STOCK MARKET REVIEW

Southland Times, Issue 23816, 13 May 1939, Page 18

STOCK MARKET REVIEW

SMALLER OFFERINGS AT LORNEVILLE END OF FREEZING SEASON IN SIGHT The entries in most sections at the Lorneville stock sale this week approached normal winter yardings. There was still a substantial entry of fat sheep and lambs, but when the freezing works close within about a fortnight this section will be greatly reduced in numbers. The announcement of the restriction of the export of mutton was expected to have some effect on the fat sheep market, but freezing grades showed no change in value. Certain butchers’ grades of stock were easier, but most sections remained steady at the previous values. 1 In the fat cattle section there was only a small entry and the quality left much to be desired. For the small P 6l- " centage of good quality cattle included values were firm at last week’s rates. Other sorts were inclined to be a little easier. Good quality medium weight bullocks realized up to £l2/12/6, lightweights £9/10/- to £lO/10/-; medium quality cows £7/10/- to £B/10/-; average £6/5/- to £7, unfinished £5 to £5/15/-; lightweight heifers £7/5/- to £B/5/-, small £6 to £6/15/-. There was only a medium entry of fat lambs, but some good quality sorts were included. There was good competition among the export buyers and values in most cases appeared to be up to and sometimes in excess of export schedule rates. Extra prime,, heavy butchers’ lambs made up to 33/-, prime heavy, 25/- to 26/6, good quality freezing weights 23/- to 24/-, medium 20/to 21/6, unfinished down to 17/3.’ln the fat sheep section there was a fairly big entry, but the majority of the animals were medium and poor quality ewes. Good quality butchers’ ewes were in short supply, but the entry of wethers was quite a good one. In the early stages of the sale values for wethers were quite as good as those ruling the previous week, but later there was a definite easing and passings were frequent. Butchers’ ewes were easier from the outset, while freezing ewes, contrary to expectations, remained firm at last week's rates. Extra prime heavy wethers made from 25/- to 26/6, good quality 22/- to 23/6, medium 20/6 to 21/6, light and unfinished down to 18/-, prime heavy young ewes 15/- to 16/3, good quality 13/6 to 14/6, medium 10/6 to 11/6, freezing ewes 9/6 downwards according to weight and quality. FEWER STORE SHEEP The store sheep yarding was only half the size of last week’s entry. There were no good ewes offered, the bulk of the yarding being made up of fail-ing-mouth ewes and cull ewes. These sold at about late rates. Best f. and f. ewes realized up to 8/9, others 4/6 to 6/-. cull sorts down to 1/-. Forwardconditioned wether lambs made up to 15/1, medium .sorts 11/- to 13/-, carryover sorts 7/- to 9/-. A pen of medium quality ewe lambs realized 18/9. The yarding of store cattle was a small one, consisting mainly of empty cows. There were no good steers offered. Prices were not quite as good as those of the previous week. Best emptv heifers brought up to £5/5/-, others £4 to £4/15/-; best empty cows up to £4/15/-, medium sorts £3/15/- to £4/10/-, cull cows down to 15/-. A pen of Hereford heifer calves realized £2 10/-, while 18 months steers made up to £4 2/6. There was a small entry in the dairy section and a good inquiry existed for cows just in milk or close to profit. An exceptionally good cow realized £ll/2/6, others up to £9/17/6. The demand for factory calvers was poor, the best of these bringing from £3/10/- to £4/10/-. Bulls brought from £4 to £5.