LIVE STOCK MARKET

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 38, 14 February 1935, Page 15

LIVE STOCK MARKET

EXPORT IMPROVING. FAT STOCK IN KEEN DEMAND. HIGH PRICES FOR STORES. Since last review export markets have continued satisfactory. Thanks to a better demand from Germany and fairly substantial orders from U.S.A., the statistical position of butter has shown material improvement. Close on 3000 tons of New Zealand butter were cleared at the Tooley Street stores last week, a quantity which is well above the average. Values are still about 90/, a welcome improvement on last year, when 70/ was top price at this period. Cheese, too, is selling freely and here again values are better than thjy were a year ago, 43/6 comparing with present top price of 48/. At Smithfield the increased arrivals of lambs have brought about a slight easing in prices. This, liowcver, was only to bo expected, and the geperal soundness of the position is indicated by the higher rates that are now being paid by local export buyers. . The meat trade as a whole is healthy, and the outlook good, and of conditions in the country our Waikato coi'respondent writes:— Although the pastures have not yet received the benefit of a heavy downpour of rain, there is every indication that the drought has broken., and the worries of the farmer, as far as rain is concerned, are practically over.

As waa expected, the advent of rain has had a wonderful effect on the sheep sections. All classes of breeding ewes have shown a. big improvement, while etore lambs espe<4tally have improved most of all. At the most recent sale held at Frankton on Wednesday store lambs brought two to three shillings more per head, while at all Bales where large numbers of she_ep have been offored during the week increased prices with better competition have resulted. There is very strong evidence that a large number of sheep farmers have etill io fill their requirements,, and it would not be surprising to see breeding ewes soar to ridiculous heights. Even at present-day prices they are realising more than the wool and mutton position really warrant. However, the fact that fat lambs have maintained their position, and during the week a further rise has been announced in the export schedule, seems to indicate that the fat lamb business is our most popular export operation. The latest schedule of 7%d to 42, 7d for seconds and 6V£d for over-weight is very satisfactory to anyone having late lambs to get away. Unfortunately, owing to the dry weather, lambs have not been fattening very well lately, so that not many sheep farmers will be able to take advantage of the most recent schedule. However, store lambs that have been bought early in the season should soon be coming on to the market and will receive the benefit of the rise. In the cattle section very little business has been clone. Beef, of which only email quantities of prime cattle arc coming forward, is still holding its own. while no decent yardings of store cattle are in sight. Although extra large quantities of pigs have been handled this year, prices, especially for heavy bacqners, still remain firm, and there are indications of a further improvement. At Westfleld. There was again a firm tone at Westficld market yesterday. Beef was in short supply, and the entry was readily cleared at full late rates. Values of calves were irregular, with an easing towards the close of the sale. The entry of fat sheep was below requirements, and prices showed a further firming, - a remark which also applies to lambs. A full yarding of pigs sold readily at late rates. The range of prices, together with those ruling the previous week, wns as follow: — Tills Week. Last Week. BEEP (per iOOlb) — Extra choico ox 25/ 25/ Choice onfl primo ;• •' „. : ox ! 22/ to 24/ 21/ to 24/ Choice nnd prime cow and lieh>r 20/ to 24/ 20/ to 24/ Boner and rough 10/ to 10/ 10/ to 10/ SHEEP (per head) — Prime wethers. 21/ to 20/ 21/ to 28/ Unlin. 18/ to 20/0 3 5/6 to 20/ PrVno ewes ... 18/ to 21/ 14/ to 20/ Unliulsliorl ewes 4/9 to 15/0 3/ to 13/0 Prime lambs .. 17/ to 27/ 3G/Cto24/(i Unfinished lambs 10/0 to 10/ 14/ to li>/<; CALVES (per head) — Runners 30/ to 71/ 30/ to 83/ Vealers 10/ to 01/ 14/ to bl/ TIGS (perhead)— Baconers 55/ toSl/ 53/ to SO/ Porkcra 34/ to r,o/ . 34/ to 49/ WeancTß 4/ to 12/ 3/ to 0/ Slips 10/ to 17/ 10/ to 17/ Large stores .. 18/ to 23/ 18/ to 23/ DALQETY AND COMPANY. Dalgety and Company, Limited, reBeef.—We yarded 73 head of beef, comprising 25 steers and 48 cows and heifers, against 149 head last week. The quality was well up to standard, and the shorter yarding accounted for a keen demand, with

