WESTFIELD STOCK

Northern Advocate, 9 January 1936, Page 5

WESTFIELD STOCK

800 HEAD OF CATTLE GOOD DEMAND YESTERDAY AVERAGE YARDING OF SHEEP. [Special to “Northern Advocate.”] AUCKLAND, This Day. The Westfield stock sale was held yesterday in bad weather conditions. About 800 head of cattle were offered. The tone generally was bright, but little ox, beef realised over 30/- per 1001 b. There was a good all round demand. Calves were yarded in full numbers, with a scarcity of genuine vealers. There were no signs of weakness in the market, which has remained firm for a long time, and values were fully on a par with those of the concluding sales last year. An average yarding of sheep drew good competition. Values for prime ewes remained unchanged and wethers were, on the whole, very firm, though, in cases, there was an easing of about 1/- a head. The offering of lambs was on the small side, and included a large number lacking finish. A strong demand ruled for all lighter weight pigs, small porkers being very much in demand. Extra heavy pigs were in less demand, alid none reached £3, the market for these reaching the lowest

point for the last two years. , Stores' were plentiful, and, with the exception of weaners, realised fully late notes. The prices per lb for baconers worked out at 4fd, and for pork*rs, at s£d to s|d. Messrs Dalgety and Co., Ltd., report on the sale as follows: — Beef.—We yarded 201 head.of beef, comprising 22 steers and 179 cows, against 314 head, at our last sale in the old year. The quality was fully up to standard, and, selling under a ready demand, we have to report a steady market at values on a par with our last sale. Extra choice ox sold to 32/- per 1001 b; choice and prime, 28/- to 31/-; secondary and plain, 22/- to 27/-; prime young cow and heifer beef, 27/- to 31/-; ordinary cow beef, 19/to 26/-; heavy prime steers, £ll to £ll 5/-; lighter prime, £lO to £lO 15/-; light prime, £8 15/- to £9 16/-; small and unfinished, £5 15/- to £8; extra heavy prime young cows and heifers, £7 7/6 to £8 17/6; heavy prime, £6 10/- to £7 5/-; lighter prime, £5 to £6 5/-; other killable cows, £2 5/to £4 15/-.

Sheep.—Sheep were offered in average numbers, and sold under steady competition at rates on a par with the closing sale of last year. Heavy prime wethers, 24/- to 25/-; medium prime, 23/- to 23/9; light and unfinished, 21/6 to 22/6; heavy prime ewes, 15/- to 16/-; lighter prime, 13/- to 14/6; other ewes, 10/- to 12/6. Lambs.—Lambs were yarded in barely average numbers, and sold freely at late rates. Heavy prime lambs, 21/- to - 22/6; medium prime, 20/- to 21/-; light prime, 18/- to 19/6; small and plain, 13/9 to 16/6. Calves. —Calves were penned in full numbers. All classes sold steadily at values very firm »on the Clmistmas market. Quotations. —Runners, £2 10/- to £.4 11/-; heavy vealers. £3 14/- to £4 5/-; medium, £2 16/- to £3 8/-; light, £2 10/- to £2 14/-; smaller, £1 12/- to £2 5/-; rough. 16/tO 28/-; bobby calves, 4/- to 8/-. Pigs,—Pigs were again yarded in heavy numbers. Porkers sold readily at values very firm on late rates, while others sold steadily at values about on a par with last sales. Quotations: — Choppers, to £2 7/-; heavy baconers, £2 14/- to £2 17/-; medium, £2 8/to £2 12/-; light, £2 4/- to £2 7/-; heavy porkers, £2 1/- to £2 4/-; medium, £1 18/- to £2; Tight, £1 14/- to £1 17/-; small and unfinished, £1 5/- , to £1 12/-.

SHEEP FOR WAIKATO OVER 200,000 TO BE ABSORBED L Special to “Northern Advocate.”} HAMILTON, This Day. The Waikato district is expected to absorb this year nearly 200,000 sheep, practically all of which are being forwarded on consignment for sale at various centres, including Morrinsville, Frankton, Cambridge, Te Awamutu_ and Tirau. Apart from East Coast sheep, consignments are expected from North Auckland, Hawke’s Bay, Manawatu and Wairarapa, while rams will be arriving later from the Wellington Province and the South Island. .

It is estimated that 78,000 breeding ewes will be drafted to the Waikato j from the East Coast by boat this sea- j son. There has been delay in com-, mencing the transfer owing to the wet weather holding up shearing. Normally shearing is completed by Christmas-, but it is still in progress. Although the Waikato is mainly a dairying district, there seems to be no limit to its capacity to absorb all the sheep that are offering, and the number of importations has increased annually. The quality of the lambs produced is stated to compare favourably with the best from Canterbury. GOLD AND SILVER VALUES (Received 01 a.m.) LONDON, January 7. Fine gold is quoted today at £7 1/0} per ounce, compared with £7 1/2 yesterday. Silver is quoted at 20;;d per oz. spot, compared with 204 d yesterday. The quotation for silver at per fine oz is 22|d, compared with 22}d yesterday.