LIVE STOCK MARKET

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 50, 28 February 1935, Page 27

LIVE STOCK MARKET

EXPORT VALUE LOWER IMPROVED PASTURES. STORE SHEEP IN KEEN DEMAND. During the past week the export markets have gone against New Zealand. Butter has shown a further easing and is now down to S3/, and Tooley Street advises that the "market is slow. However, last week's consumption was good with 2345 tons delivered, while stocks on hand, 7064 tons, are not out of the wa3', particularly as shipments from now on will be lighter. Total stocks of all butters in store in the United Kingdom on 22 were estimated at 466,000, which is almost 300,000 less than at this time last year, so that the market should not slip much further. At Smitlifield, New Zealand meat has declined in price, due to the fact that the market is overloaded with all classes of meat. Export values on the whole are lower, but beneficial rains have transformed the appearance of the countryside, and, on balance, farmers are in a better position than they were a few weeks back. Of conditions in the province, our Waikato correspondent writes:— There is no doubt that the Waikato has been transformed since the ram. A few weeks ago the whole countryside was dry and brown, whereas to-day it is extremely green, although in most instances the grass is not long. However, with a few more days of warm weather pastures will be gradually improved.

Undoubtedly a number of sheep farmers made the error of not buying their requirements early. Certainly the prices seemed high, but those ruling at recent sales have been considerably higher, and also the quality of the sheep has not been nearly so good as those offering at the earlier sales. There are still weekly consignments of East Coast ewes arriving, and each sale sees new buyers just as keen to make purchases as those operating at previous sales. Store lambs are still showing an improvement, and new owners are found for all that are yarded. Store wethers, however, have been a trifle disappointing, although when their price is taken into comparison with those realised for fat sheep there is not a great deal of difference. In the cattle section beef is holding its own, and in the case of ox beef it would not be surprising to see well-finished cattle in short supply during the next few weeks.

So far practically no store cattle are coming forward, and with the flush of feed a yarding of good quality cattle would meet with a good reception.

A further drop has been announced in the pig schedule, which no doubt will have a steadying effcct on the yardings of both baconers and porkers.

AT WESTFIELD. A larger yarding of fat cattle, comprising about 800 head, met with a keen demand at Westfield yesterday, and was disposed of at about late rates. Calves were above requirements, and declined about 2/ a head. Fat sheep were in short supply, and priccs advanced from 2/ to 3/ per head. Fat lambs sold readily at recent quotations. There was a smaller entry of pigs. Porkers held at late values, but baconers were again easier. The range of prices, together with those ruling the previous week, was as follow:— This Week. Week. BEEF (per 1001b)— Extra choice ox . 25/ 25/ Choice and prime ox 20/ to 24/ 20/ to 24/ Choice nnd prime cow and heifer 19/ to 24/ 20/ to 24/ Boner and rough . 10/ to IS/ 12/ to IS/ SHEEP (per head) — Prime wethers ... 23/ to 31/ 21/G to 29/ Unfinished wethers IS/ to 22/ C IS/ to 21/3 Prime ewes 17/ to 22/(3 16/3 to 22/ Unfinished ewes . 5/ to 10/fi ,i/3 to 10/ Prime lambs 17/ to 27/9 10/6 to 20/6 Unfinished lambs . 10/ to lti/ti 13/ to 16/3 CALVES (per head)— Runners 32/ to SO/ 30/ to So/ Vealers 16/ to 04/ IS/ to 70/ PIGS (per head) — Baconers 51/ to 76/ 53/ to 7S/ Porkers 34/ to 4s/ 34/ to 49/ Weaners 3/ to 11/ 3/ to 10/ Slips 10/ to IS/ 11/ to .15/ Large stores 20/ to 2S/ IS/ to 23/

