Firmer Fat Sheep Market Was Evident At Stortford Lodge

Wanganui Chronicle, 28 April 1949, Page 7

Firmer Fat Sheep Market Was Evident At Stortford Lodge

HASTINGS, Last Night (PA).—De-, spite the beneficial rains which fell at the week-end, farmers failed to ms-' play any great enthusiasm at Stort- ! ford Lodge today. An average attendance of farmers was offered a better supply of lambs than in recent weeks, but the bidding was a little hesitant and values easier, particularly for woolly lines. Breeding ewes sold well, however, and wethers just about held to ruling rates. Lambs predominated in the yarding of 7000 head, good shorn lines making 30s to 33s and lighter 27s 7d to 295. Values for medium woolly wether lambs ranged from 27s Id to 30s 9d. Shorn ewe lambs from the Gisborne district were traded at 27s 6d to 335. Good two-tooth wethers sold at 40s and grown wethers at 41s 4d. A district farmer paid 35s for in-lamb fiveyear ewes and a line of good mouthing age-marked six-year in-lamb ewes brought 35s 3d. Butchers had to pay more money for quality pens when the fat sheep market firmed by up to 2s a head. There was a short yarding in which quality was generally inferior. An exception was a line of well-finished heavy wethers. These sheep changed hands at 48s Id for the line after a spirited session of bidding. Prim'e heavy wethers were traded at 44s lOd to 48s Id, other prime pens bringing 42s 4 to 43s 7d and light and unfinished 38s lOd to 39s 7d. Prime aged ew’es change hands at 32s lOd to 35s Id, medium weights making 29s lOd to 31s lOd and light 25s lOd to 27s lOd. Prime- young ewes realised to 39s lOd,

with prime young Down ewes at 37s lOd to 38s lOd. Although the sale of 510 head of store cattle was watched by a good gathering of farmers, competition was not particularly keen. There were a number of passings and where vendors met the market they did so at values which showed an easing tendency. Even where quality was ofering the auctioneers had to battle hard to extract bids from prospective buyers, who were operating within definite limits. The entry included some attractive farming propositions, but it was evident from the inquiry that many farmers are still doubtful about winter feed prospects. Bullocks were traded at £l3 10s to £l4 18s, two-off steers £l3 17s 6d for a quality line and one-off steers at £lO 4s to £lO 9s. In-calf cows brought £8 2s 6d and one-off heifers £7 10s to £8 7s 6d. Beef values were on a par to a shade better than those obtained in the easier market last week. Quality was good in a yarding of 153 head, but buyers again operated within defined limits and £23 16s was the best price obtained for heavyweight bullocks. These beasts were included in the well-finished consignment. There was an absence of cow beef, but good quality medium-weight heifers were in plentiful supply. For prime heavyweight bullocks buyers paid £2l 18s 6d to £23 16s, medium-weights selling at £2O 18s 6d to £2l 3s 6d. and light at £lB 3s 6d to £lB 18s 6d. Prime quality heifers were traded at, £l3 13s 6d to £l4 16s, with others at £ll 3s 6d to £l2 3s 6d and light down to £8 18s 6d.