LIVE STOCK MARKET.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 15, 19 January 1939, Page 22

LIVE STOCK MARKET.

WARM RAINS NEEDED.

EXPORT VALUES CHANGE. _____ STORE SHEEP PROSPECTS. .Since last review export markets have fluctuated with »onie changes favouring Dominion producers, and in others proving adverse. The opening of the London wool sales has confirmed tho easier trend noted at recent Dominion miles, cross-breds showing a drop of j per cent compared with closing values at the same fixture in December. KeportM from Sinithfield are to the effect that New Zealand new season's lamb is meeting a good inquiry, but tlie market (CeneriilTy is easier a« a consequence of heavy Australian supplies. For other classes of meat the trend is for slightly lower prices. A welcome contrast is supplied in tlie butter market, as value* have risen eharpl.v. i hietly in consequence of decreased yields in Australia. Weather conditions have been only moderately good, and a icw days of warm rain would be appreciated by mutt fin niers. t>l conditions in the country our Waikutii correspondent writes: - "After many months of idleness the sheep section is showing signs of revival. l.'hi. first consignment of preeding ew«w from Waipukurau was ottered at Morrinsville on Kriday, aged ewes realising up to Mi/3, and from now on a good volume i>l , business is expected to take place. The first of the Uisborne serio* held this week attracted a representative attendance of VVaikHto buyers, but only a small yarding was submitted, a satisfactory clearance being effected at rates below quotations so far received from ()inborne. One pen of extra well-grown two-tooth ewes wan passed in at 22/6, other two-tootiis realising 18/ to 20', whilst the offering of older sheep was very disappointing in quality. Taking the sale generally there appears every indication that Waikato buyers

•ilioiild be able to fill requirement* at very Katittf.ictory price*. Many local nheep fairs are yet to take place, and these combined with the vast quantities arriving every week from the eaet coast should provide ample opportunity to VVaikato tiheepfarmern to naitiefactorily fulfil require-nw-nte during the next month or so. Condition* generally in the ea*t coast and Gwbornn districts are extremely dry. and there must be a big exodus of both sheep and cattle to the Waikato in the near future. All cliuwpn of fat sheep have shown a further slight decHne in value. •tort Cattle Wanted. There exists in the Waikato a good inquiry for store cattle, with very few of this class coming forward to the various saleyards. Weather conditions on the east coast, however, suggest that very eoon plentiful supplies of store cattle will be sent to this district on consignment. During the past week good yardings of both ox nnd cow beef hnve been coming forward, the quality in most ease* being a considerable improvement on that offered at previous sale*. Competition at all centres in steady, firm market rates being fully maintained. Boneix continue to eoinn forward in exceptionally large numbers, although values have declined a little on last week's rate*. A particularly buoyant market exists for fat pig*, which continue to come forward in Targe numbers*. Prime baconens are keenly sought by exporter*, whilst buttermilk buyers appear anxious to fill requirements, end compete freely for all classes miitafble for finishing. Stores and weanei* ere «lso in good demand. HEAVY ENTRY AT WESTFIELD. Prices were easier for most classes of tat stock on the Wcstfield fat etock market yesterday, beef alone being firm in spite of a heavy yarding. Calf values dropped sharply owing to supplies being in excess of butehers r requirement*, and sheep were also in over-supply, selling at lower rates. Demand was slack in the pig section, and a heavy entry of porkers and baconers sold at easier prices. Following in the range of prices, together with last week'*:— TMs Week. Last Week. BBBF (per TOOlb)— Bxtra choice ox 39/ 88/ Choice and prime ox 35/ to 37/ 33/ to 37/ Choice an«l prime row nn<l helfrr 30/ to 3."/ 30/ to 35/ Boner an<l rough 'It/ to 29/ 22/ to 29/ SHKBP (p*r head)— Prime wethers . 15/ to 22/ 16/3 to 24/ ITnltn. wethers. 12/ to l.Vfl 14/ to 17/ Prlmi> ewes .. 0/0 r» 13/(1 S/3 to ie/9 I'nnn. «-w«t .. 2/ to 8/3 1/ to 8/6 Prime lnmhfl . 17/ to 27/ 22/ to 25/3 . L'nfln. lambs . 0/ to 17/ 5/6 to 21/6 CALVES (per head) — Hiinni»re ,"}»/ to 183/ 60/ to 260/ V>ali>nt 3/ to 120/ 3/ to 130/ THIS (per head) — Baconers «3/ to 81/ 64/ toSl/ I'urkers 34/ M> 03/ 30/ to (14/ W>nn«Tn io/ to 27/ 10/ to 25/ Slips 2"/ to 30/ 24/ to 30/ Large storen . 29/ to 38/ 30/ to 38/

