LIVE STOCK MARKET

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 198, 22 August 1935, Page 27

LIVE STOCK MARKET

EXPORT TRADE GOOD. FAT SHEEP VALUES RISE. BEEF PRICES ADVANCE. Export markets have continued fairly satisfactory since last review. Smithiieid reports a bi'isk demand for lamb, and also for wether mutton. Xew Zealand porkers are firm and baconere steady. Chilled beer is selling at low prices. In Toolsy Street, butter has eased, after several weeks with a firming tendency, but quotations arc practically unaltered. Cheese is gelling better, and stocks are steadily being reduced. They are now less by 20,000 crates than was the case at this time iast. year. ■ The wool market appears to be in a healthy condition, and there are sound reasons for expecting better, returns for next season's clip than were available for 1934-35. Hides, sheepskins and other ofl'als have a satisfactory market. Weather conditions over the past week have provided a sharp reminder that, despite lengthening days, August i≤ a winter month. Lower temperatures and severe blustering winds will have brought losses of lambs in exposed areas, but on the whole farmers have had little cause to complain of the climate. Stock generally are coming through the winter well, and production during the coming season should be bountiful. At the freezing works the bobby calf trade is at present in full swing, and constitutes the main activity at this time of yea". Of conditions in the country our Waikato correspondent writes: —

The beef section still remains a very bright spot in the stock market, and at all sales values have continued particularly linn. As there still appears to be an under-supply coming forward perhaps even higher values can be looked for. It is really hard to say whether the rise in the last few weeks has been the cause of the continued brisk demand for good , store cattle. Despite the inclement weather it has not been particularly cold, with the result that there has not been any great check to growth, and no doubt both these factors have had a little to do with the keenness in the store market. As stated last week, the demand this season is easily a month earlier than usual. A fair amount of business is still being done in the dairy section but the demand is spasmodic, and buyers are most discriminating in their choice of quality, but, as is usual at this time of the year, few of the good class are coming forward and naturally these are making very failvalues. A week or two of fine weather would no doubt affect this market wonderfully, as a good few dairy cattle-must still be wanted, but owing to the amount of rain recently farmers do not appear.to be in a hurry to fulfil their requirements. Contrary to general opinion, a wonderful improvement has taken place this week in the fat sheep market, although perhaps it would not be wise to predict that prices will remain at the high level they have reached during this week. It is, however, usual at this period of the year for some advance to take place. Perhaps the shorter than usual yarding at the centra* yards has had a little to do with it, but this fact can hardly warrant the substantial difference in prices per head, which m some cases has been as much as 5/. There are still a few store sheep coming forward, but where there are any yarded the demand is always good. _ . A larger volume of business is being done in the pig section, and at practically every centre entries of stores and weaners are being marketed under keen competition.