values very firm at late rates. Well-finished young cows and heifers eold freely and realised very full late rates. Extra choice os sold to 25/ per 1001b; choice and prime, 22/ to 24/; just killable, 18/ to 21/; primo young cow And heifer beef, 21/ to 24/; just killable, 16/ to 20/. Heavy prime steers, £8 10/ to £9 2/6; lighter prime, £8 to £8 5/; light prime, £6 15/ to £7 17/6; small and unfinished, £3 5/ to £6 12/6. Extra heavy prime young cows and heifers, £6 to £7 7/6, for cows from the Matarawa Land Company, Putaruru; heavy prime, £5 to £5 17/6; lighter prime, £4 to £4 17/6; other killable cows, £1 15/ to £3 17/6.

Sheep.—Sheep were penned in under average numbers, for which the demand was keen, and a brisk sale resulted, with values ruling very firm. Extra heavy prime wethers, 26/6 to 27/3; heavy prime, 25/6 to 26/3; medium prime, 24/ to 25/3; light and unfinished, 22/ to 23/9; heavy prime ewes, 16/9 to 17/6; lighter prime, 15/3 to 16/6; other ewes, 13/ to 15/. Lambs.' —A small yarding of lambs sold under good competition at full late rates. Heavy prime lamb, 21/ to 22/6; medium prime, 19/6 to 20/9; light prime, 17/ to 19/. Calves. —Calves were yarded in average numbers. Competition was steady and all classes sold at values on about a par with last week's quotations. Heavy vealers, £2 10/ to £2 18/; medium, £2 to £2 8/; light, £1 8/ to £1 15/; rough calves, 10/ to 15/; bobby calves, 3/ to 6/. Pigs.—PigH were again yarded in full numbers, selling under steady competition at late rates. Heavy baconers, £3 15/ to £3 18/; medium, £3 7/ to £3 11/; light, £2 15/ to £2 19/; heavy porkers, £2 6/ to £2 8/; medium, "£2 J/ to £2 4/: light, £1 14/ to £1 18/; email and unfinished, £14/ to £1 11/.

ALFRED BUCKLAND AND SONS. Alfred Buckland and Sons, Limited, report:— Beef.—Our total yarding of beef numbered 241 head, as against. 174 head last week, comprising 92 steers and 149 cows and heifers. The quality throughout the yarding of ox beef was good arid values! remained firm at last .week's prices. The cow nnd heifer pens were well filled, competition was keen, for anything showing quality and values were firm at late rates. Extra choico ox sold to £1 5/ per 1001b; choice and prime ox, £1 2/ to £14/; secondary and plain ox, 18/ to £1; prime young cow and heifer beef, 17/ to £1; ordinary cow beef, 10/ to 15/; extra heavy prime steers ranged in price from £0 10/ to £10 7/6; 15 steers from Mr. Ben Keeil, Wacrenga, averaged £9 5/; 8 from MrAlex Orr, Hoteo, averaged £0 2/6; heavy prime, £8 10/ to £9 5/; lighter prime, £7 12/6 to £8 5/; light prime, £6 15/ to £7 7/6; small and unfinished, £5 5/ to £6. Extra heavy prime young cows and ! heifers, £6 5/ to £7 2/6; heavy primo, £4 15/ to £5 10/: lighter prime, £3 to £3 15/; other killable cowe, £1 7/6 to £2 5/. Sheep.—Sheep weje yarded to the number of 1054. BiddiliK for all classes was brisk, with wethers remaining firm at last week's advanced prices, while ewes again firmed by about 1/ per head on last week's sale. Extra, heavy prime wethers, £1 0/6 to £1 8/; heavy prime, £1 4/9 to £1 6/; medium to heavy prime, £1 3/ to £1 4/6; lijjht to medium prime. £1 1/ to £1 2/6: unfinished. 18/6 to £1. Extra heavy prime young ewes. 10/ to £1 1/; heavy prime. 17/ to 18/6; lighter prime, 15/ to 16/9: other killable owoe, 13/6 to 14/6; other ewes, 4/9 to 11/6. Lambs.—Lambs were yarded in smaller numbers and Bold freely at late rates (194 lambs sold). Extra heavy prime lambs, £1 2/6 to £1 3/6; heavy prime, £1 1/ to £1 2/; lighter primo, 18/0 to £1: light primo. 16/6 to 18/; small and plain, 10/6 to 15/.

