STOCK MARKET REVIEW

Southland Times, Issue 23740, 11 February 1939, Page 19

STOCK MARKET REVIEW

EASIER VALUES FOR FATS CATTLE AND SHEEP CHEAPER The Southland fat stock market continues to show a falling tendency as bigger numbers of cattle and sheep become available. During last winter and spring it was generally feared that the shortage of cattle would continue for several years, but the present receding market does not encourage graziers to persist with that view. Present fat cattle prices are on a par with those ruling last summer, prime beef now being worth about 30/- per 1001 b. Fat sheep, however, are lower in price than a year ago, the reduced freezing schedule which was announced this week being an important factor in prices secured at district sales. The quality of the fat cattle yarding at Lomeville on Tuesday showed an improvement on the previous week and butchers were more discriminating than they have been able to oe for some considerable time. It is probable also that local consumers of meat noticed with some surprise the improved, quality because it has been very difficult to secure of late. Butchers are frequently blamed for poor meat, but the experience of the last few years has been that very little really prime and attractive beef becomes available for the local market, which is an extraordinary commentary on an outstanding grazing district. It is to this extent that there is a shortage of beef in Southland; very little beef of good quality is produced in the province. Prices for cattle were easier by about 15/- a head compared with the previous sale. The range of prices was as follows: Prime quality bullocks £l2 to £l3, good quality from £ll to £ll 10/-, medium quality from £lO to £lO 10/-, and unfinished from £8 to £8 15/-; prime quality heifers up to £lO 12/6, good quality medium-weights from £8 15/- to £9 10/- and lighterweights from £7 10/- to £8; good quality cows up to £9, medium from £7 10/- to £8 5/-, average from £6 5/- to £6 15/-, and unfinished from £3 15/- to £4 10/-. In the fat sneep pens there was a very heavy yarding, the entry consisting chiefly of ewes. A fair number of wethers in attractive condition was offered and met a falling market, prices being about 2/- a head easier than at the previous sale. Ewes were also cheaper. Prices were as follows: —Prime quality wethers sold at up to 23/6, good quality from. 21/6 to 22/6, medium quality 20/- to 21/- 'and unfinished down to 16/-; good quality butchers’ ewes 13/6 to 14/6, medium quality from 11/6 to 12/6 and freezing ewes from 10/9 downwards; prime heavy butchers’ lambs 26/- to 27/6, prime quality heavy freezing weights from 24/6 to 25/6, good quality sorts 22/6 to 23/6, medium quality from 20/- to 21/- and unfinished sorts down to 17/6.

The yarding of store sheep was a big one, there being again a big proportion of store lambs offered. These met with quite a good demand and prices were much better than last week’s. Best lambs brought up to 18/-, while medium quality lambs sold at from 12/- to 15/-, with small lambs down to 9/-. A line of 2-tooth ewes fetched 29/2 and shorn failing-mouth ewes sold at from 4/- to 6/-, with culls down to 2/6. A pen of ewe lambs sold at 18/-.

The yarding of store cattle was smaller than last week. There was little change in prices and the sale did not show much animation. Two and three-year-old steers sold at from £6 5/to £7 5/-, with smaller sorts down to £5. A pen of speyed heifers realized £4 13/-, while best empty cows brought up to £4 5/-, average cows selling at from £2 15/- to £3 15/-, with cull sorts down to £l. There was a very small offering of dairy cows and best sorts made up to £6, with others from £3 10/- to £4 10/-.