SMALL ENTRIES FORWARD AT HASTINGS SALE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23116, 1 December 1949, Page 10

SMALL ENTRIES FORWARD AT HASTINGS SALE

(P.A.) HASTINGS. Dec. 1. With the farmers in the province primarily interested in the ftenern! elecI lion, verv small entries came forward at the Stortford Lodge sale yesterday. The overall entry was the smallest seen in the yards for a lone time and the attendance of buyers was similarly affected. In the store siteep section, in which on 1 v 1080 head came forward, an optimistic atmosphere prevailed and values showed a fit-mine tendenev. Most of 'he yarding consisted of shorn 2-tooth wethers including some quality drafts, which sold at -38 s to 39s lOd. with small at 35s fid to 365. Small shorn 2 tooth ewes brought 86s 9d and 4-year ewes 40s lOd. The high wool values ruling at the new season's sales was reflected in the inquire for woolly hoggets, small ewe hoggets selling at 45s and small wether hoggets at 41s 9d. Confronted with the short yarding of 508 head of fat sheep, butchers had to bid up to fill their requirements Values appreciated by up to Is 6d a head. Though the small entry contained some quality sheen'. prime aged shorn ewes sold at 30s 10s to 32s lOd with lighter ni 2os 4d to 28s lOd. Prime voung shorn ewes made 37s 4d to 40s lOd and good Down 2 tooths of mixed sex were traded at 39s 4d to 41s Id. For prime shorn wethers butchers paid 40s lOd to 4!s lOd, others bringing ,'JBs lOd to 39s 1 Od.

Store cattle values advanced by 20s to 25s a bead when buyers reacted optimistically to a short yarding of 136 head. Quality was lacking and few lines of any size came forward. However. small lots proved suitable to men with small properties and to those requiring only a few head of cattle to till their requirements. In consequence, the inquiry was keen on all drafts. A line of bullocks suitable for a grazier, brought £2O. two-year steers £7 17s to £9 15s. empty cows £ll 14s. two-vear heifers £P (is and small yearling heifers from £7 11s to £8 2s 6d. A yarding of 185 head of fa' cattle proved some what of an embarrassment to butchers and values particularly for ox beef were markedly easier There was a good quality entry and now there is plenty of crass about bullocks are coming forward in great order and in quantity. Female Deef did not share to such a great extent in the market. Prime ox sold at £22 13s 6d to £24 13s 6d with mediumweights at- £2O 18s Gd to £2l 18s Gd and light at £lB to £l9 13s Gd. Prime heavy heifers changed hands at £l7 8s Gd to £lB 3s Gd. other prime sorts bringing £l3 3s Gd to £ll3 !6s. Prime cows were quoted at £l4 Is to £ls 11s and unfinished at £l3 8s Gd tf> CIS Its. Runners sold at £l2 to £l2 ss.