Calves.—Fat and vnunir calves were in average supply. Bidding was steady throughout the sale, with values a trifle easier. TJurmci'S made £1 14/ to £3 0/; heavy Vealers, £2 0/ to £2 !">/; medium, £1 18/ to £2 3/: lißlit. £1 5/ to £1 10/; small. 10/ to 16/: unfinished and DUCKetfod, 6/ to 12/: bobby calves, 2/ to 5/ (211 calves were Fold). Pigs.—-We had n full yarding of pigs Competition wan again strong and ill classes sold readily lit fully Inet salens rates. Choppers made £1 14/ to £3; heavy prime baconers, £3 16/ to £4 1/; 28 prime baconers from Glondeno Farm, Henderson, averaged £3 17/0: medium baconers. £3 8/ to £3 11/; licht. £2 15/ to £2 10/; heavy porkers. £2 8/ to £2 10/-, medium. £2 2/ to £2 5/; light, £1 15/ to £1 18/; small and unfinished. £1 II to £1 10/. Good stores. £1 to £1 5/: slips, 12/ to 14/; wearers. 6/ to 9/. Bnpnnrrs ami norkern realised an avernao of 5%d to fi%d per lb. A total of 577 pigs was sold.

LOAN AND MERCANTILE. The K#w Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Co.| Ltd., reports:— Beef.—We had an average entry of beef. Competition was keen and values wetfe very firm, with quotations on a par with lapt week's sale. Extra choice ox sold to £15/ per IOOlb; choice and prime, £1 1/ to £1 4/; ordinary and plain, 16/ to £1: prime young row and heifer beef, £1 to £1 4/; ordinary cow beef, 15/ to 10/. Extra heavy prime steers ranged in price from .CIO to £10 12'G; heavy prime. £0 to £9 17/6; lighter prime. £8 to £8 17/6; lighi primo, £7 to £7 17/6: unfinished and small, £5 to £6 17/6. Extra heavy prime young cows and heifers, £6 to £7 12/6: heavy prime. .Co to £5 17/6; lighter, £4 to £4 17/6; light COWS, £2 10/ to £.'J 15/; other cows, £1 to £2 of. Prime steers