PRICES AT WESTFIELD. An entry of about 450 head was penned at Westfield yesterday, and proved to be well below requirements. Bidding was keen, and a further advance in prices was recorded. There was an average-yarding of calves, and a brisk sale for * good quality vealers and runners. Fat sheep met keen competition, and values for both wethers and ewes moved up. The entry of pigs was not as large as usual, and the yarding was easily disposed of at about late rates. Une range of prices, together with those ruling the previous week,: was as ■ follows:-r--This "Week. Last Week. BEEF (per 1001b) — '.., . : Extra choice ox, 29/ ' ■ .';; - '27/Choice and prime 25/ - g - -J to<>S/. 22/ to 26/ Boner and rough 18/. to 23/ 15/ to 21/ SHEEP (per head) — Prime wethers.. 24/.. to 3»/ 23/6 to 31/3 TJnfin. wethers . 21/ to 23/9 19/ to 2.3/3 Prime ewes ... 18/ to 24/3 16/ to 23/ Unfin ewes ... 10/ to 17/9 10/ to 15/9 Prime lambs .. 17/9 to 20/ 17/ to 25/9 TJnfin. lambs .. 15/ to 17/G 13/ to 10/0 CALVES (per head) — Runners 50/ to 108/ 45/ to 107/G Vealers 30/ to 80/ 25/ to 74/ PIGS (per head) — Baconers 40/ to 70/ 4G/ to 70/ Porkers 31/ to 46/ 30/ to 40/ "Weaners 7/ to 15/ 7/ to 10/ Slips 14/ to 19/ 17/ to 20/ Large stores .. 20/ to 2S/ 21/ to 29/ LOAN AND MERCANTILE. The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Limited, report:— _ Beef.—We had a smaller entry of beef. Competition was very keen. We report a eharp rise, values being better by 15/ to £1 a head, in odd cases perhaps more. Extra chqice ox sold to £19/ per lOOlb; choice and prime, £1 6/ to £1 8/; ordinary and plain, £1 3/ to £1 5/; prime young cow anti heifer beef, £1 5/ to £1 8/; ordinary cow beef, 48/ to £1 3/. Xo extra heavy prime steers were penned. Heavy prime, £10 5/ to £11 10/; lighter prime, £9 to £10 2/6; light prime, £7 10/ to £8 15/; unfinished and small, £6 to £7 5/. Heavy prime young cows and heifers, £8 to £8 12/6; lighter, £7 to £7 17/6-; light cows, £5 to £6 15/; other cows, £3 10/ to £4 15/. • ■ Sheep.—Our yarding of sheep was less than arT average one. Competition was keen, with values advancing about 1/ for wethers, -and- about 2/ for ewes. Heavy prime wethers, £1 9/ to'£l 11/3; 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 3/ to £1 j 4/3; medium prime, £1 to £1 2/9; light prime. 17/ to 19/9; .interiorly fatted, 10/ to 16/. Heavy prime hoggets, £1 to £1 2/; medium, 18/9 to 19/9; light, 17/9 to 18/6; unfinished, 15.' to 17/6. A few spring lambs -from Mr. Arch. Douglas, Waiuku, realised from £1 5/ to £1 7/6. pigs.—pigg ivere penned in small numbers, and competition was keen, with values very firm on last week's rates. No heavy baconers were penned. Choppers sold from £1 8/ to £2 16/; medium baconers, £2 18/ to £3 4/; light baconers and heavy porkers, £2 7/ to £2 17/; medium porkers and light porkers, £1 5/ to £2 6/. Store pigs were penned in average numbers. Large stores, £1 4/ to £1 8/; slips, 14/ to £1; weaners, 7/ to 15/. Calves.—Calves were penned in good average numbers, and competition was keen, with values in advance of those ruling last week. Runners. £2 15/ to £5 1/; heavy vealers, £3 12/ to £4 6/; medium, £3 2/ to £3 10/; light. £2 10/ to £3 1/; smaller, £1 18/ to £2 9/; small and fresh dropped, 5/ to £1 16/; rough calves, £1 to £1 15/. . . " DALGETY AND COMPANY. Dalgety " and Company, Ltd., report:— ■ Beef.—We yarded. 151 head of beef, i comprising 19 steers and 132 cows and | heifers, against 105 head last week. Ihei quality was fully up to standard, and | the small number of cattle offered I accounted for a very keen demand, and j a sharp rise in value. We yarded no extra heavy steers. Extra choice ox sold to 29/ per": 1001b: choice and. prime, 2.7/ to 28/;. just killable, 22// to 24/; prime young covr and heifer beef, 24/ to 28/; just killable. 18/ to .23/. Light prime steers. £8 10/ to £8 17/6; small and unfinished, £5 15/ to £8 5/. Extra heavy prime young cows and heifers. £8 15/ 'to £10 5/. for heifers from Mr. V. H. Nolan, Cambridge; heavy prime,

£7 to £8 10/; lighter prime, £6 to £6 17/6; other killable cows, £4 to £5

Sheep.—The offering of sheep was only a moderate one, with few lines of good quality. Selling under a steady demand values improved slightly on last week's .quotations. Extra heavy prime wethers, 30/; heavy prime, 27/6 to 28/6; medium prime, 25/6 to 26/6; light and unfinished, 21/9 to 25/; heavy prime ewes, 18/0 to 19/9; lighter prime, 17/ to 18/6; other ewes, 14/6 to 16/6.

