SHEEP PRICES RATHER FIRMER

Northern Advocate, 10 December 1936, Page 5

SHEEP PRICES RATHER FIRMER

BACON PIGS BRING BETTER VALUES C Special to "Northern Advocate.”l AUCKLAND, This Day. Sheep prices, which have shown an easing tendency during the past two

weeks, were somewhat firmer at the Westfield sale yesterday. Particularly was this so for wethers. There was an average yarding Of satisfactory quality, and the only stock sold in the wool was a pen of hoggets, which realised 37/-, against 35/- last week. Bidding for wethers rose to 29/9. 3d above last week’s level, and ewes decreased by 1/- to 25/6. Good quality lambs showed a general improvement of 1/- a head, reaching 28/9. Although there was a large yarding of calves, requirements were slightly

more than the supply. In the early stages of the sale values were firm, but later they dropped by about 2/- a head. Both the best sales were an improvement on those of last week. Bacon pigs brought increases of up to 2/- a head, and one choice pen brought 81/-. The general sale reached ■77/-, and pound values were dearer by a farthing. There was an eager demand throughout, despite a large entry.

Quotations by Messrs Alfred Buck land and sons. —

Sheep.—Our total yarding of sheep, 1,031. Competition for wethers was keen with values improving on recent sales, while ewes were firm at last week’s quotations. Extra heavy prime wethers, £1 8/9 to £1 9/9; heavy prime wethers, £1 7/6 to £1 8/6; medium to heavy prime wethers, £1 6/- to. £l7/-; light to medium prime wethers. £1 4/- to £ls/3; unfinished wethers, £1 1/6 to £1 3/6. Extra heavy prime young ewes, £1 3/- to £1 5/6; heavy prime ewes, £1 2/- to £1 2/9; lighter prime ewes, £1 to £1 1/6; other killable ewes. 17/- to 19/-; other ewes, 4/6 to 15/-.

Lambs were penned to the number of 211. Bidding was brisk, and values improved on recent sales. Extra heavy prime lambs, £1 7/6 to £1 8/9; heavy prime lambs, £1 6/- to £1 7/-; lighter prime lambs, £1 4/9 to £1 5/9; light prime lambs, £1 2/- to £1 3/6; small and plain lambs, 17/- to 20/-. Calves.—There was again a large entry •Of calves. All prime good quality vealers sold readily in the early part of the sale, but there was an easing tendency in the later stages. Runners made £3 to £5 10/-; heavy prime vealers, £4 15/- to £5 2/-; medium, £4 to £4 5/-; light, £3 to £3 5/-; smaller, £2 5/- to £2 10/-; unfinished and bucket-fed, £1 2/-.to £1 14/-; bobby and rough calves, 8/- to £1 4/-. Three hundred and nineteen calves were sold.

Pigs.—We had an increased yarding of pigs. There was a further improved demand for baconers, and our quotations show an increase. Porkers sold very readily at late rates- Choppers

made £1 8/- to £2 10/-; no extra

heavy were offered; heavy prime baconers, £3 14/- to £3 17/-; a pen of six extra good pigs realised £4 1/-; medium baconers, £3 8/- to £3 11/-; light, £3 to £3 5/-; heavy porkers, £2 12/to £2 16/-; medium, £2 6/- to £2 10/-; light, £1 18/- to £2 3/-; small and unfinished, £1 8/- to £ 1 15/-; stores, £1 4/- to £1 12/-; slips, 17/- to 21/-; weaners, 11/- to 16/-. Baconers averaged 6d per lb and porkers 6id per lb. A total of 623 pigs was sold.