticipated competition to be so keen. This was shown by the fact that practically every catalogue was a totai clearance, which must be considered a very satisfactory position. Unfortunately this big advance may be the cause of further trouble for the sheep farmer. Is -is only reasonable to expect that all classes of sheep, which up to the present hav> beeli ill keen demand, will show a further improvement, and it is just possible that farmers in their excitement over their wool cheques wilt throw caution to the wind and so force sheep to fictitious values, which will end disastrously for all concerned. While sheep farmers are in the best of spirits, graziers are also showing a good deal of confidence. Beef has held up longer this spring than usual, and it appears that only limited quantities are held, and with the prospect of further export in the autumn graziers are looking forward to a better season. There is stiil keen demand for store cattle, especially for all lines that are suitable for fattening. and a few big sales of this class of stock are scheduled to take place in the course of the next couple of \Vecks. In the pig section prices have remained remarkably firm, although large quantities have been handled. At Wcstfield. Beef cattle were penned in large numbers at Wcstfield yesterday and despite a steady demand vendors had to accept slightly lower rates, especially in the case of heavy-weights. Calves showed little change. There was a very heavy yarding of fat sheep, mostly shorn, hiul lici'c again, lower prices ruled. An average varding of lambs met good competition at full late rates. Pigs sold on a par with recent quotations. The range of prices, together with those ruling a week ago, is as follows: — Tills Week. Last Week. BEEP (per 1001b) — Extra choice ox 10/ 20/ Choice and prime , , ox 15/ to 18/ IG/ to 10/ Choice and prime cow and heifer 15/ to 10/ !G/ to -0/ Boner and rough 11/ to 15/ 12/ to 10/ SHEEr (per head) — Prime wethers : Shorn IS/ to 25/6 10/0 to 2G/G Unshorn .... — 21/ to 20/ Unfinished wethers : Shorn 15/. to 21/0 15/0 to IS/ I'rinie ewes: Shorn 11/0 to IS/ 13/3 to IS/ Unshorn .... — 17/ to 23/ Unfinished ewes: Shorn S/ to 12/ 0/ to 12/0 Hoggets: Shorn 10/ to 23/ 17/ to 23/ Unshorn .... — IS/ to I*o/ Spring lambs .. 11/ to 22/ 0/ to 22/ CALVES (per head) — Runners 40/ to 07/ 40/ to 01/ Vealers IS/ to 00/ 15/ to OS/ PIGS (per head) — Baconers 30/ to 00/ 40/ to 6G/ Porkers U5/ to 40/ L'O/ to 41/ Weaners 0/ to IS/ S/ to 20/ Slips 15/ to 21/ IS/ to 24/ Largo stores ... 20/ to 24/ 25/ to 31/ ALFRED BUCKLAND AND SONS. Alfred Buekland and Soils, Limited, report:— ,

Beef.—We penned fat cattle to the number of 283 head, as against 239 head last week comprising 125 steers and 158 cows and heifers. The yarding of ox beef was of good quality but values showed a decided decline, light cattle being less affected, while heavy cattle were lower by 15/ to 20/ per head. The cow and heifer pens were well filled, all classes selling freely, with values showing a slight easing on last week. Extra choicc ox sold to 19/ per 1001b; choice and prime, 15/ to 17/; secondary and plain, 13/ to 14/; prime young cow and heifer beef, 17/ to 19/; ordinary cow, 12/ to 15/. Extra heavy prime steers ranged in price from £7 7/6 to £7 15/; heavy pome, £6 10/ to £7 5/; lighter prime, £5 10/ to £6 7/6; ligiit prime, £4 10/ to £5 5/; small and unfinished, £3 15/ to £4 5/; extra heavy prime young cows and heifers, £4 10/ to £5 5/; heavy prime, £3 15/ to £4 7/6; lighter prime, £2 15/ to £3 12/6; other killable cows, £1 5/ to £2 5/.

Sheep.—We penned sheep to the number of 1707. The demand was not so good <m<l both wethers and ewes suffered a decline on last week's prices, ewes easing by about 2/ a head, while wethers eased about 1/ a head. Extra heavy prime wethers, shorn, £14/ to £1 5/6; heavy prime, £1 2/0 to £1 3/0; medium to heavy, £1 0/6 to £1 2/; light to medium, 19/ to £1; unfinished, 15/ to 17/0. Extra heavy prime young maiden ewes, shorn, 15/0 to 10/9; heavy prime, 13/ to 14/; lighter, 11/9 to 12/9; other tillable ewes, 10/ to 11/0; other ewes, 5/ to 9/0. Heavy prime hoggets, woolly, £1 2/9 to £1 6/9; shorn, £1 to £1 1/9; lighter, 17/9 to 19/. Lambs.—Lambs were yarded to the number of 334 and sold under keen competition, with values showing a slight improvement on last week's sale. Extra heavy prime lambs," £1 0/6 to £1 2/; heavy, 19/ to £1; lighter, 17/ to 18/0; light, 15/0 to 10/9. No small and plaiu lambs were yarded.