from Mr. J. Rogers, Maungaturoto, ! realised up to £10 12/6; from Mr. Alex Orr, Hoteo, up to £10 7/6; from Mr. Robt. Clark, Wajau Pa, up to £10 2/6; from Mr. R. E. Grieve, Tarawera, up to £9 17/6; prime cows from Messrs. Judd Bros., Maungaturoto, up to £7 12/6. Sheep.—Our entry of sheep was an average one. Competition was keen and values improved about 1/ on last week's sale. Heavy prime wethers, £1 7/6 to £1 9/ for wethers from Mr. A. Orr, Hotco; medium prime, £1 6/ to £1 7/3; light prime, £1 3/ to £1 5/0; small and unfinished, 18/ to £1 2/6. Heavy prime ewes, 19/ to £1 1/; medium prime, 17/6 to 18/9; light prime, 16/ to 17/3; inferiorly fatted, 7/G to 14/. , . . Lambs.—We had a smaller entry of fat lambs, with values improving on last week's sale. Extra prime lambs from Mr. H J. Gaskill, Rama Rama, realised up to £1 7/; heavy prime, £1 4/ to £1 6/6; medium, £1 to £1 3/; light, 17/ to 19/6. Wo had a large entry of store lambs, which sold readily at late rates. Best, 12/6 to 16/9; others, 8/6 to 12/. Pigs.—The yarding of pigs was hardly up to average numbers. Competition was keen throughout, values being very firm on late quotations. Choppers sold from £1 10/ to £4; heavy and medium baconers, £3 13/ to £4; light baconers and heavy porkers, £2 15/ to £3 10/; medium porkers and lif-rht porkors, £2 5/ to £2 13/; sma.ll, £ 1 9/ to £2 2/. Store pigs sold at late rates. Large stores, £1 to £1 3/; slips, 10/ to 19/; weanei'B, 4/ to 12/. _ Calves.—Calves were penned in average numbers. Values were well up to last week's quotations, but eased at end ot sale. Runners, £1 10/ to £3 11/; heavy vealers £2 10/ to £3 1/; medium, £2 to £2 »/; light £1 10/ to £1 18/; smaller, £1 to £1 8/; small find fresh dropped, 3/ to 18/; rough calves, 7/ to 14/. THE ADDINGTON MARKET. HEAVY ENTRIES OF SHEEP. EFFECTS OF DRY SPELL. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) N CIIRISTCHURCH, Wednesday. Entries were l#avy in all claeeee of etock at the Arlington eulo to-day owing to the dry weather forcing euppliee, which ordinarily would be kept on the tarm for further iattening, into the market. Store Lambs.—There were heavy entries, mostly backward station drafts. Good rape lambe made to 16/6; medium, 13/ to 15/9; ordinary store, 10/ to 12/6; cull, 6/ to 9/9; medium three-quarterbred e 'sTo'ro°Sheep.-The entry was mostly old ewee, which were easier. Good ewee 6old II a head better. Good two-tooth Lomedale ewee, 26/ to 27/3; ordinary four and nix-tooth «a*bred. M/ 3 to 23/; ordmary sound-mouth croaebred, to 18/6; good t«tooth half bred, to 28/(5; ordinary. 21/7; inferior sound-mouth halfbred to 16/6, sound and full-mouth, 10/ to 13/: aged, 5/1 to 8/6; two-tooth halfbred wethers, to 15/11; backward halfbred,. 12/11 tn 14/. Fat Lambe.-An entry of 3700 was penned. Good lambe maintained last week's values. Beet, 28/ to 30/10; good, 24/ to 27/; medium, 21/(3 to 23/6; others, 'Fat* Sheep.—The yarding was 5200. The bulk wae indifferently-conditioned eaves. Wethers and best ewes maintained recent values but interior ewee were easier by 1/ to' 1/6 a head. Extra prime heavy wethers made to 28/10; prime heavy, 23/ to 25/: medium, 21/ to 22/6; medium quality' 18/ to 20/6; light, to 17/; extra prime heavy ewee, to 21/10; prime heavy 17/0 to 20/; prime medium, 14/6 to 17/, ordinary, 11/ to 13/; light, to 10/6 Fat Cattle—The entry totallctl 505. racstlv of indifferent quality. v aluee were "down by 10/ a head. Best steer end heifer beef sold at up to 23/6 per 1001b; good, 10/ to 22/; heavy, 16/6 to 1//6; secondary, 13/6 to 14/6; rough, down to Fat Pigs.—There was a good demand throughout, the entry being of better quality. Purchases for export numbered 125, including baconers as well as porkers. Choppers made £2 to £4 16/; light baconoifi, 45/ to 53/6; heavy, 57/6 to 64/6; extra heavy. C7'6.U> £3 13/6. The average price per'lb wnfe SU. to 5%d. Parkers made 32/ to 36/6; heavy, 38/6 to 42,6. The average price per lb was 5%d to 6d. MID-WEEK SALE AT FEILDING. CATTLE VALUES QUIET. , SHEEP IN STEADY DEMAND. All sheep sold at a Steady level at Feilding yesterday, when the sale was held in the middle of the week owing to the ewe fair on Friday. On the other hand, cattle were in dull demand and few sales were made. Values were as under;' — Store Sheep.—Best quality black-faced rape lambs and all forward lambs made attractive prices, but the market wag dull for other sorts. The ewe entry was short and Of mostly aged sorts which sold on a duality basis. Well-forward rape lambs, 10/1 to 17/6; good, 15/ to 15/9; goodconditioned blnck-faced ditto, 15/3 to 15/9; others, 11/ to 14/8; small, 10/ to 12/9; good wether lambs, 15/3; inferior, U/6; forward lines mixed sex lambs, 17/6; goodconditioned, IS/, 15/5; average run, 12/6 to 13/0; small ewe lambs, 14/3; aged brooding owes, fair mouths, 16/4; cull ewes, 0/ to 10/10. Fat Sheep.—The short entry caught the market empty and butchers competed keenly for supplies. Practically all the yarding was in prime condition and a good sale resulted. Heavy prime lambs, 23/0, 24/; good, 21/. 22/; others, 19/ to •JO/6; extra prime black-faced two-tooths, 24/4; very good, 23/4; prime heavy maiden ewes, 22/4 to 23/9; medium prime, 20/6 to 21/6; good-conditioned ewes, 17/7; others. 15/ to 16/3; extra heavy wethers, 26/7; good, 24/1, 24/7; light, 21/9. Fat Cattle.—Practically Only dairy breeds were on offer and prices according to weight, ruled. Competition was not very brisk and ohly finished sorts -were wanted. Light dairy heifers, £2 5/; good Hrrofoi'd bullocks, £6; best heavy cows, £4 1/; good weights, £3 7/6, £3 10/; fair, £2 17/6; others, £1 17/6 to £2 10/. Store Cattle.—There was little to attract in either this section or the dairy market, the market accordingly being dull. Cattle obviously are off.demand and will likely be so until the rain comes. Heavy boner cows made to £1, with lighter sorts from 16/ to 18/. Good cows in milk sold at £3 7/6, with plainer sorts at £2 10/, while springing heifers reached £2 5/.