DALGETY AND COMPANY. Dalgcty and Company, Limited, report: Beef.—We yarded 208 head of beef, comprising 21 steers and 187 cows and heifers, against 140 head last week. The quality of the ox beef was first class and, selling under a good demand, values ruled very firm. A big yarding of cows and heifers included a large number of well-finished cattle, which sold at firm rates. Extra choice ox sold to 25/ per 1001b; choice and prime, 22/ to 24/; just killable, 18/ to 21/; prime young cow and heifer beef, 21/ to 24/; just killable, 16/ to 20/. Heavy prime steers, £9 to £9 12/6; lighter prime," £8 to £8 17/6; light prime, £7 to £7 17/6; small and unfinished, £5 10/ to £6 17/6. Extra heavy prime young cows and heifers, £6 12/6 to £7 2/6, for heifers from Mr. J. A. Hill, Hoe-o-tainui; heavy prime, £5 10/ to £6 10/; lighter prime, £4 10/ to £5 7/6; other killable cows, £1 15/ to £4 7/6.

Sheep.—Sheep were penned in small numbers and prime sheep were in very short supply. As a result values were decidedly better, with rates for wethers fully 2/ to 3/ per head improved on late rates. Ewes also found a ready market, with values improved fully 3/ to 4/ per head. Heavy prime wethers, 28/ Dto '29/3; medium prime, 26/6 to 28/6; light and unfinished, 24/ to 26/3; heavy prime ewes, 20/ to 22/6; lighter prime, 18/ to 19/9; other ewes, 14/ to 17/9. Lambs.—A small entry of lambs drew good competition and realised full late rates. Heavy prime lamb, 21/ to 22/6; medium prime, 19/6 to 20/9; light prime, 18/ to 19/3; plain, 16/ to 17/0; others, 12/ to 15/9. Calves. —A heavy yarding of calves was penned, the bulk of the otfering comprising good quality vealers. Competition was steady, but values ruled a little easier than last week's rates. Runners, £3 to £3 16/; heavy vealers, £2 10/ to £2 17/; medium, £1 19/ to £2 6/; light, £1 6/ to £1 14/; rough, 9/ to 15/; bobby calves, 3/ to 6/. Pigs.—Pigs were yarded in shorter numbers. Competition for baconers and heavy porkers was not so keen and values eased. Medium and light porkers sold at lace rates. Heavy baconers, £3 12/ to £3 16/; medium, £3 1/ to £3 7/; light, £2 11/ to £2 15/; heavy porkers, £2 5/ to £2 7/; medium, £2 1/ to £2 4/; light, £1 14/ to £1 17/; small and unfinished, £1 1/ to £1 10/.

ALFRED BUCKLAND AND SONS. Alfred Buckland and Sons, Limited, report:— Beef.—We yarded fat cattle to the number of 253 head, as against 236 head last week, comprising 62 steers and 191 cows and heifers. There was a keen demand throughout the sale of ox beef and values remained firm at late quotations. Cows and heifers were yarded in large numbers and competition was less keen, with the result that prices eased slightly on last week's sale. Extra choice ox sold to £1 5/ per 1001b; choice and prime, £12/ tj £1 4/; secondary and plain, 18/ to £1; prime young cow and heifer beef, 18/ to £1; ordinary cow beef, 10/ to 15/. Extra heavy prime steers ranged in price from £10 to £10 12/6; heavy prime, £9 to £9 15/; lighter prime, £S to £8 15/; light prime, £7 to £7 15/; small and unfinished, £5 10/ to £6 10/. Extra heavy prime young cows and heifers, £7 to £8 2/6; heavy prime, £5 to £6 5/; lighter prime, £3 to £4; other killable c-ows, £1 10/ to £2 SJ.