ALFRED BUCKLAND AND SONS. Alfred Uuekland and Som, Ltd., report:— Beef.—At our weekly Weetfield fat etock market we penned fat cattle to the number of 'MM head, »m flgainitt 254 head laet week, comprising 102 iiteem and 267 «wi and heifer*. Our yarding of ox beef wax of choice quality, and wold under a keen demand. VnliieM were firm nt late quotation*. A heavy yarding of oowe and heifers iilno met a {food demand at fully Jate rates. Extra choice ox Hold to £1 18/ per 1001b; choice and prime, XI 15/ to £1 17/; •econdary nnd plain. £1 11/ to £1 14/; prime young cow and heifer beef, £ 1 13/ to ~ l I,'' O|,t lin-ary cow beef, £1 2/ to i,l 7/. Kxtra heavy piime Hteem ranged in pnee friwn £13 to £15 15/. The latter price wan for uteert. from Mr. H E Reed Wneretiifu. 12 averajrine £14 6/5 Heitvv' fn y. £\f" ,0/: "■»•*"• «aw7to , JiJliii , * ,^, « 5/ to £12; ™»H and unfinwhed, £„ 10/ to £10; extra heavy prune young cow* nnd heifer*. £9 to £10 I J/e: heavy J7 10/ to £8 10/; lighter £6 5/ to £7; other killable oo WB> £4 jfi/ to t iu 10/. [ ! Sheep - -Sheep were penne.l to the number of 1080. Henvj-weight u«(jher« -were e«eier by alwut 1/ a head, while medium ■were firm at late union, A heavy offerinir of ewee enoed by about II a head. Extra heavy prime wethers, £1 l/e t<> £1 2/h «« v y. fl to £11/; medium to heavy", IS/6 to ID'6: light to medium, 17/ to 18/unflniehed wethere, 14/ to 15/6; extra Jjeavjr prime young ew«, 12/« to 13/;

heavy, 11/e .to 12/; lighter, 10/ to 11/; other kill-able ewee, 7/6 to 91; other ew«e, 1/ to 6/. Lambs.—Our total yarding of lambs numbered 775, and a good eale resulted, with values showing improvement ou recent salee. Extra heavy prime lambs, £1 4/ to £1 7/; heavy, £1 2/ to £1 3/6; lighter, £1 0/6 to £1 1/6; light, 18/ to 19/; small and plain, 5/6 to 16/. Calvee—-We had a heavy yarding of calves. The demand was not eo keen, and values for all classes were easier. Small and bobby calves sold at late rates. Runners made from £7 to £8 5/; plain and unfinished. £4 to £5 15/; heavy prime vcalerw. £5 5/ to £6: medium. £4 5/ to £5; light. £3 8/ to £4 2/; smaller. £2 0/ to £3 2,': small. 18' to £2 2/; unfinished and bucket-fed. 18/ to £18': bobby calve*, 3/ to 15/. A total of 276 calves was sold. Piirs. There wan an extra heavy yarding of pigs. The demand for baeoners was quite steady, but values were a shade easier than last week's quotations. Good quality heavy porkers and suitable buttermilk pig* wold well at late rates, 'while light and unfinished porkers were decidedly easier, especially toward the end of the sale, (iood store pigs nold well at late quotations, but weaneiw were hard to dispose of. Choppers made from £1 15/ to £4; heavy prime baeoners, £3 14' to £3 17 : medium, £3 9 to £3 12/; !i(tht, £3 3/ to £3 7/; heavy porkers. £2 16/ to £3 3/: medium. £2 8/ to £2 14/; light, £2 to £2 6 ; small and unfinished, £1 10/ to £1 18/: lafge stores. £ 1 10/ to £1 16,'; slips, £1 4/ to £1 8': weaners. 10-' to £1: sows with littei-s. £3 10' to £7;' sows in pig. £2 10/ to £3 10/. Raeoners averaged 6V 4 d to 6V 2 d per Ib. and porkers 6%d to 7 , / id per lb. A total of 75!) pigs was sold.

