RECORD PRICES FOR SHEEP AT STORTFORD LODGE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23352, 7 September 1950, Page 10

RECORD PRICES FOR SHEEP AT STORTFORD LODGE

( P.A.) HASTINGS, Sept,. 7. The record price of S 3 TO for fullwoollcd wether hoggets provided the highlight in the store sheep section at Stortford Lodge yesterday. This figure for an opening line was typical of the general strength of the market. Quality hoggets were estimated to be 8/- to 10/- a head dearer than at recent sales and with medium hoggets advance tended to be even more. The offering consisted of only 519 head. The 83/10 line of 185 fullwool led wether hoggets showed breeding and quality and were in great order. The previous best price in the district for woolly wether hoggets was 88/6. but the offering yesterday had the advantage of being quite the best sheep of their age seen in the yards this season. Mutton Values TTp Good woolly wether hoggets made 83/10. medium 73/3, medium shorn wether hoggets 66/- small 'ls/- and well-grown, medium condition ’Down hoggets 60/3. Medium ewe hoggets were traded at 72/11. Wethers changed hands at from 65/- to 75/-. Ewes with lambs at foot brought 27/- to 28/6 all counted. Shorn hoggets made 15/- to 20/-. Outside competition, together with well-spread district interest, sent mutton prices higher. There was a general advance of at least 2- a head with some lines estimated to be 7/- to 8/a head dearer than last week. Several lines of wethers went over the .0 5 mark for the first time in the yards this season. The top price was £5/8 10 for a draft of 40. Another line brought £5/5/10 and another ranged from £4/17/10 to £5/1/1. Maiden ewes reached a new peak at 99/10 and older ewes a record at 93/10. Prime well-woollcd wethers brought 97/4 to £5/8/10, medium 89/10 to 00/4 and unfinished 75/4 to 82/4. Extra prime young ewes sold at 88/10 to 99/10. with others at 69/4 to 83/4. Prime heavy older ewes made 82/10 to 93/10, handy-weights at 76/10 to 81/10 and unfinished at 58/- to 75/10. Heavy hoggets realised 85/4. medium 63/10 to 77/10 and small 34/10 to 60/1. Rising Cattle Market A rising market for store cattle was evident. The yarding of 508 head, the largest since tire end of July, attracted the biggest gathering of farmers for some time and competition was keen from the outset. Values firmed appreciably for quality cattle. Last week's record price for the season for store bullocks, £23/15/-, was bettered yesterday for four-year dehorned Hereford bullocks which brought £24. Three-year-old steers also reached a new peak of £2l, this price being paid for a quality line of forward four-year bullocks sold at £24. Forward threeyear steers made £2l, medium £l7/10/to £lB/12/-, rising two-year steers £l3/10/- and yearling steers £ll/3/to £l2/5/-. Empty cows changed hands at £l2 15/- to £l3/1/-. in-calf cows £l4/12/and good yearling heifers £9/15/Values for female beef rose sharply by 60/- a head. Prices for ox remained firm on last week's rates, although there were few pens brought forward in a yarding of 186 head. Two extra prime heifers brought the record price of £27/13/6. Another pen of five in similar condition made £26/18/6. Cows reached the season's peak of £24/8/6. Prime ox realised £26/8/6 to £3l/3/6, extra prime heifers £26/18/6 to £27 13/6. prime £2O/3/6 to £25/3/6, medium-weight £l7/13/6 to £l9/6/-. Prime cows brought £2l/1/- to £24 8/6, medium-weight £ 15/13/6 to £l9 13/6. and lighter £lO/16/- to £l4/8/6.