Sheep.—Sheep were penned to the num-! ber of 1147. _ The yarding included many | lines of unfinished sheep, which sold freely at late rates. Prime wethers and ewes again showed an improvement on recent sales. Extra heavy prime wethers, £1 7/6 to £1 9/6; heavy prime, £1 5/ to £1 6/9; medium to heavy prime, £1 3/ to £1 4/6; light to medium prime, £1 1/6 to £1 2/9; unfinished, 17/ to 19/6. Extra heavy prime young ewes, £1 to £1 2/; heavy prime, 17/6 to 19/; lighter prime. 16/ to ; 17/; other killable ewes, 14/ to 15/6; other , ewes, 5/ to 11/6. Lambs. —Lambs were yarded in small numbers. Competition was keen, with values remaining firm at late quotations (239 lambs sold). Three extra choice lambs from Miss Ruth Kirkbride averaged £1 8/9; extra heavy prime lambs, £1 3/3 to £15/; heavy prime, £1 1/ to £1 2/; lighter prime, 18/6 to £1; light prime, j 16/ to 17/6; small and plain, 10/ to 13/6. | Calves. —We had a large entry of calves. ; The demand was slack and values were : lower by 2/ to 4/ per head. Runners made £1 12/ to £5 1/ for a particularly, prime Shorthorn heifer from Mr. W. j Blowes, Omaua; heavy vealers, £2 3/ to £2 14/; medium, £1 18/ to £2 5/; light, : £1 7/ to £1 11/; small, 10/ to 16/; bucket- ! fed and unfinished, 6/ to 12/; bobby calves, j a/ tn 6/ (204 palves wpi-p Knlrll

Pigs.—Tliere was also a smaller yarding of pigs. Competition for baconers was again easier and our quotations show a further decline. Porkers sold at about last week's rates. Choppers, £1 15/ to £3 S/; heavy prime baconers, £3 11/ to £3 16/; medium, £3 3/ to £3 7/; light. £2 11/ to £2 15/; heavy porkers, £2 6/ to £2 8/; medium, £2 1/ to £2 4/; light, £1 14/ to £1 17/; small and unfinished, £1 to £1 10/. Stores made up to £1; slips, 12/ to 14/; weaners, 5/ to S/. Baconers realised an average of 5%d to 5%d per lb, and porkers S'/jd to 5%d per lb. A total of 415 pigs was sold.

LOAN AND MERCANTILE. I The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile] Agency Company, Ltd., report:— i Beef.—Our yarding of both ox and cow j and heifer beef was larger than for some weeks. There was a ready demand for, good quality cattle, which sold at late rates. Plain and poor quality cows were inclined to be easier. Extra choice ox j sold to £15/ per 1001b; choice and prime, i £1 to £1 4/; ordinary and plain, 16/ to] 19/; prime young cow and heifer beef,) £1 to £1 4/; ordinary cow beef, 14/ to! 19/. Extra heavy prime steers ranged in : price from £9 15/ to £10 10/; heavy prime, £S 15/ to £9 12/6; lighter prime, £7 15/ to £8 12/6; light prime, £6 12/6 to £7 12/6; unfinished and small, £4 to £6 10/; extra heavy prime young cows and heifers, £6 10/ to £7 10/; heavy prime, £5 12/6 to £6 7/6; lighter, £4 5/ to £5 10/; light cows, £2 15/ to £4 2/6; other cows, £15/ to £2 10/; prime steers, from Mr. W. J. Ralph, Mahuta, realised £10 10/; prime cows from Mr. Fred Alley, of Opotiki, realised £7 10/. I Sheep.—We had a small yarding of sheep. There was a keen demand, and values improved 2/ to 3/ per head. Heavy prime wethers, £1 9/ to £1 11/, for sheep fatted by Mr. A. Orr, Hoteo; medium prime, £1 7/ to £1 8/9; light prime, £1 4/ to £1 6/9; small and unfinished, £1 1/ to £1 3/9; heavy prime ewes, £1 1/6 to £1 2/6; medium prime, £1 to £1 1/3; light prime, 17/ to 19/9;, interiorly fatted, 8/ upwards. Lambs. —Lambs penned in small numbers also sold readily. Heavy prime, £1 5/ to £1 7/9; medium prime, £1 2/ to, £1 4/9; light prime, IS/ to £1 1/9; un-, finished, 10/ to 16/6. _ _ j Pigs.—There was again an easing off in ; the numbers or pigs yarded. Values for porkers were maintained, while baconers again eased in values. Choppers sold from £1 10/ to £3 8/; heavy and medium baconers, £3 8/ to £3 16/; light baconers and heavy porkers, £2 8/ to £3 6./; medium porkers and light porkers, £1 12/ to £25/; small and unfinished, £1 5/ to £1 10/; store pigs sold at late rates; large stores, £1 to £1 8/; slips, 10/ to IS/; weaners, 3/ to 11/'. !