LOAN AND MERCANTILE. The New Zealand Levin and Mercantile Agency Company, Limited, report on the sale as follows: — Beef.- At the West field fat stock market our yai-dii ng of beef was an average one. There was a ready demand, with values very firm al late quotations. Extra choice ox sold to £ \ 18, per lOOlli; choke .and primo, £ 1 13/ to U 1 17, ; ordinal-)' and plain, £ 1 7/ to £ 1 12 : prime young cow and heifer beef, £! 10 to £1 15/; ordinary, £1 3/ to £1 l> ; heavy prime steers, £12 7, (i f> £13 10 ; lighter, £10 17,6 to £12 5/; light, £!) to £10 15/; pkiin and small. £7 t<. £8 15 ; extiu ■heavy prime young cows and heifers, £0 5/ to £10 .>/; heavy, £8 7,6 t<. £9 ;">/; lighter, £7 to £8 5 ; light, £5 10/ to £6 17,6; aged and ipktdn finished cows, £3 10/ to £5 5/'. Sheep.—A large yarding of sheep met a dull demand, and values were 1/ to 2/ a head easier, ewes being .most affected. Heavy prime wethers, £1 to £1 2/ ; medium, 18/ to 10/6; light, 1.5/ to 17/9; smal'l an<l unfinished, 12 to 14'9: heavy, 12/ to 13/6; medium, 11, to 11.0; light, 0/6 to 10,9; just killable, 8/ to 9,3; interiorly futted ewes, 2/ upwaird.t. Lambs. —Lambs in large nuinbein sold to h ready demand at values on a par with }a»t week's sale. Heavy prime, £1 2/ to £1 3,6: medium, 19/ to £1 1/6; light, 17/ to 18, 9; unfinished, best, 11/ to 13, ; otfhors, 6 to 10/6. I'igs.—We had a large yarding of pigs. There was a steady market, but values for porkers and light baeoners were easier. .Medium and heavy baeoneiw' values held at late rates. Choppers sold from £2 to £4 7/; heavy and medium Ikicoivots from £3 10/ to £3 19, ; light lwoonprs and heavy porkers from £2 16/ to £3 8'; medium porkers and light porkers from £2 4/.to £2 14/; small, £1 Iβ to £2 2/. Store pig values were slightly easier. Large stores, £1 12/ to £1 18 ; slips, £1 to £1 10': weaners, 12 to £1 '/. Calves.—-Our entry of calves wax a large one. The man kot was steady, but values were easier on last weeks quotations. Kunners, £2 10/ to £0 7/6; heavy vcalens, £4 10/ to £5 7,; modium. £3 10 to £4 8': light, £3 to £3 8 : smaller, £2" 6/ to £2 18/; small. £1 10. to £2 4 : rou«!h calves, 15/ to £1 5 ; fresh-dropped to three weeks did, 9/ to £ 1 8/. i

