FAT STOCK MARKET.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20992, 1 October 1931, Page 7

FAT STOCK MARKET.

WEEKLY WESTFI ELD SALE. BEEF PRICES AGAIN IMPROVE. SHEEP SELL AT LATE VALUES. There was a further advance in beef values at the weekly Westfield fat stock sale yesterday, both ox and cow beef showing a rise of Is on late quotations. Some good individual prices were realised, the market going to the highest point since the early autumn. There was little movement in the sheep division. A full yarding was sold at approximately lato rates under steady competition. Good quality fat calves continued scarce and values firmed slightly under active bidding by local butchers. The pig offering was again short and prices were fully up to last week's quotations. Stores were in keen demand and realised figures which were generally considered too dear at this stage of the season. The following is a summary of the prices realised for fat stock for the last two weeks at the Westfield fat stock sales:— This week. Last week. BEEF (per lOOlbj

Values at Higher Levels. The aggregate entry in the beef classes was slightly larger than last week's small offering. The total was 464 liead, as against 400 last week, and 424 the week before. The pens contained comparatively few extra heavy bullocks, the greater part of tho entry comprising medium to lightweight kinds. The cow and heifer descriptions were particularly good, and values reached unexpectedly high levels for the day. . . Top price in the ox section was secured by Mr. 11. K. Reed, of Waerenga. who consigned a line of seven choice steers, which sold from £ll 10s to £l3 2s 6d, the latter figure being 5s higher than the next best over the last few months. Another draft from Mr. Reed realised from £ll 5s t<> £l2 17s 6d. A line of extra choice ftrers from Mr. G. Ilastie, of l'apatoetoe, brought from £9 15s to £l2 17s 6d. while ;i well-finished draft from Mr. \V. W. McLaughlin, of Puhunui, sold from £lO to £ll°lss, and 10 Polled Angus bullocks, also from this vendor, made from £9 12s 6d to £ll 7s 6d. A line of 13 light-weight steers on account of the Cornwall Park Trust was bought from £7 17s 6d to £8 15s. A truck of nice quality bullocks from Mr. C. K. Sampson, of r le Kauwhata, made up to £9 17s 6d. In the cow and heifer market top price went to Mr._ 11. Windsor, of Tamahere. for a truck of eight heavy-weight prime cows, which realised up to £lO 10s, the line averaging £9 6s 3d. One choice cow from Mr. Sampson realised £8 15s, and a well-finished heifer from Miss Kerr Taylor, of Mount Albert, brought the same figure. The best price for a calf was secured by Mr. Robert Hall, of Wiri. for an extra choice runner, which made £5 14s. Pig Buyers Active. The calf market was again poorly supplied with good quality vcalers, the offering .being insufficient for the requirements of the butchers. Prices were rather firmer for the best sorts, but there was little inercst in the less finished pens. Bobby calves were still entered in fair numbers and bidding was indifferent. The sheep sale was steady at ruling quota'ions. The pens were filled with sorts which included a fair proportion of very good quality sheep, although tha bulk of the catalogue comprised mediocre kinds. The short supply of pigs, both fat and store, was a characteristic of this time of the year. Prices were somewhat above recent quotations, -partly owing to the small supply and partly on account of the activity of some buyers, who were securing bacon and hams for the Christmas trade.

Extra choire ox 30/29/ Clioicc and prime ox . . . . 27/- to 29/21/- to 23/Choice and pr'me cow and heifer 26/- to 28/21/- to 28/Boner and lough 23/- to 20/22/- to 25/SHEEP (pei head)— Prime wethers . 16/6 to 21/6 20/- to 22/9 Unfin. wethers 12/6 to 16/3 11/6 to 14/9 Pj-ime ewes . . 11/- to 18/6 17/-.to 19/Unfinished ewes 9/- <o 11/9 01- to 12/9 Hoggets . • . 13/- to 19/6 11/3 to 18/Spring lambs . 10/6 to 26/11/- to 20/CALVES (per head) — Runners . . . <"■0/- to 107/6 55/- to 130/Vealers . . . 30;- to 70/25/- to 81/PIGS (per hcau)— Baconers . . 48/- to 63/48/- to 68/Porkers . . 30/- to 56/29/- to 48/Stores . . . . 10/- to 34/10/- to 32/-