LIVESTOCK MARKETS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 290, 8 December 1939, Page 3

LIVESTOCK MARKETS

STORTFCRD LODGE HASTINGS. Dec. 6. An increasingly keen demand was shown for fat cattle as the sellizg progressed at Shortford Lodge to-day. Another short yarding of 109 stationbred sorts was penned, and, after a quiet opening, bidding became spirited, specially for heifers, which, late in the sale, were fully 20s a head dearer than on the opening rates. A limited supply of ox beef was on offer to make from 31s 6d to 34s a 1001 b. In the heifer pens the chief entries ranged from £8 10s to £9 15s. The heavier pens brought from 35s to 36s a 1001 b., and lighter pens were 2s a 1001 b. dearer. The few prime cows on offer were well sought, and made from £9 to £lO. The sale opened with a run of lightlylinished sorts, plain in quality, which realised from 16 10s to £7 2s. With practically no selection in a very small yarding of 16u head of store cattle, little interest was taken in the selling. In this section, the chief entry was a draft of two-year heifers which ranged from £4 6s to £4 9s. Two-year steers in fair order made £5 10s, The remainder ot the yarding was made up of very small nondescript pens. The market for fat sheep showed little change. In the small yarding of 500 ewes predominated, and most of these were overfat, making wasty cutting. Heavy, prime, early-shorn wethers brought from 23s lid to 24s 6d, medium to heavy 22s 6d, and light sorts 20s. Other good, heavy entries brought from 16s 6d to 19s, and medium pens to 15s 6d. Downcross prime ewes sold at 17s, and similarlybred two-tooth ewes, prime finished, sold at 19s. Unshorn ewes brought tronr 16s to 20s 9d. A few lambs were penned to make 23s 6d. A rise of up to is a head was shown lor wethers in the store sheep yarding ot 2000 head. Competition was keen for the forward entries, and the highest price since the season opened was realised for a draft of Puketitiri-bred two-tooth ewes in splendid order and just off the shears, which sold at 25s Bd. Well-bred four- | tooth wethers in very forward condition, and early shorn, brought from 19s 9d to 19s lid, and forward twotooth wethers 17s 2d. Pens in good store order made 16s, and lighter 15s. Aged, well-woolled ewes with wellgrown Down-cross lambs at foot made 15s lOd, all counted.