DALGETY AND COMPANY. Dalgety and Company, Limited, report: I Beef.—At our weekly Weettield fat stock market our ottering of beef totalled 133 head, comprising 26 steers and 107 cows J aud heifers, against 95 head last week. The quality of the ox beef was h'ret elaes and sold very readily at firm late rates. A good yarding of cow and heifer beef also drew steady competition, and a very firm sale resulted. No extra heavy ox •mas yarded. Extra choice ox sold to 38/ per 1001b; choice and prime ox, 33/ to 37/; just killable, 31/ to 34/; prime young cow and heifer beef, 33/ to 35/; just killable, 23/ to 29/; heavy prime steere, £13 5/ to £14; lighter prime steers. £12 10/ to £13; light, £11 to £11 15/; small and unfinished. £5 17/8 to £10; extra heavy prinfe young cows and heifers, £9 10/ to £11 for a heifer sold on account of Mr. W. Bun-ill, Papatoctoe; heavy, £8 5' to £0 5 : lighter, £7 5/ to £8; light. £<i to £7; other killable cows. £4 to £5 10/. I Sheep.—A big entry of sheep came forI ward. Competition for wethers was I steady and values ruled on a par with last week. There was an over-supply of ewes, and, although the demand was steady, values were decidedly easier than last week. Extra heavy prime wethers, £1 1/e to £12/; heavy, prime, £1 to £1 1/; medium, 19/ to 19,6; light and unfinished, 15/3 to 17/6; heavy prime ewes, 11/ to 12/9; lighter, 9/ to 10/6; other ewes, 4/ to 7/6. Lambs.—A full average entry of lambs sold steadily at values fully on a par with last week. Heavy prime lambs, £1 2/ to £1 3/6; medium, £1 0/6 to £1 1/6; lighter. 18/ to £1; li«ht, 14/ to 17/. Calves.—Calves were yarded in large numbers, there being an over-supply which met with poor «ompetition. Except in an odd case of extra prim? quality, a decided drop in values waa noted on last week's quotations. Rurtiers. £5 to £9 3'; heavy vealers, £4 15/ to £5 18/; medium, £*3 15/ to £4 12/; light. £2 18/ to £3 12/; smaller. £2 to £2 13/; small. £ 1 8/ to £1 18/; unfinished ..|i-l bucket-fed, £1 to £1 8/: bobby calves, 7/ to 14/. Pigs.—Pigs were yarded in full average numbers. The demand for bacon was keen and value** remained firm. For pork an easing of values was noticed on last week's quotations. Heavy baconers. £3 15/ to £4 I/; medium, £3 10/ to £3 13/; light, £3 4/ to £3 8/; heavy porkers, £2 14/ to £2 10/; medium. £2 8/ to £2 12/; light £2 to £2 »/; stores, £1 9/ to £1 18/; slips, £1 3/ to £1 7/; weaners, 10/ to £1.

BTORTFORD LODGE ENTRY.