Lambs.—An average yarding of lambs was penned, and values ruled fully on a par with last week. Heavy prime lamb, 10,3 to 21/; medium prime, 18/ to 10/; light prime, 17/ to 17/9. Calves.—An average yarding of calves came forward, the bulk of the offering comprising young calvers. The demand was keen, and values show a further improvement on last week's rates. Heavy vealere, £3 to £4: medium. £2 11/ to £2 18/; light, £2 4/ to £29/; smaller, £1 10/ to £1 IS/; rough calvers, 12/ to £15/; bobby calves, -2/ to 8/. Pigs.—Fat pigs were yarded in short numbers Competition was steady, and all classes sold at values firm on late rates. Heavy baconers, £3 1/ to £3 10/• medium, £2 11/ to £2 15/; light, £2" 6/ to £2 9/; heavy porkers, £2 2/ to £2 5/; medium, £1 17/ to - £2; light, £1 10/ to £1 12/; small and unfinished, £1 to £1 1/. ALFRED BUCKLAND AND SONS. Alfred Buckland and Sons, Limited, report: — Beef.—We penned fat cattle to the number of 153 iiead, as against 220 head at last week's market, comprising 61 steers and 92 cows and heifers. Ine ox beef was of excellent quality. Competition was extra, keen and values advanced lor all classes. Extra choice ox sold to Jt'l 9/ per 1001b; choice and prime, £1 6/ to>£l S/j (secondary and plain, £1 2/ to £1 5/; prime young cow .'and heifer beef, fl a/ to £18/; ordinary cow beef, 18/ to £1 4/. Extra heavy iprime steers ranged iu price from £12 to £13; 7 from Messrs. Blackett Bros., Te lvowhui, £12 1/9; 14 from Mr. B. -Heed,. Waerenga, £12 7/2; 10 from Messrs. Hargraves Bros., Batley, £0 12/6; heavy prime, £10 10/ to. £11 15/; lighter prime, £9 5/ to £10 7/6; light prime, £7 10/ to £9 2/6. Extra heavy prime young cows and heifers, £8 to £9; heavy prime, £0 10/ to £7 17/6; lighter prime, £5 5/ to £6 7/6; other killable cows, £2 10/ to £5.

Sheep.—There was a moderate entry of good quality mutton, which sold at improved rates. Ewes advanced about 1/ a. head and wethers 2/ a head. (663 sheep sold.) Extra heavy prime wethers, £1 10/ to £1 12/; a small consignment from Messrs. Hamilton Bros., Whenuakite, made £1 13/9; medium to heavy prime, £1 6/6 to £1 7/6; light to medium prime, £1 5/ to £1 6/3. Extra heavy prime young ewes, £1 2/6 to £1 4/; heavy prime, £1 1/ to £1 2/3; ( lighter prime, 18/0 to £1 0/6; other killable ewes, 10/ to 18/; other ewes, 12/ to 14/6.

Lambs. —Lambs were penned to the number of 203 and found ready buyers. Extra heavy prime lambs, £1 4/ to £1 6/; heavy prime, £1 2/ to £1 3/9; lighter prime, £1 to £1 1/9; small and plain. 10/6 to 18/9.

Calves. —We had fully an average yarding of calves. Bidding was spirited and a particularly brisk sale resulted, at improved rates. Kunners made £2 10/ to £5 8/; heavy vealers. £3 14/ to £4; medium, £2 13/ to £3; light, £2 0/ to £2 10/; smaller, £1 10/ to £1 18/; unfinished and bucket-fed, 18/ to £1 8/; bobby calves, 3/ to 8/ ; (235 calves were sold.)

