LIVESTOCK REPORTS

Wanganui Chronicle, 26 June 1948, Page 6

LIVESTOCK REPORTS

Forward Bullocks In Demand Secure High Prices At Feilding (P.A.) Palmerston North, June 25, High prices were offered lor forward bullocks at the livestock sale in Feilding when a limited yarding changed hands under keen competition. These were big cattle with age and were ideally suited for early fattening. The best pen traded at £l9 2s, the highest price for store station, cattle recorded for many years. A limited offering of ox beef also sold to £2l 7 S 6d. Prime mutton was dearer, heavy wethers making to 54s lOd, but prices for ewes and lambs were slightly easier. A stronger tone was prevalent in the store sheep department with store wether lambs making to 33s Id, while good in-lamb ewes were dearer. A fair percentage of the sheep offered in the fat pens failed to measure up to qualification, In the case of ewe mutton the gap between the lowest price of 14s and the highest price of 35s lOd, emphasises the marketing weakness. Approximately 1000 head offered and 850 sold. The majket was generally firm with buyers vrepared to pay lull value for quality sheep. The best of the wethers sold trom 48s lOd to 54s 7d, ewes 32s 4d to 35s lOd, and lambs 35s Id to 38s 4d. Selected pens of in-lamb ewes excited strong competition. In the store sheep section, which offered close on 3000 head of mixed quality stock, small pens of mixed aged ewes with good mouths sold from 34s 4d to 40s, while the best of the 5-year sorts sold at 34s- Forward wether lambs sold readily at up to 33s Id, the tops froYff a Taihape draft being traded at 32s Id, and good quality, well bred ewe lambs on the smallish side from the same district changed hands at 31s 7d. There was generally a brighter ton'd throughout, although not all the pens found buyers. Grown cattle in forward order were featured in the station cattle pens and the limited offering attracted keen competition for beasts with size and age. Values obtained indicated the real strength of the market for such cattle where fatteners had the feed. A pen of A.A. 5-year bullocks changed hands at £l9 2s, and another pen, not quite so well done, found a buyer at £lB. These prices for forward store cattle were the highest recorded in the Feilding yards for many years, Three to four-year-old A.A. cattle sold from £ll 2s to £l3 ss. A line of prime ox created new interest in the longneglected fat cattle section. A pen of A.A. steers sold at £2l 7s 6d, and others at £2O 7s 6d and £lB 7s 6d. The large attendance for the sale of dairy cattle was due to the inr elusion of some very good quality beasts, The market was very firm with sales as follow: Springing heifers, £8 to £l6; springing cows, £7 to £l7 10s; cow in milk, £l7 10s; heifer in milk, £4; weaner heifers, £4 5s to £5 17sLate rates prevailed for the offering of boner cattle.