STOCK MARKET REVIEW

Southland Times, Issue 24106, 20 April 1940, Page 14

STOCK MARKET REVIEW

STORE SHEEP SALES CONCLUDING

LOWER PRICES OBTAINED FOR OLD EWES Store sheep entries at country stock sales and at Lorneville this week have indicated that the selling season for ewes is practically at an end. Young ewes and older ewes in good fresh condition are still selling fairly well, but the poor cull lots are not in demand. With the prospects for winter feed not as good as last year graziers are wary of increasing their flocks for the winter and it has been noticeable that there has been less late demand this season than there was a year ago when the feed position was better and farmers made late purchases as it became apparent that they could increase their stocking for the lambing season. The prices for breeding ewes throughout the selling period have been firmer than at last year’s sales, rates being stimulated by firmer lamb and wool values and the prospects of these values being constant for several seasons. Firmer rates have also ruled at the ram fairs this season and the total value of ewes and rams which have changed hands this season is believed to be a record for the province. More than one stockbroking firm has reported that the turnover has reached record proportions, both in numbers and value.

STORE LAMB SALES Store lambs have occupied a more prominent position in the store sheep pens during the last two weeks and many of the final sales of lambs which growers have been unable to fatten have been made. Lambs in good forward position have realized fair prices, but there has been a very poor demand for carry-over lambs. Even ewe lambs which are small and low in condition have been sold at very cheap rates because farmers have found that lambs of this class seldom develop into sturdy breeding ewes. Many drafts of back-country lambs which are in forward condition have met a strong demand from farmers on river-flat country who are able to fatten them before the freezing works close. Drafts of fat lambs are coming for'ward in large numbers at the freezing works which are at present very busy. Although April is well advanced the end of the season is by no means in sight, but killings have now reached a total of about 1,000,000 and the bulk of the remainder should be brought .in within a month. If supplies are maintained it is possible that the works may remain open longer this year because of the desire to export the greatest possible total of lambs. FEWER FAT CATTLE A much smaller entry of fat cattle was forward at Lorneville this week and prices showed a firming tendency. The presence of an export buyer stimulated the market and the quality was well up to the better standard of several recent weeks. Bullocks were dearer by about £1 a head and cows rose by as much as £l/10/- a head, the average for the greater part of the sale being close to the export rate of 35/- per 1001 b. Prices ranged as follows:— Good quality mediumweight bullocks £l2 to £l3/10/-, handyweights from £lO/15/- to £ll/10/-, and lightweights from £9 to £10; prime heavy heifers up to £l2, handyweights £lO to £lO/15/-, and lightweights from £8 to £9; prime quality cows £9/10/- to £lO/5/-, good quality from £B/10/— to £9, medium £7 to £7/15/-, and aged £5 to £6. No change was noticeable in the prices for fat sheep, the smaller entry of which was made up mainly of ewes with only a few pens of wethers. Rates were as follows: Prime quality wethers 29/- to 30/9, good quality 27/- to 28/and medium 24/- to 26/-; prime young ewes to 21/3, good quality ewes 19/to 20/- and freezing ewes 13/- to 17/6. There was only a small entry of fat lambs which were of medium quality. Most of these realized from 22/- to 23/6.