Store And Fat Sheep Values Firm At Stortford Lodge

Wanganui Chronicle, 10 November 1949, Page 8

Store And Fat Sheep Values Firm At Stortford Lodge

HASTINGS, Last Night (PA).— With the promise of renewed pasture growth the small gathering of farmers who followed the store sheep market at Stortford Lodge today bid strongly, with the result that values tended to firm. Because of wet weather only a small yarding of 1800 head came forward, these being mostly from nearby farms. Wethers provided the bulk of the entry and these included some attractive farming propositions. The sale firmed as it progressed, the early offering making better buying than those which came forward later. Top price for shorn 2-tooth wethers was 38s 9d. Others: Good shorn 2tooth wethers brought 36s to 36s 3d and small 35s 2d and 35s 3d. Shorn 4-tooth wethers were traded at 39s 7d, grown wethers 38s 6d, and woolly 2 and 4-tooth wethers 57s lOd. Ewes with lambs were in short supply, values ranging from 28s to 37s 6d, all counted. Shorn 2-tooth ewes brought 36s to 465. Broken wether conditions resulted in there being one of the shortest yardings of fat sheep seen for some time. In consequence there was a marked firming tendency about the market, values appreciating by up to Is 6d a head The quality was about average and the firming was most pronounced on wethers. For medium quality shorn aged ewes butchers paid 28s 7d to 28s lOd, with inferior sorts bringing 24s lOd to 25s lOd. Prime young ewes off the shears sold at 37s 4d. Prime shorn wethers were traded at 41s 7d to 44s lOd, medium weights going at 38s lOd to 40s Id. A pen of prime hoggets in the wool changed hands at 54s 4d. Renewed interest in store cattle was shown when the market re-

covered its decline last week. The | attendance in the rostrum was sub[stantially larger than last week and I bidding on the entry of 499 head was steady from the outset, it being found much easier to effect sales than it was a week ago. It is apparent that farmers were thinking in terms of pasture control requirements now that beneficial rains have fallen throughout the province. The marIket was well supplied with heifers, for which the inquiry was strong. Well-grown bullocks with a bit of ! condition sold at £9 10s to £l9 17s 6d, three-year steers at £l5 15s, two-year , steers at £l4 2s to £l4 ss, and year- '[ ling steers £8 7s 6d to £lO 9s. Good, i empty heifers realised £l2 7s 6d to £l3. Other heifers brought £8 17s I 6d to £9 15s. j Though butchers were confronted with a large yarding of 206 head of ’fat cattle they provided keen compe- { tition and the market held strong on : recent rates. There was a good I lection of quality in the entry. Heifers were again in heaviest dei mand for the summer trade. Seven ■ heifers sold at £lB 3s 6d to £2O 13s 16d, which was the biggest price that ;has been paid for some time. Cows I topped the market at £lB 8s 6d. ■ Prime medium weight ox was traded •at £22 Ils to £25 Ils, with lightweights at £l9 Is to £2l 13s 6d and steers at £l5 18s 6d to £l7 18s 6d. For prime heavy heifers butchers paid £lB 13s 6d to £2O 13s 6d, prime medium-weight beasts bringing £l6 Is 6d to £l7 18s 6d. lighter £l4 13s 6d ito £l5 165,, and unfinished £l3 13s 6d. Prime heavy cows changed hands at £l7 3s 6d to 18 8s 6d. with prime medium-weights at £l5 Is to £l6 8s 6d, and good lightweights at £l3 Is 1 to £l4 8s 6d.