HASTINGS VALUES IMPROVE

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.) HASTINGS, Wednesday. There was a much smaller entry Of 114 fat, cattle at the Stortford Lodge sale, an 1 a decided improvement in prices resulted. Female beef appreciated to the greatest extent, values rising about 20/ a head, while bullocks improved to a smaller degree, as the rates ruling on the latter clase of stock have been maintained at fairly good levels because o£ the export competition. , , . , . The entry of 149 store cattle, -which included chiefly bullocks, met with a steady sale, with a good local demand. A ehort entry of 300 fat eheep, principally ewes, sold at improved rates, «wee riehijj 2/ to 3/ a head, with wethers and lambs not affected to such an extent. .buyers monopolised the market. A moderate offering of store sheep met with an improved demand as the result of the recent rains, ewe values rising considerably from ]/(i to 2/6 a head, with fattening lines of ewes, wethers and lambs also firmer. The total entry of all sections was the smallest for some time. Quotations: —Bullocks, medium prime, to £3; Others, from £5 18 "1; cows, medium prime, to £5 15/j others' from £2 16/; heifers, medium prime, to £5 9/; others, from £4 2/6; forward bullorks, to £6 5/; store bullocks, to £4 15/. Fat ewes, medium to prime, 10/ to 21/; others from 14/7; wetbere, medium to prime, 23/ to 24/; others, from 21/; lambs, to 21/7; two and four-tooth ewes, to 22/3; five and ebt>year, to 17/10; aged, to 15/; wethers, to 21/3; black-fftee lambs, to 15/7; Romney lambs, to \i/10.