LARGE YARDIXG OF FAT EWES. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) HASTINGS, Wednesday. The price of fat ewes fell back to the Jevel of a tortiiigfht ago at the Stortford Ljocljte wale to-day. This was caused by tlie improved yarding, the market becoming overtaxed. There was a large entry of two and four-tooth wethers, but in most cases vendors' reserves were too high for buyers, and the majority of tlhese sheep were parsed in.- Store sheep met an improved market for rape lambs of good forward order, but second-rate lines declined ehtflitly. The yai-djng comprised about 9000 lambs, and 200 wethers and ewes, witlh a preponderance of Romnevcroee lambs. Fat cattle met a falling market when a yarding of 231 oam e ionward. Excepting quality lines, cows were not in demand. Ox beef was in short supply. Store oa.ttle were yaixled in small numbers, and not sufficient to quote Good prune ewes ranged from 13/ to 13/10medium sort*, 9/3 to 10/3; ipoor, down to 8/9; maiden ewea, from 14/1 to 186-Down-cross types, 16/ to 17/; tops in w-efchers, 18/6 to 19/3; medium. 17/2 to 17/6; poor and light, from 16/3; lambs, heavy in weight and prime. 22/6 to 24/6; medium, 19/9 to 21/1; light, up to 19'9: good forward rape laml>s, Ronvney-eross, 14/9 to 15,4; medium. 12/ to 13/8; poor and light. 5/10 to 8/; late well-grown hambe, 9,5 to 9/8; ewe Wbs. froni 13/6 to 16/; two and .four-tooth wethers, 16/ to I,'n i °t I"-/- from J 3/U - D°«n-croee \% n ,\ **' *° Wo; Bound«ioutih aged ewes, in w^'JZV, to V 10 ;. ox beef - Vo in? - L-° : prlme *««fere, £8 10/ to £9 10/; eorte, £5 10/ to £6 faaJ*™* , J? 00 * 1 vrime condition, £8 9/ to 19/ ViV^S" ,, ? vealere ' £ 3 a>/ to ifi 12/; otTuere, from £1 11/.

ADDINGTON MARKET,

INCREASED SHEEP ENTRIES. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, Wednesday. Increased entries in all the sheep sections were a feature of the weekly stock market at Addington to-day. The store sheep section wns practically monopolised by lambs, of which about 11,000 were yurded. Best lambs from local districts were bought direct for tihe works at 18/4 and a line of 25:2 North Canterbury lambs sold at a penny more. Medium lambs at irom 12/ to 14/ showed no change in value, ami a big percentage of small and backward sold at from 8/ to 9/, with culls about 6/ to 7/. A pen of four-tooth wethers sold at 15/, ami another at 13/. The first ewes of the seiison from Hhe Chatham Islands were, offered, a. line of 150 four, six, and eiffhttuotili Romney-cross making 22 3. Tlip entry of fat lambs was 3200, comipai<ed witii 2©VH) last week. Quality, however, was not so good in proportion, the butcher*' lambs forward being small. The r-xpoi-t schedule has l>een reduced for this week and up to .'?6lb are now 7V£d per lb. and 3711> to 421b 7 1 /4 d. Exporters operated actively at these rates for medium and lighter lambs, and for lambs that suited the local triwle butchers .paid another farthing. The entry of fat sheep comprised about 5000. Quality was mixed, the proportion of prime being limited.

With heavier entries the rates of last week were not maintained, although the difference over the first part of the sale was small for wet/hers. Aβ the sale progressed tlhe difference became more marked, particularly for butchers' ewes, whidi were easier ithan a week ago by 1/6 to 2/ a 'head. Good wethers were down about 1/, and lighter were also easier. Freezing ewes, however, maintained last week's rates. Extra prime heavy wethers made to 26/4; prime heavy, 21/6 to 24/; ■prime medium, 19,6 to 21/; light, to 16/; extra prime heavy ewes, to 20/7; prime heavy- 16/ to 17/6; prime medium, 13/6 to 15/6; light, to 9/6. The entry of fat cattle comprised 428, compared with 545 last week. Quality was agiain better than average, but not so Rood as last week. In spite of the large entry the sale was buoyant from the outset, and the decline last week was more than recovered. Good medium-weight steers and heifers were hetter by 10/ to 15/, and average to good class cows by up to 10,'. Good steer beef made 3.)/ to 37/6, and for a few pens a shade more wiae paid. Ordinary sold to 34/(5. Kxti'a >pri.me 'heavy steers made to £16 17/6: prime heavy, £14 10/ to £15 15/; prime medium, £13 5/ to £14 10/; light, to £9 10/; extra prime heifers, to £12 12/6; prime. £10 to £11; medium, £7 10/ to £9 10/: light, to £7 5/; extra prime cows, to £11 17 6: prime, £7 15/ to £9 13/ i medium, £6 to £7 5/; light and aged, to £5 15/. The entry of porkers was of medium size, and included some very good quality pigs. Prices remained on a p<u - with last week, until the last

three races, when values eased to export parity, which is a farthing per lb lower than laet week. Choppers came forward in medium numbers and again met a good sale. Baconere were forward in substantially smaller numbers, but prices showed very little variation. Porkers made 36/6 to 57/6; average price per H>, 6%d to 7d; baconere, 57/6 to £4 19/6; average price per l'b, 6d to 644 d.

