More Interest In Store Cattle At The Stortford Lodge Sale

Wanganui Chronicle, 10 June 1948, Page 8

More Interest In Store Cattle At The Stortford Lodge Sale

(P.A.) Hastings, June S. More interest was taken in the sale of a yarding of 530 head of -store cattle at Stortford Lodge today, the rostrum being well filled when selling began. Bidding was steady throughout and values showed a sharp advance of 20s to 30s a heart. The yarding today included a greaterproportion of older cattle than in recent Weeks. All classes of cattle shared in the improved tone, bidding being well spread among Hawke’s Bay buyers. Good conditioned bullocks sold at £l4 14s to £l5 Is, light at £l3 17s, rising thee-year steers at £l2 17s, good rising two-year steers at £8 17s to £9 14s, and smaller at £6 6s to £7 13s. Quality weaner steers sold at £7 Is and small weaner steers at £4 Is to £5 10s, empty cows at £6 Is, rising two-year heifers at £5 Ils, and small weaner heifers at £3 17s. Heifer and ox beef met sound inquiry, but the demand for cows was sticky w-hen a yarding of 200 head eame forward of cattle of good average quality, with beasts from outside the district predominating. In the better finished pens competition was keen. The top price was £25 3s 6d. These cattle were sizey and well finished. Some good quality heifers were offered. There was the keenest interest in this class of beef. Prime ox was traded at from £lO 18s 6d to £2b 3s 6d. No lighter beasts were offet4ed. Prime heifers found buyers at £l4 3s 6d to £l5 18s 6d, medium selling at £l3 3s 6d to £l4 Is, and lighter at £ll 8s 8d to £l2 18s 6d. Prime cows changed hands at £l2 18s 6d to £l4 18s, medium at £ll Us to £l2 3s 6cl and light from £9 3s 6d to £lO. Several pens coming forward failed to reach their reserve and were passed in. Runners made £6 18s 6d to £lO Us and vealers realised £4 2s to £4 14s. Beeding ewes again eased in values, and hoggets were cheaper by Is to 2s a head. A yarding of 4000 head was offered. There was a smaller attendance tnan usual. Some were good quality early lambing propositions. It was apparent that the feed situation is sapping the confidence of buyers and the prospect of severe frosts did not help the market. The most attractive offering was a typey draft of sound-mouthed five-year ewes, which realised 36s 9d. Two-tooth ewes sold at 31s 9d to 38s, six-year-olds at 28s Id, and aged lines at 30s to 34s 6d. Hoggets were not so plentiful. Shorn wether hoggets brought 20s, and woolly wether hoggets 16s to 235. Good wethers sold at 38s 6d. Mutton values were maintained at recent rates after the market had opened sluggishly. Quality, as a whole, was not outstanding, though there were a few good pens of lambs Values for prime wethers ranged from 49s 4d to 53s 4d, with lighter at 32s lOd to 44s Id. Butchers paid up to 39s 7d for extra prime ewes, 30s lOd to 34s Id for prime and 24s Id to 27s lOd for unfinished. Heavy lambs were traded at 38s Id to 44s lOd, medium at 34s 4d to 37s Id, and light at 24s lOd to 27s lOd.