STOCK MARKET REVIEW

Southland Times, Issue 23828, 27 May 1939, Page 18

STOCK MARKET REVIEW

SEASON FOR STORE SHEEP ENDED FAT CATTLE PRICES LOWER Although the store sheep selling season has been over for several weeks, small lines are still coming forward at the Lorneville stock yards. Some indication of the growth of importance of the Lorneville yards during recent years is given by the fact that throughout the winter, spring, summer and autumn seasons store sheep were offered at every sale. Until a few years ago, the store sheep offerings were confind to the autumn season and were comparatively rare at other ‘periods of the year. Rapid transport by motorlorry has resulted in rapid growth of Lorneville as a selling centre and several of the country markets are beginning to feel the effects of centralization. It is probable that eventually stock sales in Southland will be reduced to a few centrally-situated markets except • during the autumn when the volume of trading in store sheep makes it necessary that a big number of sales be held. DROP IN SCHEDULE The reduction in the schedule rate for freezing ewes and wethers resulted in a marked reduction in the value of these classes. The entry of fat sheep was much smaller than for several months and fat lambs also were not so numerous. The quality was typical of the end of the season, most of the lambs being light and unfinished. In a fortnight the last of the freezing classes will disappear from the yards with the closing of the freezing works. It does not appear that any lambs suitable for killing this season will be held out of the killings because of the closing date fixed for the companies, but recent drafts have been very light with many lambs only just qualifying for killing. After recent cold weather it would be difficult to fatten any more lambs or sheep this season. At both Lorneville and Bumside this week rates for fat cattle showed a decline, but at Addington prices improved on the previous week. The entry at Lorneville was a big one and this position is likely to continue for several weeks as graziers send forward cattle which they do not wish to carry through the winter. It is possible that with a fair supply of feed available the clearance at the beginning of the winter will not be so great as usual and if this is so there may be a steadier supply than in previous

winters. Last year there was a serious shortage of beef in the early spring and prices reached high levels. RANGE OF PRICES

Prices for fat stock at Lorneville this week ranged as follows:— Cattle.—Good quality bullocks from £lO/10/- to £l2, handyweights £9 to £9/15/-, lightweights £7/10/- to £B/5/-; fair quality cows £8 to'£9, medium £6 to £7, aged and unfinished £3/10/- to £4/10/-; good quality handyweight heifers £8 to £9, lightweights £6 to £6/15/-, small £5 to £5/10/-. Sheep and lambs.—Good quality freezing lambs 21/6 to 23/-, medium 18/6 to 20/-, light and unfinished, 15/to 17/-; good butchers’ wethers 22/6 to 25/-, medium 20/6 to 21/6, light and unfinished 15/- to 18/-; prime butchers’ ewes 15/- to 15/6, good quality 12/6 to 13/6, medium 9/- to 10/-, freezing ewes 6/- to 8/-. . .. L There was a small yarding in the store cattle section, the bulk of the entry being store cows. The best of these sold up to £4/7/-, while good store cows made from £3 to £3/10/-, with cull sorts down to £l. A good pen of heifers realized £5. In the dairy section there was quite a few winter calvers offered but the demand was poor and prices consequently were much lower than was the case last week. An exceptionally good cow made £9/5/-, others bringing from £5 to £6, while factory calvers brought from £3 to £4.