IN THE WAIKATO.

(From Our Correspondent.) HAMILTON, Wednesday. Conditions are ae follows: — Beef. —An average yarding of medium and light-weight ox, together with a fair eupply of cow beef was penned at Central Yards this week. Competition was steady and fully equal to late rates. Prime ox realised 36/ to 28/ per hundred pounds, medium quality and heavyweight cattle, 33/ to 35/; prime young cow and heifer, 30/ to 33/; good quality cow beef, 27/ to 28/; second quality, 21/ to 24/. Fat Sheep.—A full entry of fat eheep was penned at Frankton on Tuesday, and here again a further decline in values has to be recorded, more especially in the case of prime and medium wethers and fat ewes. Fat lambs also brought

•lightly lower rates, light-weight wethers being practically the only class to maintain last week's prices. Heavy fat wethers realised up to 22/6; medium, 17/ to 18/; lighter, 16/ to 18/9; heavy fat ewes, 11/ to 13/; medium, 8/ ■to 10/; heavy fat lambs, to 24/6; medium, 20/ to 22/; lighter, 17/ to 19/. Store Cattle.—A large yarding of etore cattle, ex the East Coast, came forward to Morrinsville on Friday last and created considerable interest to a large bench of buyers. A steady tone was apparent throughout, with values on a par with those ruling at other Waikato fixtures. Adequate supplies, ex the coast, are expected to be offered in the near future. At present Gisborne quotations range from £9 to £9 5/ for 4-yr. grown steers; £8 to £8 5/ for 3-yr. cattle; £6 10/ to £7 10/ for 1-yr-olds and £5 to £5 10/ for yearlinge. Store and boner cattle are also in good supply, but values for the_ latter class have receded on late quotations. ' Store Sheep.—Contrary to usual, purchasing for forward delivery has not been popular this year, Waikato eheep-, farmers preferring to wait and buy at the local sheep fairs. Supplies of East Coast sheep will be available weekly, and it is anticipated farmers will have little difficulty in obtaining requirements at a satisfactory figure. At the opening Gieborne fair this week, a line of particularly well-grown two-tooths was passed in at 22/6, other two-tooths

realising 18/ to 20/; mixed age ewes, 14/ to 16/; 5-yr ewes, 13/ to 15/; β-yr ewe*. 12/ to 14/3. Pigs.—Large numbers of both fat and store pigs are being handled through al the various yarde, and for all a buoyant tone exists. Baconers are eagerly sought whilst buttermilk pigs are in very keei demand, as also are stores and weanen for which the market is remaining eteadj on late rates. Heavy baconere realised up to £3 1"/medium, £3 9/ to £3 12/; light, £3 3/ to £3 8/; heavy porkers and buttermilk pigs. £2 17/ to £3 5/; medium porkers, £2 11/ to £2 15/; large stores 34/ to 37/: medium, 27/6 to 30/; best weaners, 17/ to 21/; others, 10/ to 15/.

The gecko, a harmless lizard of the tropics, likes to be friendly with people and ie often allowed to live in houses, making himeelf immediately at home. He i« unusual in that he lacks movable eyelids and his adhesive toes enable him to cling to ceilings and smooth or rough vertical surfaces. Even the secretary did not know. Well, how could you expect him to memorise 300 changed street names. They are all in Brett's Almanac for handy reference with 1000 other items about Auckland and the province. Price 1/, postage 3d from all booksellers and the "Star" Office.