LIVE STOCK MARKET

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXI, 24 April 1937, Page 5

LIVE STOCK MARKET

THIS WEEK’S BLENHEIM SALE S FAT EWE PRICES SOAR The most encouraging note for some considerable time was struck at this week's stock sale at Blenheim when fat ewe prices soared to 2s in advance of last week’s rates, and those for wethers remained firm on the previous sale (reports the "Express”). Pushed along by the presence among the buyers of three outsiders whose limits apparently had no bounds, the prices for ewes began their upward trend right from the outset, and the increase was ail the more pleasing in view of the fact that it has followed directly upon a Is Gd rise that gave cause for satisfaction last week. The general quality of the fat yarding was excellent, and practically every offering was disposed of under keen competition. The total yarding was considerably smaller than last week, and with the exception of one or two small lots, every one of the 2100 head was cleared at auction.

Competition was particularly high for ewes, the majority of which were of super quality, and anything that failed to realise 15s was considered to be more or less of inferior standard. An almost unheard-of-figure for recent auctions was realised for a pen containing 10 classy ewes offered on account of Mr F. C. Neal, Marshlands, which were speedily run up to 20s 2d before being quitted. The best of the other prices were 19s lOd, 19s 7d and 19s Id, all of which were paid for quite big pens of exceptionally high quality stock. The top price last week was 17s 7d.

While the wethers were all of good quality, the standard in comparison was nowhere up to that of ewes, but the inquiry for the most part was firm. Messrs Smith Bros., of Tua Marina secured top prices for three lots of attractive heavies which were knocked down at 24s 4d and 23s lOd. Two other good quality lots offered on account of Messrs G. Graham and W. L. Hammond and another small pen filled next place on the price list, being disposed of at 23s 4d. At the previous sale the top price was 23s 7d.

Although only a few lambs came forward, the offerings were of good quality and no difficulty was experienced in disposing of them. The best price was realised for seven extra heavy sorts, offered on account of Mr L. Jellyman, for which 30s 4d was paid. THE STORE SECTION The store section comprised mainly average-conditioned breeding ewes and a number of mixed quality lambs. A line of 50 large-framed halfbred ewes running with English Leicester rams found a buyer at 20s, and another small lot of halfbreds, also in lamb to an English Leicester ram was disposed of at 19s. A pen containing 24 largeframed mostly two-tooth Down-cross ewes realised 21s 6d. Sound inquiry was forthcoming for lambs, practically all of which were disposed of at auction. An attractive line of well-grown wether lambs was run up to 17s Gd before changing hands and another line realised 17s 3d.