BEEF CATTLE FIRM

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 130, 3 June 1937, Page 20

BEEF CATTLE FIRM

LIVESTOCK MARKETS

RISE IN LAMB PRICES

Beef cattle were in good demand at the stock sales held yesterday and prices were higher in some instances. At Johnsonville all prime stock sold well- and lambs were ' Is to. Is 6d dearer. Smaller entries than usual were to hand at Aldington where fat sheep were dearer and fat cattle easier. !

Beef quotations remained firm at Westfield, prices being on a level with those obtained last week. There was a ready demand for an offering of firstclass ox beef, and cows and heifers also met with keen competition; There was keen, competition for an average yarding of sheep and values fpr both ewes and wethers improved. The entry of lambs was fairly small, and firm rates were maintained. Competition was keen for good quality calves in an average yarding, and there was a slight improvement on last week's quotations for all other classes. An average entry of pigs brought -firm prices and all prime sorts were in demand. Values, for both porkers and baconers showed an improvement.

.; As the. King's Birthday will'fall next Wednesday, a double market jwas held at Burnside, and, though entries generally Were heavy, there was an appreciation in values in all sections. Just bver 500 fat cattle Were yarded, the quality 'Over all being good. Competition was keen and all good sorts were firm. There was a large entry.of 351 stores; good station cattle^being firm at last week's rates. The yarding of fat sheep totalled 3685' of good quality, with a few outstanding pens. The market generally was firm. A large yarding of 3357 fat lambs was of disappointing quality. , JOHNSONVILLE SALE. Wright, Stephenson, and Co., Ltd., and Abraham and Williams, Ltd., report., on the Johnspnville sale held yesterday:—A smaller yarding of cattle than usual, a large yarding df sheep, and a small penning of lambs was offered. The bullocks were of good quality and' consisted chiefly of prime heavyweight cattle, with a few pens of light to medium-weight sorts. Extra prime heavy bullocks met with a good sale at prices showing no alteration. Heavy to mediumweights were slightly easier, and unfinished qattle were hard to _ sell. A good sale !. resulted for prime. quality cows and heifers, prices being firm on last week. Light :and unfinished cows were easier 5s td'-.'lOs a head. There was no alteration for cows ex dairy. No prime-quality, runnersr and. yealers came forward,,' but allowing for quality the prices, resulting were on; a par with.last week!s. Thevyarding of wethers was, »f exceptionally , good quality, consisting df ;'a fevvSpens : .of extra. pjime' heavyweight sheep;;, the.^balance being''flight'- lo m'ediumweight good-quality wethers. Extra^rime heavy sheep sold readily .at.-'prices'firm to Is a head, up on last week's1 rates, prime mediumweights showed no "alteration, and!., unfinished wethers: were Is a he^d easier. The e^ves yarded were mostly extra prime heavyweights, With afew pens of lightweight,,'and unfinished sorts.■'!.', All classes'met with keen competition, the prices' showing no alteration. The quality 'of; the lambs..yarded was not of the best, Is, to Is 6d a head up on last week, i ■■/ Quotations:— ::,■ '"'■■■■:.-■. '■'-■■'*■ , Prime extra heavy bullocks, £13 5s to £11 18s; prime heavy, £11 15s to £11 2s 6d; heavy, £11-to £10 12s 6d; light and unfinished, £10 Is to £9*55; extra prime heavy cows and heifers, >*£8 16s--to' £8 ss; i prime heavy, £8; to £7 10s; lighter, £7 2s 6d to £6 18s; cows, ex dairy, heavy, £6 12s 6d to £5 ss; lighter, £4 12s to £2 10s; runners, £3 18s to £3 ss; vealers, £2 17s •6d to £2 ss; small calves, 35s to 10s. Prime/extra heavy wethers, 35s 6d to 34s- Id; prime, heavy, 33s 6d to 31s; medium, 30s to 28s; light 2-tooth wethers, 275: 6d to 25s lOd; b'.'f. 2-tooths, extra good, '33s 6d; others, 325, to 30s; prime extra heavy ewes, young sheep, 28s 3d to 26s lOd; prime heavy, 26s 6d to 25s 3d;.medium, 24s 6d to 22s 8d; lambs, 26s to 21s lOd. '. ■ .