Big Influx Of Store Sheep At Stortford Lodge Sale

Wanganui Chronicle, 3 November 1949, Page 10

Big Influx Of Store Sheep At Stortford Lodge Sale

HASTINGS, Last Night (PA).— With grass seed growers now preparing to close their paddocks, there was a sudden influx of store sheep at Stortford Lodge today. Many drafts on offer in the yarding of 8500 head came from the grass seed areas and included sheep which, for quality, were in the main superior to consignments which came forward last. week. Although Manawatu and Wairarapa buyers were included among t«e attendance, which was little smaller than .usual, the wether market, while still strong, was inclined to be a little easier. Good well-grown shorn twotooth wethers sold at up to 37s lOd, with medium grown at 35s to 35s 7d. Four-tooths off the shears were traded at 36s 2d, with four and six-tooths at 37s 3d a nd 37s sd, qne line being passed in at 395. The market was also well supplied with ewes with lambs at foot, for which the inquiry was much in line with recent sales, values ranging from 28s Id to 33s 7d, all counted. A line of shorn ewes with lambs realised 24s lOd. Shorn four-tooth ewes sold at 40s and woolly wether hoggets at 46s sd. Butchers paid late rates for fat sheep when they were offered a yarding of about 1500 head, in which the quality was generally good. Both ewes and wethers were in plentiful supply. Prime aged ewes, off the shears, sold at 28s 7d to 30s lOd, with others at 25s lOd to 27s 4d, and unfinished at 24s to 24s*10d. Prime aged woolly ewes made to 39s lOd and others 34s 4d to 34s 7d. Prime young shorn ewes were quoted at 33s lOd to 35s lOd.

For prime shorn wethers, butchers paid 40s 4d to 41s 4d, lighter sorts bringing 38s 4d to 39s lOd. Small woolly hoggets sold at 36s lua and spring lambs at 24s lOd.

Auctioneers struggled hard to find buyers for the entry of 940 head of store cattle, but their efforts were of little avail. Because bidding was too far below value, values declined sharply by about 25s a head for all classes of cattle. The sale attracted only a small attendance of buyers, who operated on restricted limits which, in many instances, failed to reach the vendors’ reserves. In the first 45 minutes, only two drafts were sold and the market subsequently maintained much the sam e pace.

Presumably the absence of rain in October, which has had its effect on the feed position is now influencing farmers in their buying activities. Bullocks were passed in at up to £l7. Three-year steers sold at £l4 6s with others passed at up to £l5 10s. Most of the sales were effected among two-year-steers, values for these ranging from £l2 4s to £l3 Bs. Empty cows were passed in at £9 5s to £lO 17s Two-year heifers sold at up to £l2 ss.

After easing at. the last two sales, the beef market firmed by up to 30s a head. There was a small yarding of 124 head, which offered a selection of quality, though the beef was lighter than usual. Ox beef was in short supply and the heifers encountered the keenest inquiry. Bullocks topped the market at £24 8s 6d and for cows the top value was £l6 16s. Prime lightweight ox sold at £22 8s 6d. Prime heifers were traded at £l5 13s 6d to £l6 3s 6d, with medium quality at £l3 6s to £l4 13s 6d and light at £lO 8s 6d to £l2 18s 6d. Prime cows sold at £l5 3s 6d to £l6 16s, medium weights bringing £l3 11s to £l4 13s 6d and light £lO 18s 6d to £l2 8s 6d. Runners changed hands at £7 17s 6d and £lO 7s.