STOCK MARKET REVIEW

Southland Times, Issue 24533, 6 September 1941, Page 10

STOCK MARKET REVIEW

VALUES LOWER THAN LAST YEAR Fat cattle prices in the South Island this season have been consistently below market rates for last winter and spring. The lower values have been disappointing to graziers who have had to contend with a more severe winter in which the feeding problem for stock has given more anxiety than usual. Two factors have been largely responsible, the first being the reduced killings for export in Southland during the autumn, and the second the regulations of retail prices of meat. Supplies of fat cattle offering at the sales have been greater than in some previous seasons and butchers have been reluctant to compete keenly for the stock because their retail meat prices had been fixed by Government regulation. The average of present values is about 7/6 per 100 lb below last years At Lorneville on Tuesday there was a moderate entry of fat cattle- of whicH only a small percentage was of good quality. There was a keen demand for good quality medium and lightweight cattle, but inferior sorts were neglected. The best quality showed an improvement in value of about £l/10/- a bead, but unfinished sorts sold at rates similar to last week. There was practically no change in values at. Burnside, but there was a rise of about £1 a head at Addington. Lorneville prices were as follows: — Prime quality bullocks up to £l7/17/6; medium weights £l3/10/-to £l4/10/—; lightweights £l2 .to £l2/15/-; prime quality cows to £l4/15/-; good quality £ll/10/- to £l2/10/-; medium £9 to £10; unfinished £7 to £8; inferior £4/10/- to £5/10/-, prime quality mediumweight heifers £l3 to £l4; handyweights £ll/15/- to £l2/16/-; lightweights £9/10/- to £lO/10/-. More wethers than usual were offered at Lorneville on Tuesday. Prices remained firm, but ewes showed an improvement in values by about 2/a head compared with the previous week. Burnside prices were unchanged, but those at Addington were slightly firmer for wethers and slightly easier for ewes. Lorneville rates were as follows:—Prime heavy wethers from 35/- to 36/9; prime quality 33/to 34/-. medium 29/6 to 31/-; inferior 22/- to 24/-; extra prime young ewes to 23/-; prime heavy 21/- to 22/-; good quality 19/6 to 20/6; medium 17/to 18/-; inferior 14/- to 15/6.