Calves. —Calves were penned in average numbers. Bidding was erratic and although in odd instances prices improved, our quotations generally are about the same as last week's. Runners made £2 to £3 7/. (No extra prime quality runhers were offered.) Heavy vealers, £3 to £3 0/; medium, £2 6/ to £2 14/; light, £2 to £2 5/; small, £1 4/ to £1 10/; unfinished and bucket-fcd, 12/ to £1 1/; bobby calves, 3/ to. 7/. A total of 169 calves was Pigs.—Pigs were in medium supply. Competition was steady throughout and values ruled firm at late rates. No heavy choppers were offered. Medium-weights made up to £2; extra heavy prime baconers, £3 3/ to £36/; heavy baconers, £2 18/ to £3 1/; medium, £2 10/ to £2 13/; light, £2 1/ to £2 6/; heavy porkers, £1 18/ to £2; medium, £1 15/ to £1 17/; light, £1 10/ to £1 13/; small and unfinished, £1 6/ to £1 8/. No large stores were penned. Prices for slips and weaners were lower. Slips made 18/ to £1; best weaners, 14/ to 16/; small and weedy, 9/ to 12/. A total of 424 pigs was sold. LOAN AND MERCANTILE. The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Ltd., report: — Beef.—Beef was penned in large numbers. Although there was a steady demand values were easier, heavier prime weight cattle suffering most. Extra choice ox sold to 19/ per 1001b; choice and prime, 16/ to 18/; ordinary and plain, 12/ to 15/; prime young cow and heifer beef, 16/ to 18/; ordinary; cow, 11/ to 15/, Extra

heavy prime steers ranged in price from £7 10/ to £8 12/6; heavy prime, £6 10/ to £7 7/0; lighter prime, £o 17/0 to £6 12/0; light prune, £5 to £5 15/; unfinished and small, £3 15/ to £4 10/. L:ara, heavy prune young cows and lieiieis, £5 to £J 10/'; heavy prime, £4 to £4 15/; lighter, £3 to £3 l/'/'O; light, J. 2 7/0 to £- 17/0; oilier cows, £1 3/ to £2 o/. Extra prime steers from Mr. W. J. Ralph, Muliutu, realised up to £8 12/0.

taiieep.—Sheep were yarded in large numbers, comprised practically of all shorn sheep. Prime sheep were selling at easier values. Young ewes were in demand, for which graziers made keen competition, selling from 14/ to 18/0. Store sheep sold readily at late values. Heavy _ prime wethers, £1 3/ to £1 4/0; medium prime, £1 0/3 to £1 1/9; light prime, 18/ to 19/9; small and unfinished, 10/ to 17/9. Medium to heavy prime hoggets, £1 to £1 3/; light prime, 10/ to 19/9; small unfinished hoggets, 13/ to 15/9. Heavy prime ewes, 10/ to 18/; medium prime, 14/3 to 15/o; light prime, 12/0 to 14/; liu'eriorly tatted, 8/to 12/. Lambs. —Lambs were penned in average numbers, and sold at late rates. Heavy prime, ''19/0 to £1 1/6; medium, 17/0 to 19/3; light, 10/ to 17/3; unfinished, best, 13/0 to 15/9.

l'igs.—i'igs were penned in average numbers, 'l here was an easing in values on last week's quotations. JSo extra heavy baconers were penned. Choppers sold i'roiu £1 0/ to £2 4/; medium baconers, £2 12/ to £'2 17/; light baconers and heavy porkers, £1 19/ to £2 10/; medium and light porkers, £1 12/ to £1 17/'; small, £ I 5/ to £1 10/. Store pigs sold at late quotations. Large stores, £1 to £1 4/; slips, 15/ to 19/; weaners, 10/ to 18/. Calves. —Calves were penned in average numbers. Values were on a par with last week's quotations. Runners, £2 to £3 4/; lieavv vealers. £2 5/ to £2 12/; medium, £1 16/ to £2 3/; light, £1 10/ to £1 15/; smaller, £1 to £1 8/; small and fresh-dropped, 5/ to 10/; rough caivcs, 0/ to 12/.