Pigs.—There was a smaller offering of pigs. The demand for baconers was about equal to last week, while porkers were in firm request at slightly higher values. The quality of the stores was poor, and prices lower- Choppers made £2 5/ to £3 6/; heavy prime baconers, £3 3/ to £3 8/ (one made £3 14/); medium, £2 11/ to £2 13/; light, £2 6/ to £2 8/; heavy porkers, £2 3/ to £2 0/; medium, £1 18/ to £2 1/; light, £1 11/ to £1 14/; small and unfinished, £1 3/ to £1 8A stores, 19/ to £1 2/; slips, 14/ to 16/; weaners, 8/ tor ii/; "BOWS due to farrow, £2 2/6 to £4 2/0; baconers sold at 5d to 5%d per lb, and porkers, 5%d to 5%d. (A total of 241 pigs was sold.) ADDINGTON MARKET. PAT CATTLE PRICES EASIER. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, Wednesday. A heavy entry of fat cattle to-day at the Addington market caused an easing in prices of from 3/ to 4/ per 1001b. I , at sheep also were slightly easier, as were a"ed.; Store ewes maintained their values. . Store sheep and Romney-cross ewe hopgets sold at from 2S/ to 20/11, and half bred to 27/. Sound-mouthed ewes sold at up to 25/1, and forward wethers to 21/. Fat Sheep.—There were 4600 penned. There was an over-supply of wethers, and these eased by 1/ to 1/6 a head. Good and medium ewes showed little change, but light ewes were easier. Best wethers made.from 27/6 to 31/4; good, from 24/ to 27/; average, to 23/6., Good ewes sold at from 22/6 to 25/; medium, 19/ to 22/; others, to 18/. '

Fat Cattle.—There were 644 penned, including entries from Poverty Bay, South West-land, South Otago and Southland. Values were down by 30/ a head. Best beef made from 26/6 to 28/6 and good from 24/ to 26/. Extra prime heavy steers, to £34 7/6; prime heavy, £9 10/ to £11 5/; prime medium-weight, £8 5/ to £10 5/ ordinary, £5 15/ to £7 15/; extra prime heifers, to £10 2/6; prime, £u 5/ to £7 10/; ordinary, £4 to £5; extra !prime cows, £9 2/6; prime, £5 to £6 10/T ordinary, £3 15/ to £4 15/. Fat Pigs.—The entry was .large and there was a good sale. Porkers brought 23/ to 30/- heavy porkers, 30/6 to 39/6; average price per'lb, 5%d to 6d. Baconers made 50/ to £3; heavy baconers, £3 2/6 to £3 10/6; extra heavy baconers, to £j 17/; choppers, 30/ to £4 10/; average price, 5%d to sMsd per lb. STORTFORD LODGE SALE. (By Telegraph .—-Tress Association.) HASTINGS, Wednesday. Quality cattle were at a premium in the fat cattle section at to-day's sale at fcstortford Lodge, the prices realised for good lines of cows and heifers showing an advance of up to 10/ on last week, lne entry totalled 35G head. Store cattle made rates on parity to improved, with quality somewhat mixed. Fat sheep were in short supply, and prices rose 1/ to 1/6 a head on ewes, wethers and lambs being steady to firmer. Store sheep were in moderate supplv, and made late rates on ewes, hoggets 'being easier, \ritk quieter demand. Values were:—

Fat Cattle.—Bullocks, medium to prime, £9 to £11 12/; others, from £6 14/; cows, medium to prime, £5 10/ to £6 18/; others," from £4; heifers, medium to prime, £6 to £7 15/; store cattle, steers, to £5 2/4 bullocks, to £6 S/6; heifers, to £3 12/6.

Fat Sheep.—Ewes, medium to prime, 15/ C to 18/4; others, from 13/6; wethers, 19/U to 25/; hoggets, 19/ to 22/10; store sheep, ewes, to 22/; ewe hoggets, to 24/; wether hoggets, to 20/6. RUNCIMAN. There was a good yarding at the Runciman stock sale on Tuesday, conducted by Alfred Buckland and Sons, Ltd. Prices were as follows: —Best dairy heifers, close to profit, £5 6/ to £7; Others, £2 10/ to £4 10/; best dairy cows, close to profit, £4 to £5 15/; aged and inferior cows, £2 to £3 5/; light fat cows £3 10//. to £4 10/; light-conditioned cows, 30/ to £2 10/; good young store cows £2 to £2 15/; service bulls, £3 to £3 10/; boner cattle, 18/ to 27/; weaner pigs,, to 17/. ...

New deliveries of beautiful spring dress and silk fabrics at Smith and Caii"hey's. Early inspection advised. — (Ad.)