STOCK MARKET REVIEW

Southland Times, Issue 24237, 21 September 1940, Page 13

STOCK MARKET REVIEW

FIRMER PRICES FOR FATS

SOUTH ISLAND VALUES MORE UPWARD

An increase of from 15/- to £1 a head, representing an improvement of about 2/6 per 1001 b, occurred in the fat cattle market at Lorneville this week. A small entry caused prices to move slowly upwards towards the higher levels which were ruling a few weeks ago. The most notable feature about the market 1 was, however, the sharp firming of fat sheep prices by from 4/- to 5/- a head compared with the previous sale. There were short entries of all classes of fat stock and the keen demand stimulated values to a marked extent.

All the principal South Island fat cattle markets showed a firm tone this week and appeared to have recovered from the recent weaknesses and downward movements which have followed large entries. Bumside and Addington values were considerably higher than those obtained at Lorneville. Advances were shown at Burnside for medium and lightweight cattle, the heavier grades remaining steady at last week’s rates. The keenest demand prevailed at Addington for best quality beef, values ranging up to 54/- per 1001 b. Rates at Burnside were highest for prime ox at 51/6. Over the bulk of the sale at Lorneville beef sold at 45/per 1001 b. Some exceptionally prime heifers and steers were included in the short entry at the local sale, the level of quality over the whole yarding being above the average. There was brisk bidding throughout the sale and prices were fairly steady at the enhanced rates. Following is a range of prices:—Prime heavy ox beef up to £23, prime handyweight bullocks from £l6 to £lB, lighter and unfinished £l2 to £l3/10/-; extra prime cows up to £lB, good handy weight cows from £l3 to £l5 and lighter sorts from £9 to £lO/10/-; prime heavy heifers to £l6/10/-, medium weights from £l3 to £l5 with lighter sorts from £lO to £ll/10/-. Fat sheep entries were small at all the South Island markets and prices moved upward, but those in the north showed a lesser increase than the Southland rates. At Lorneville values were close to the highest levels for the season. The quality was only fair on the whole, there being only a few pens of good quality wethers. Very few prime ewes were offered. Prices ranged as follows:—Prime heavyweight wethers from 44/9 to 48/-, prime mediumweight wethers from 42/6 to 45/-, medium from 36/- to 38/- and lighter from 32/- to 35/-; prime mediumweight ewes from 35/- to 37/6, medium 32/to 34/- and lighter from 28/- to 30/-. The store sheep sale was a good one, values being better than those obtained at recent sales. Ewe hoggets made from 32/- to 33/6, wether hoggets bringing up to 24/-. A pen of full-mouth breeding ewes made 28/3, while ewes and lambs made from 13/6 to 16/3 all counted. A line of 4 and 6-tooth wethers realized 30/6.