Calves.—There was a heavy yarding of calves, which sold with a decline in values for all classes. Runners, £2 to £3 14/; heavy vealers, £2 6/ to £3 4/; medium, £1 IS/ to £2 4/; light, £1 8/ to £1 16/; smaller, £1 to £1 6/; small and fresh-dropped, 3/ to 16/; rough calves, 5/ to 10/.

CLEVEDON SHEEP FAIR,

The Now Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Ltd., conducted their second sheen fair this year at Clevedon yesterday. Many more than the advertised numbers (1500) were penned, the whole yarding changing hands at prices satisfactory to the vendors. Prices were as follow: Young ewes made from £11/ to £1 6/6; best full-mouth ewes, IS/ to £1 1/; others, 14/ to 17/; aged ewes, suitable for fattening, 10/ to 13/; forwardconditioned lambs, 14/ to 17/; medium. 11/ to 13/; small, 7/ to 10/: one-shear Southdown rams, 4%gs to 6%gs: same age Romney rams, 3gs to sgs: aged rams, Igs to 2',-igs; wethers made £1 to 23/.

PAPAKURA STOCK SALE.

There was an average yarding of cattle; at the Papakura stock sale yesterday, con-! ducted by the Isew Zealand Loan and, Mercantile Agency Co., Ltd. Despite very heavy rain the attendance was good. Mr. J. Hardwick being the auctioneer. Dairy cows and heifers close to profit made from £4 10/ to £5 15/ for the best, town suppliers operating.. Others brought £2 10/ to-£4. Beef cattle were yarded in about average numbers and brought fully Westfield prices. Fat cows, good, made up to £5 10/; others less prime, £2 10/ to £3 15/; boner cows, 15/ to 27/; Jersey calf heifers made up to 30/. There was little demand tor potter bulls, best sorts fetching up to £1. Pigs were not wanted and were hard to quit at 6/ to 7/.

OHURA RAM FAIR,

GOOD PRICES REALISED. (From Our Own Correspondent.) TAUMARUNUI, Wednesday. The annual ram fair was held to-day at Nihoniho in conjunction with the Ohura Agricultural, Pastoral, Horticultural and Industrial Association's twentyfifth annual show, a large attendance of farmers and buyers being present. Over 200 Romney and Southdown rams were offered by Messrs. Dalgety and Company and Messrs. Newton King and Company, and entries were submitted on account of well-known breeders, including Mr. 6. E. Allen (Masterton), Mr. T. S. Mason (Feilding), Mr. F. Romayne (Ohura), Mr. A. McDotigali (Otangiwai). Mr. J. Hannan (Matiere), Messrs. Woods Brothers (Huiroa Road), Mr. T. Struthers (Otangiwai), and Mr. 11. Lilburn (Tatil). The rams were all in excellent condition, and although the bidding was not very spirited the majority of the large yarding was cleared under the hammer at prices satisfactory to the vendors. The following prices were realised:— Southdown.—On account of Mr. G. E. Allen. 4gs, 4%gs, to s%gs; on account Mr. J. Hannan, 4gs, 4 1 /4gs, sgs to G_gs; on account Mr. T. S. Mason, 4gs, sgs, oY2g.s, s%gs, to 6V£gs.

Romnejfs.—On account Mr. G. E. Allen, one-shear, 2gs, 2%gs, S'Ags, sgs, 6gs, 7gs to lOgs; two-shear, 3%gs to 6gs; threesliear, 3%gs to 4gs; four-shear, 3'4gs to 4gs. On account Mr. A. MeDougall, oneshear, 2%gs to 3%gs; on account Mr. F. Romayne, one-shear, 3cs to 4gs; on account Messrs. Woods Bros., 3gs to sgs; on account Mr. H. Lilburn, one-shear, 2%gs to 4gs: on account Mr. T. Struthers, one-shear, 2%gs to 6'/£gs.