FIRM VALUES AT STORTFORD LODGE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22666, 17 June 1948, Page 8

FIRM VALUES AT STORTFORD LODGE

(PA ) HASTINGS, June 17. Although tl ic attendance of buyers following the store sheep market at Stortford Lodge yesterday was not as lar«c as usual there was a good inquiry for quality lines and values were maintained on a fairly high plane. The entry of 5000 head included some attractive farming propositions 'and for these bidding was quite well spread among buyers. Five-year in-lamb ewes represented a keenly sought after line which brought 355, and a draft of 4 and 6-th breeding ewes realised 3Gs. Other ! mixed and aged lines were traded at ?9s 6d to 345. Several pens of less attractive sheep were passed in. I The demand for wether hoggets was ■well sustained, values ranging from 25s ! to 28s Id. Forward conditioned wethers realised 43s fid. Fat Sheep in Demand The fat sheep market had a firming ! tendency all round. The yarding included a number of pens of good quality lambs for which values more than covered the increase in the schedule. Some good quality ewes were also offered. Prime wethers ranged from 49s 4d to 53s 4d, medium from 42s 4d to 44s lOd, and unfinished 35s lOd to 41s lOd. Extra prime young ewes made 43s lid. extra prime older ewes 39s 7d and lighter sorts 26s Id to 32s Id. Values for heavy lambs ranged from 38s 10c! to 41s lOd and lighter 28s 4d to 38s 4d. After last week's improved market for store cattle a larger yarding of 850 head came forward. However, there was just a slisht easing in the market. Top quaiity lines met with a , fairly good inquiry within limits, but for inferior cattle the bidding was sluggish. Included in the entry was a large consignment railed down by a Gisborne grazier who was compelled to sell because of the loss of grazing as a result of the floods. The rostrum was well filled when the sale opened and keen interest was taken in the trend of the market. Bidding was distributed among local farmers. Bullocks reached £ls 16s, two pens being passed in at £ls 2s and £ls 10s. Three-and-a-half-year steers sold at £l2 12s to £l2 16s. two off steers at £8 15s to £9 11s and weaner steers at £5 5s to £6 13s. hard quality empty heifers £9 2s and weaner heifers £4 13s. Cuttle Quality Not Marked Quality was not marked in a yarding of 200 head of beef cattle, but buyers showed an interest in anything that was in an advanced condition and values on a par with recent rates were obtained. Except for the better lines, the inquiry for cows was sticky. A nicelyfinished line of bullocks topped the market for ox beef at £23 18s fid. the whole consignment averaging £23 5s a head. The heifer offering again included some good sized beasts in prime condition. The pick of these brought keen competition before being knocked down at £l4 3s fid. Vealers comprised a large proportion of the yarding, and here again quality was varied. Buyers paid £7 3s for the larger sorts. Values for prime ox ranged from £22 18s fid to £23 18s fid, and £ll 18s fid was paid for a very light beast. Prime heifers realised £l2 18s fid to £l4 3s fid, medium brought £ll 6s to £l2 16s. and light made £8 13s 6d to £lO 13s Cd. Medium cows were traded at £lO 13s fid to £ll 18s 6d, and light at £6 17s Cd to £lO Is. Good sized vealers sold at from £6 2s to £7 3s. with lighter ranging from £3 to £5 14s. A very small weaner made 30s and runners were passed in at £7 10s.