-• / .':, ■■■•. lEVIN SALE. ' ;.. - ;;"'■ Abraham and Williams, Ltd.,' report that there were good yardings in tho pig and cattle sections at the Levin sale on Tuesday, but only a small offering of sheep came forward. All stock met with a ready sale at late rates, with', the exception of beef, which was in over-supply ...and showed a slight easing tendency. • Quotations:—Pigs: Light porkers, 25s to 325; medium, 32s Gd to £2; heavy, £2 3s to £2 10s;■ baconers, £2 14s to £3 4s; choppers; 35s to £2 lOs;' weaners, 5s 6d to. 8s 6d;V slips, 9s to 13s; stores, 15s< to 18s 6d; Sheep:. Fat lambs, 22s ld-to'23s; fat ewes,' 18s to 23s Gd; stores; 15s to 18s6d. Cattle: Light fat cows; £2 10s to £3 7s 6d; medium, £3 10s to":£.4 ss; heavy,: £4 10s to £5 10s; heifers, £4 12s 6d to £5 lOs; light vealers, 30s to" £2; medium, £2 5s to £2 10s;.runhers; ;£2.'l7S;6d to £3 14s; store: cows, 35s tj". £2 15s; high-grade weaner heifers;) £3.'65. ;Dairy stock: Springing cows, £3 10s to '£6; springing heifers, £5 12s Gd to £6 15s. The.New'^Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency, Ltd., offered large yardings of.- pigsJ,and cattle. Realisations showed little change on late rates, store cattle showing a decline. Prices were as follows:—Pigs: Weaners; 3s 6d to 9s 6d; stores, 13s to 15S 6d; porkers, light, 25s' to 30s; medium, 32s 6d to £2 2s; heavy;'£:2-:losto"'£2,l9s; choppers, £2 13s. Cattle:' Fat 'cows; ex dairy,'light, £4 5s -to. £4 15s;.medium,, £5 to £G ss; heavy, to £7 15s; light fat heifers, £5 to £6 2s 6d;. vealers, small, £1 2s 6d to. £2; store , cov<s, £2 to-£2 15s; potter bulls,'£4 5s to £5, ss; dairy cows, springing, £4 10s to £5. . WAIRARAPA VALUES. The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Co., Ltd., offered a good yarding of sheep, cattle, and pigs to a small attendance at the Mastefton sale yesterday. Fat sheep of medium quaiity met with a much easier market, prices being from Is to 2s down on late rates. Breeding ewes and lambs also found a dragging sale, but most venders met the market, at prices which appeared to be good , buying. The few cattle sold at recent _ rates, and pigs showed no alleviation in prices. Prices were as follows:—Fat sheep: Fat wethers, 28s 4d to 29s 6d; fat maiden ewes, 26s 6d; good fat ewes, 22s to 22s 6d; fat ewes, 17s 6d to 20s; fat lambs, 20s to' 225. Store sheep; Ma. ewes, r.w.s.d. ram, 19s to'22s; s.m. wether lambs, 12s 6d to 13s Id; storeewes, 10s to 12s; cull lambs, 8s 6d to 10s. Cattle: Station cows, r.w. _P.A. bull £6. Pigs: Good slips, 14s; others, 8s to 10s; weaners, 5s 6d tci 6s. . The Farmers' Co-operative Distributing Company, Ltd., submitted - a good" yarding of sheep. Prices were as follows:—Small m.a. ewes, r.w. S.D. rams, 18s 6d; five-year ewes r.w. S.D. rams to 225; cull ewes, in lamb^ = 14s, two-tooth- wethers, 22s- 7d t0.23s 7d, culls, 18s; wether lambs, 13s 7d to 16s 9d-'small, 8s Id; small ewe lambs, 14s 6d: b.f. lambs. 13s ■ lOd to 18s.. Wright, Stephenson, and Co., offered a fair yarding, including several-use-ful lines of. store wethers, but-. competition f6r these was disappointing. The breeding ewes offered were of inferior quality, and bidding was restricted. •■: Following are the; prices:— Four-tooth wethers, 275; tvyo- and "four-tooth wethers, 23s 9d; two-tooth wethers, 24s sd; four- and -.five-year ewes r.w. S.D. ram, 20s 4d;<<m.a. ewes, rw SD. ram, 15s; two-tooth; to fouryear ewes, r.w. S.D. ram, 23s 6d; s.m. ewes, r.w. S.D. ram, 17s 9d; w.w. lambs, 15s Gd; M. lambs, 11s 4d to; 12s 2d; fair and forward wethers, 295.- : ■• Dalgeb. and Co. offered an average yarding of sheep. Lambs, which were also penned in average numbers, were hard of sale. Forward-conditioned and sappy b.f. lambs, however, met keener competition than w.f. lambs. Prices were as follows:—Fat ewes, up to 225; m.a. ewes, r.w. S.D. rams, 15s 6d to 17s; low-conditioned f.m. ewes, r.w. S.D. rams, 8s 2d to 12s 9d; for-

ward-conditioned bi lambs, 17s, 6d; smaller sorts, 13s 3d; cull, 6s •to 8s 3d.