LIVESTOCK MARKETS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 190, 13 August 1938, Page 15

LIVESTOCK MARKETS

SIMILARITY OF VALUES EFFECT OB' INCLEMENT WEATHER Livestock business during the past week, reports the Farmers’ Co-op., has been quiet and nc material change in values has been discernible. With feed scarce pasture growth and warmer weather is wanted, and no reassurance of markets showing their former keenness will be evidenced until this comes about. Early lambing is now fairly general and farmers have had a worrying time the past week. With gales from the south, accompanied by heavy driving cold rain, it is feared that losses must be general. In fact, all . tock that has come under our notice is showing evidence of the buffeting of last week’s storm and the trying conditions experienced. Although both wether and ewe hoggets are ei-quired for, quotations of top sheep are not to be had to any great extent. We report sales at the following prices:—Wether hoggets, 16s to 17s; ewe hoggets, from 25s to 275, w’th an outstanding, well-grown, good conditioned line at 30s. Fat sheep, especially finished wethers, are in short supply, and this market is firm. The supply of fat ewes is fast diminishing and quotations in this class range as follows:—Prime quality wethers, 275, 28s 6d; medium quality wethers, 255; best ewes, 21s, with other sales from 15s to 17s. Freezing wethers show a reduction in schedule. The top is now 235. Prices for lamb and ewes are unchanged. The position with the beef section is that a definite shortage of prime beef is now apparent. It is also noticeable that the quality yarded the past week, especially in the Jersey class, does not show the standard of that of a month ago. Most cattle show a “weathered” look. This market, however, is firm and the following range of prices is ruling: Prime P.A. beef, £9; medium quality P.A. beef, £8 to £8 10s; best Jersey beef, £7; medium Jersey beef, £6 to £6 10s, with light and unfinished kinds at £5 5s to £5 10s.

There is little activity shown in the store cattle market. As reported in our last week’s review, this market will not show any keenness until pasture growth is assured. In the meantime the majority of the business is transacted at the various auction sales, where yardings, mostly of a nondescript variety, are absorbed through the usual channels at values quite on a par with recent rates.

The demand for dairy cattle continues. Some good sales were made during the week. Buyers, however, are selecting cattle only in good condition, close to profit or in full milk, and values for this class are quite up to the previous week’s prices. They are as follows:—Best springing cows, £l4, with various other sales at £ll to £l2; forward heifers, £l2, with other sales from £9 to £lO. Backwardconditioned. aged, and late calvers are not readily sold unless at greatly reduced prices. Dairy heifers still solicit enquiry, but it is hard to get quotations of good cattle. The majority now offering lack the condition and quality of former lots. However, prices for this class range as follows: Top heifers, £lO 10s, with other sales from £8 to £9 10s. Weaner heifers and other dairy sorts show no alteration as compared with our previous week’s report.

A decided advancement in prices for weaner pigs and young sows due to farrow early is in evidence. At our last Hawera sale, all classes were readily disposed of under keen competition: Large stores, to 345; smaller, 28s; weaners averaged from 18s to 21s, with smaller at 14s.

THE FEILDING SALE ALL PRICES IMPROVE [ Per Press Association.] FEILDING, Aug. 12. There was a definite improvement in alt prices at the Feilding sale today. Mutton advanced considerably, as did store lambs. The cattle sale also was brighter. Range of prices:— Fat Sheep.—Prime wethers, 28s to 295, others 24s 6d to 26s 6d; choice lambs, 30s, prime 20s 6d to 23s 9d; prime ewes 20s to 24s 9d, lighter 15s to 18s 9d. Store Sheep.—Two-tooth ewes, 27s to 355, 4-year 27s 6d to 29s 6d, 4 and 5-year 22s 6d to 26s 6d, 6-tooth 28s Bd, 4 and 6-tooth 355; forward wethers 27s 4d; b.f. lambs 14s 9d to 18s, wether ditto 15s 6d to 21s 3d, ewe ditto 20s to 295. Store Cattle.—Three-year S.H. bullocks £7 7s; 4-year P.A. ditto £9 14s; cows, £2 10s to £4 15s; heifers £2 7s 6d to £4 2s. Dairy Cattle.—Springing cows £3 to £9 15s; cows in milk £6; springing heifers 75s to £lO 15s; heifers in milk £4 to £6 10s. Fat Cattle—P.A. bullocks £8 17s 8d to £lO 12s 6d; P.A. cows £7 6s to £9 10s; Jersey ditto £4 10s to £6 15s.