DALGETY AND COMPANY. Dalgcty and Co., Ltd., report:—• Beef.—We yarded 19J head of cattle, comprising 25 steers and 105 cows and heifers, against 199 last wefk. The quality was again lirst class, but the demand not so keen, and values cased fully ]/' per hundred. Extra choice ox sold to 19/ per 100lb; choice and prime, 10/ to 18/; secondary and plain, 13/ to 15/; prime young cow and heifer beef, 15/ to 18/; ordinary cow, 11/ to 14/. Extra heavy prime steers ranged in price from £8 to £S 7/0 for steers on account of Mr. «J. Price, Matainata; heavy prime, £7 to £7 15/; lighter prime, £0 5/ to £0 17/0; light prime, £5 10/ to £0 2/0; small and unfinished, £4 7/0 to £5 7/0. Extra heavy prime young cows and heifers, £5 to £5 10/ for heifers sold on account of M-. F. I>. Hardic, Te Kuiti; heavy prime, £4 2/0 to £4 17/0; lighter prime, £3 to £4; other billable cows, £1 15/ to £2 17/0. Nine cows and heifers, on account of Mr. E. I!. Hardie, averaged £4 8/10. Twelve steers, on account of Mr. J. Price, of Matamata, averaged £7 18/2. Sheep.—Sheep again came forward in full numbers, and although the demand was steady, values for wethers ruled lower by 1/ per head, and for ewes 2/ per head. Prime heavy hoggets. 21/ to 22/; prime medium, 17/0 to 20/0; heavy prime wethers, 23/9 to 24/9; medium, 21/9 to 23/0; light and unfinished, 19/6 to 21/6; heavy prime ewes, 13/9 to 14/9; lighter prime, 12/3 to 13/0; other ewes, 10/ to 12/. Lambs. —Under an average yarding fat lambs sold under good competition at rate!* firm on our last quotations. Heavy prime lamb, 20/; medium, 18/3 to 19/9; light, 14/ to 18/.

Calvps.—Calves came forward in average numbers. The sale was inclined to be erratic, but values remained on about a liar with last week's quotations. Runners, £2 5/ to £3 5/; heavy vealers, £2 17/ to £3; medium, £2 4/ to £2 9/; light, £1 14/ to £1 19/; small, 18/ to £1 7/; rough calves, 10/ to £1 1/; small and freshdropped, 3/ to 8/.

Pigs.—Pigs were yarded in well up to average numbers, and sold at valuers about on a par with last week's quotations. Heavy baconers, £2 13/ to £3; medium, £2 8/ to £2 11/: light, £2 1/ to £2 5/; heavy porkers. £ I 18/ to £2; medium, £1 14/ to £1 10/; light, £1 7/ to £1 32/; small and unfinished, £1 1/ to £1 4/. THE ADDINGTON MARKET. STORE SHEEP IN DEMAND. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) CHlil STCH URCII, Wednesday. There was a strong demand for store sheep of all descriptions at the Addington market to-day. Eat sheep fetched steady prices while lambs were firm, except for an easing in extra heavy lines. A heavy yarding of cattle resulted in lower values. Pigs met with a keen demand. Store Sheep.—The entry was limited, the bulk of the offering being dry sheep. All sold at late rates, except hoggets, which were dearer. Ewes, in wool, with lambs, made IS/4 all counted, the highest price for three years. Values were: —Ordinary shorn ewe hoggets, to 15/8; good woolled, lo 23/2; halfbred wethers, 13/4 to 34/4; good crossbred wethers, 10/8 to 17/; medium halfbred, 14/8 to 10/7; medium ewes, in wool, and lambs (all counted), to 18/4; ordinary, to 14/0. Eat Lambs. —The yarding of 7150 head was of good quality. Extra heavy sorts were up to 1/0 a head cheaper, but others sold firmly. Two exporters operated at values averaging between 7V4d and 7%d per lb. Values were:—Extra prime heavy, to 2G/; prime heavy, 20/ to 23/; medium, 17/ to 19/0; light, 14/ to 16/0. Fat Sheep.—The entry of 4300 head compared with 3800 last week. The quality was good and the offering included some very good North Island lines. Wethers were 1/ dearer and ewes 1/ cheaper. Values were:—Extra prime heavy wethers, to 29/; prime heavy, 24/ to 27/; prime medium, 21/6 to 23/0; ordinary, 18/ to 21/; light, 15/6 to 17/6; extra prime heavy ewes, to 29/10; prime heavy, 22/ to 24/; prime medium, 18/0 to 21/0; ordinary, 15/ to 18/; light, 12/ to 14/ G. Fat Cattle.—The yarding was too heavy for requirements. Prices for steers were lower by 10/ to £1 a head and cows and lieifers by £1. Best beef made 22/ to 25/ per 1001b; good, 18/ to 21/; heavyweight, 15/6 to 19/; medium-weight, 11/ to 13/; rough, down to 10/. Fat Pigs.—There was a heavy entry, including a well-finished consignment from the West Coast. The market was steady, with a keen demand. A total of 140 pigs was bought for export. Values were:— Choppers, £1 10/ to £2 11/; baconers, 40/ to 47/6; heavy br.coners, 50/ to 57/6; extra heavy, £3 to £3 6/6; average, 4d to 4%d per lb; porkers, 26/0 to 29/6; heavy, 32/6 to 36/6; average, 4V 2 d to sVad per lb.