LIVESTOCK PRICES

New Zealand Herald, Volume 82, Issue 25345, 29 October 1945, Page 3

LIVESTOCK PRICES

WAIKATO CONDITIONS STORE SECTIONS QUIETER Business is quieter in most sections of the store stock section in the Waikato, due mainly to continued dry and windy weather, with a consequent shortage of feed. Smaller yardings of station-tired (store cattle are coining; forward, hut there is little demand, and values except those ot forward condition grown bullocks, tend to show a further easing'. Dairy cattle continue to come on to the market in good numbers for this time of the year. There is still a strong inquiry lor good quality young cows and heifer# recently calvod or close to profit, and at a clearing suie in the Matamata district two outstanding grade cows realised £25 10s and £'2o respectively, wliilo other young cows sold from £lO to £lB. However, the inquiry for backward descriptions is poor and prices have shown a marked decline. Yearling Jersey heifers aro being penned in average numbers, and hero again values tend to ease. Boner cows are coming forward in increased numbers to sell readily at recent firm rates. In the store sheep section, hoggets comprise the bulk, of the yardings. The demand for these is not as keen as it was a few weeks ago and. although prices showed a slight recovery at the central yards, thoy are not up to the level of a month ago. An offering of owes with very forward lambs at foot sold at the central yards from 18s to 10s Od, while at the Morrinsville centre on Friday a line of shorn ewe hoggets realised 28s (id. Beef. —The market for fat cattle remains firm. Only small yardings of station-bred prime cattle are being penned at most of the country sales, and local buyers are fully maintaining recent quotations. Slightly increased offerings of ox beef have been yarded at sonio of the larger markets, but the demand is fully equal to the supply and firm prices are obtained. Prime cows and heifers aro in short supply at most centres, and at some sales prices for heifors have shown a slight improvement. Prime fat bullocks sell from jC'2O to £22; prime, £lB to £11) 10s; light, £l6 to £l7 10s; heavy prime heifers, £.15 to £10; lighter, £l3 to £l4; prime fat cows, £l3 to £l4; lighter. £ll 10s to-£l2 10s.

Mutton.—Slightly larger yardings of fat sheep, comprising principally shorn wethers and hoggets, havo been penned at some of the main centres, but in spite of tho increased offerings prices have remained fully firm. At the central yards slightly increased prices were obtained for the best of tho prime lines. The demand for woolly wethers and hoggets is not as keen, as many of this class lack finish. Prices for fat ewes show little alteration. Heavy prime shorn wethers sell from Jjls to -lis (id; prime. 3Ss to 80s; medium weights, 36s to 37s (id; light, 31s to 355; heavy prime woolly hoggets, £2 to £2 ss; prime, 35s to 37s (id; lighter, 31s to 338; unfinished, 'JTs to 30s; prime woolly ewes, 2<«s to 27s (id; shorn, 18<s to 19s (id; lighter, 10s to 17s (id. Pigs.—Average yardings of fat pigs are coming on to the market. Competition for all classes is koen and very firm rates are ruling. Prime choppers also continue to meet a keen demand. Buttermilk pigs and large stores arc wanted, but the prices for weaners have been a shade easier at some centres. Choppers sell from £3 to £0 ss; baconers, £4 10s to £5 12s; heavy porkers and buttermilk pigs, £3 10s to £4 6s; medium porkers, £2 18s to £3 ss; light. £2 12s to £2 Ifla; small porkers and large stores, £'2 to £2 12s; slips. 30s to £2; weaners, 12s fid to 27s (id.

PUKEKOHE YARDING (0.C.) PUKEKOHE, Saturday Dairy cattle were penned in lamer numbers at the Xew Zealand Loan and Mercantile Company's sale at Pukekohe. and because of the dry weather values were much easier. An average entry of beef and a large offering of store cattle and yearling heifers met a ready sale. Boners sold at late rates. Best quality heifers, calved and close to profit, made £l2 10s to £l4 Jss; medium, £lO 1 <)t» to £l2; backward and inferior, £7 10s to £10; best cows, £lO 10s to £l3 l()s; medium, £S 10s to £0 10s; aged, inferior arid backward, £0 to £8; heavy prime cows and heifers, £lO 10s to £ll '2s Gd; medium, £8 10s to £9 15s; lighter. £0 10s to £S ss: heavy boners. £5 10s to £(> ss; medium, £4 10s to £5; lighter, £3 5s to £4 ss; poor conditioned, £l. 10s to £'2 10s; good store cows, £5 to £7 10s; empty two-year-old heifers, £-1 to £<i '2s Od; medium quality yearling heifers, £7 10s to £8 ss; others. £1 5s to £0 15s; two-year-old service bulls. £lO 10s to 25gn«; yearling service bulls, Ogns to 12gns; potter bulls £5 10s to £ll 15s, according to weight. Ewes with lambs at foot sold from 17s to £1 Is. all counted. There was ft big yarding of all classes of pigs, bidding being spirited throughout the sale. Rates wcro firm on latest quotations. Heavy baconers realised £5 4s to £5 lis; medium, £4 10s to £5 2s; light, £4 7s to £4 15s; heavy porkers, £3 10s to £4 2s: medium, £3 Os to £3 14s; light, £3 2s to £3 4s; choppers. £4 to £7; stores. £2 5s to £3 10s; slips, £t 12s to. £2 Os; weaners. £1 to £1 10s; sows in pig, to Pgris; registered pedigree Tamworth boars. Sgns; Berkshires. 7gns.

BROKEN HILL PROPRIETARY An unchanged half-yearly interim dividend of 2% per cent has been declared by Broken Hill Proprietary, Ltd.; payable November 28; books November 7. EGG PRICES STEADY The Egg Marketing Committee and Internal Marketing Division advise that there is no change in tho price of eggs, standard hen eggs and standard duck eggs remaining at Is B'/ 2 d a dozen wholesale, and Is lid retail. Storekeepers' buying prices for ungraded hen eggs are 16 6d, and for duck is 3 1 ,4 d.