FAT AND STORE SHEEP MARKET FIRM AT FEILDING

Wanganui Chronicle, 6 May 1950, Page 5

FAT AND STORE SHEEP MARKET FIRM AT FEILDING

PALMERSTON NORTH, Last Night PA).—The fat and store sheep market firmed up at Feilding when 800 fat sheep and just over 3000 store sheep were offered, to a good attendance of operators. Weaner steers were in demand in station cattle, which featured some drafts from the drought area of Northland. Very little trading was done in grown cattle as vendors were content to hold to their reserves. Forward 2 and 4th. wethers experienced a bright inquiry. Vendors had no difficulty in disposing of their offerings. Wether mutton advanced on last week’s prices. In a yarding of fat sheep totalling about 800 there were only some 160 wethers available and these were of medium prime to extra prime. There was strong competition for an offering of close to 400 lambs, while ewe mutton on offer was mostly medium prime types. For the first time this season wether mutton commanded over the 60s mark, a pen of extra prime wholly sorts realising 62s lOd. Maiden ewes sold to 49s lOd, Down cross 2ths to 59s 4d, wethers to 62s lOd, lambs to 48s lOd, and ewes to 40s.

Competition was quite strong in store sheep for both wethers and lambs. Good quality f. and f. 2th. wethers were traded at up to 58s 9d. Tops of wether lambs made to 43s Id, and the best ewe lambs found a buyer at 55s 2d Inquiry for good stock was widespread and the demand act ive.

Backed by the splendid feed position in this district, cattle from Northland figured in the station cattle, but vendors generally were not inclined to come below their reserves. Most of the business was confined to weaner sheers, many of which were of good quality, and wellbred Hereford steers were passed in, as were several lots of run cows. The only big cattle traded comprised a line of A.A. cross steers of 4-off type, which sold in two lots, the first cut going at £l6 7s, and the balance at £l6 2s 6d. A pen of 20-month. A.A. steers realised £l4 16«. and a pen of 3-off A.A. heifers made £l2. Buyers competed freely for a limited offering of dairy cattle and. winter calvers sold, at good money. Springing heifers sold from £9 5s to £l7 10s, springing cows £7 15s to £l5 15s; heifers in milk, £9 5s to £l5 10s; cows in milk. £l6; weaner heifers, £3 10s to £7 ss; 20mos. heifers, £5 16s to £7 10s.