Store Cattle Easier At Stortford Lodge, Breeding Ewes High

Wanganui Chronicle, 24 June 1948, Page 6

Store Cattle Easier At Stortford Lodge, Breeding Ewes High

(P.A.) Hastings, June 23. Values lor store cattle at Stortford Lodge today were easier after the improved market of the past fortnight. Farmers flooded the market with 1100 head and at the same time the rostrum was more sparsely peopled. Some of the cattle came from the Wairoa district, but the greater part of the entry was from Hawke’s Bay properties, some vendors being forced to accept ruling values because of lack of cattle feed. Bullocks were traded at from £ll 10s to £l4, rising three-year steers at £ll 15s, rising two-year steers at £8 9s to £8 14s, and weaner steers at £4 17s to £6 16s. Values fop empty cows ranged from £4 12s to £6 15s, and for breeding cows from £5 to £5 ss. Rising two-year heifers £6 Bs, and weaner heifers £4 Is. The beef market opened sluggishly and remained sticky right tnroughout. A large yarding of 230 head was offered for sale, but pen after pen was sold subject to buyers’ confirmation or passed in. when it failed to reach the reserve value. There evidently was a temporary glut in the market and butchers could well afford to be discriminating in their operations. The quality in general was good, and particularly so in the bullock offering, which included several pens of sizey, well-finished beasts. For these inquiry was brighter and the values obtained were about on a par with schedule rates. Two bullocks in really prime condition topped the market for ox beef at £22 18s 6d.

Quality was also featured in the heifer pens, but buyers were unwilling to go to the £l4 mark. One pen ol nicely-finished heifers made £l4 18s 6d. Values for prime ox ranged from £l9 3s 6d to £22 18s 6d, with £l7 8s 6d to £lB 3s 6d being paid for a medium pen. Well-finished steers realised £l2 3s 6d. Prime heifers were traded at from £ll 18s 6d to £l4 18s 6t). medium at £lO 3s 6d and lighter at £9 16s. A choice pen of young, well finished heifers in meaty order were knocked down at £9 Is. Prime cows brought 12 3s 6d, and medium realised £9 8s 6d to £l9 13s 6d. Vealers changed hands at £2 5s to £3 10s.

Ruling rates were maintained in the fat sheep market and buyers showed an interest in the best quality pens. The wether offering was not outstanding, but butchers paid up to 55s 4d for a pen ot extra prime sorts. Prime young ewes made 37s 7d to 39s lOd, with lighter at 36s lOd. Prime old ewes realised 35s 4d to 37s lOd, with medium at 34s 7d, and unfinished at 27s lOd to 28s 7d, Extra prime wethers were quoted at 55s 4d. Prime sold at 47s Id to 52s 4d, medium at 41s 4d to 46s 3d, and light at 36s lOd to 38s. Heavy lambs made 50s 4d, medium 42s 4d, and small 28s lOd. Breeding ewes dominated the store sheep section, and for this class of farming proposition the demand was again strong. There were some quality consignments offering of early lambing in a yarding of 2500 head, and for these competition was keen from a large gathering of farmers. The lift in the market for older breeding ewes was illustrated when a draft brought the season's highest price, 395. For top quality 5-year ewes prices of 37s 2d and 37s 4d were paid. Other ewes of the same age realised 28s 6d to 31s. Four-tooths changed hands at 41s 4d, medium twotooth ewes sold at 35s 6d to 36s 4d, mixed aged lines at 28s 6d to 39s 6d, and empty ewes at 20s 6d. Hoggets had almost disappeared from the yarding today, but one good line was traded at 29s 6d. Wethers, which were also in short supply, made 37s to 37s 3d.