A FIRM TONE

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 530, 6 December 1928, Page 12

A FIRM TONE

N.Z. STOCK MARKETS EXPORTERS BUYING FREELY By R.W.C. A feature of New Zealand stock ■ markets at the moment is the increased strength of buyers for overseas. With the freezing season started in the principal centres, there is keen competition for any stock fit for the works. Prices are maintained on levels well above last season’s opening rates. THEj general trend of the markets | *•* over the past few weeks has been to fall nearer to the export parity. This movement was more apparent in the Auckland Province than elsewhere. The increased strength of the export buyers at Westfield yesterday, however, and the greater quota of stock lifted, showed that bedrock for the time being was not far off. Yesterday export buyers accounted for an appreciable percentage of the offering of beef, taking several lots of choice quality steers, indicating that for the time being at least they were prepared to hold the market practically on present, levels. Satisfactory killings of lambs are reported at most North Island works for this time of the year, and the season opened in Canterbury this week with indications pointing to a good season. North Island prices hold firm at on the hooks for first up to 361 b. Westfield Beef Market Firm At Westfield yesterday an aggregate beef yarding of approximately 600 head, compared with 750 last -week and 900 the week before, met with a very firm demand. Cow beef showed a slight advance, making up to 375. Special lines of young ox made to 425. j but the greater part of the offering of steer beef made from 37s to 40s. Slightly under an average yarding of sheep saw the market open very firm at last week’s rates. The market for wethers held throughout, but a preponderance of ewes resulted in a slight easing toward the close. Several pens of extra choice prime big-framed wethers, on account of the Waipa Estate, Putaruru, topped the market, making to 35s 6d, the tops going to A. Scotting, Ltd., St. Hellers, D. Heslop. Onehunga, and W. Scott’s, Ltd., Devonport. An average yarding of lambs met with a slightly easier market. Calves were easier, the decline being particularly noticeable toward the close. The market for pigs had a decidedly firmer tone, porkers meeting with a specially firm demand. Johnsonville Market A large yarding in all sections came forward to the Johnsonville (Wellington) market yesterday. Wethers and ewes met with a good sale at prices on a par with last week’s rates. Lambs were in keen demand. The bullocks offered were of good quality, but prices showed a decline on late rates. Heifers and cows were more sought after. This class of beef met with keen competition. Vealers sold freely. Bullocks made £l6 to £l7; cows. £lO 12s 6d to £ls 2s 6d; heifers, £l3 17s 6d to £l4 7s 6d; wethers, 29s to 325: ewes. 25s 3d to 27s 7d; two-tooths, 27s Gd to 31s 3d; lambs, 24s 6d to 325. H. 8., Market Slightly Easier Compared with last week prices at the Stortford Lodge (Hastings) sale yesterday were slightly easier. A medium yarding of both sheep and cattle was submitted to a representative attendance of buyers. Fat bullocks made £l3 to £l6 10s; fat cows, £lO 5s to £l3: fat heifers, £7 to £l3 ss; 2-year Shorthorn crofs heifers, £6 9s; yearling Hereford and Polled Angus cross steers, £5 13s; ewes, 20s to 21s 6d; wethers, 24s 6d to 27s Sd: 4 and 6-tooth ewes, 28s 6d; 2 and 4tooth ewes, 29s 3d; woolly ewes with Southdown lambs, £2 6s to £2 8s 9d. Smaller Entries at Addington Yesterday’s market at Addington was the first since the freezing season opened, but entries; for both sheep and lambs were smaller owing to the liberal export prices offered on the farm, which are causing farmers to consign their stock direct to the works. A heavier entry of store sheep included Poverty Bay ewes and Otago-shorn Merino wethers. There was a good demand for the North Island sheep, which made up to 29s for 4 to 8tooth ewes. A smaller entry of 640 lambs met with keen competition at slightly over export rates, prime lambs under 361 b making to 105 d. Extra prime wethers made to 35s lOd; extra prime ewes to 33s 6d. The market for plain beef was slightly easier, but choice ox sold freely at up to : 49s a hundred. Extra heavy prime steers made to £24 17s 6d; extra prime heifers, to £l7 17s 6d. Prices at Westfield Prices at Westfield yesterday ranged as follows: Cattle. —Heavy prime steers, to £l6 12s 6d: medium prime, £l3 to £l4 7s 6d. light prime. £ll 5s to £l2 17s 6d; small and unfinished, £9 15s to £ll 2s 6d; Extra heavy prime young cows and heifers I made £ll 10s to £l2 17s 6d for cows from H. E. Reed, Waerenga, purchased by Smith and Smith, Grey Lynn. Heaw prime cows and heifers made £9 10 s to £ll 7s 6d; lighter prime, £8 to £9 7s 6d; other killable cows, £5 10s to £7 Sheep.—Extra heavy prime made £1 14s to 35s 6d; heavy prime, £1 I 12s to £1 13s 9d: medium to heavy prime, £1 10s to £1 11s 9d; light to medium j prime, £1 8s to £1 9s 9d; unfinished, £1 6s to £1 7s 9d; extra heavy prime I Voung ewes, £1 5s to £1 7s 6d; heavy : prime ewes, £1 3s to £1 4s 9d; lighter ; prime, £1 Is to £1 2s 9d; other killable ewes, 18s to 20s 6d. Lambs.—Heavy prime lambs made £1 7s to 29s 3d: lighter prime, £1 5s 6d to £1 6s 9d; light prime, £1 3s to £1 5s 3d. small, £1 Is to £1 2s 9d. Calves.—Runners made £4 5s to £7 2s: heavy vealers, £4 to £4 12s; medium. £3 8s to £3 18s; light, £2 10s to £3 f smaller, £2 to £2 8s; small and fre.j dropped. Ss to £1 ISs; rough calves, £1 to £2 ss. Pigs.—Choppers sold at 15s to £2 10s; heavy and medium baconers, £2 16s to £3 4s: light baconers and heavy porkers. £2 10s to £2 14s; medium porkers and light porkers, £2 to £2 Ss; small and unfinished porkers, £1 10s to £1 ISs, large stores made £f. 10s to £1 19s; slips. £1 to £1 8s; 8s to 18s.