BETTER BEEF DEMAND.

Waikato Times, Volume 112, Issue 18795, 17 November 1932, Page 14

BETTER BEEF DEMAND.

FAT SHEEP DECLINE. CALVES AND PIGS EASY. FAT STOCK AT WEST-FIELD. Late rates for practically all classes of stock ruled at the weekly Westfield sale yesterday. The aggregate yarding was smaller, but good competition existed only for lambs, which met with a brisk demand. •Beef was penned in less than average numbers, the total yarding being 485 head, as compared with 579 head last week. There was a slightly better demand f-or ox beef, and disposals were steady at prices on a par with last week. Some particularly choice quality stock came forward. For cow and heifer beef the inquiry was not so good, but prices were steady at late rates. Extra choice ox sold to 17s per 1001 b, and prime young cow and heifer beef ranged from 14s to 16s. There was a larger yarding of sheep, and a steady demand was maintained for wether and hogget mutton. However, fat ewes were in definite over-supply and there was a further decline in values for these. A satisfactory clearance was again effected in the case of lambs, which came forward in average numbers. An Improved demand was maintained throughout the sale, and prices were fully equal to those of last week. At the ruling rate they were still slightly above the prices offered by exporters. In the oalf section, a smaller offering met with only a moderate demand. Runners were particularly slow of sale, and they declined considerably in price. Rough and unfinished calves also met with a small demand and prices were easier. The Inquiry was in the ,direction chiefly 'of prime vealers, which were disposed of at late rates. Smaller numbers of pigs were available and a -fairly steady demand was maintained. However, prices did not advance and they were easier for store pigs. Comparison of Quotations. The following is a summary of the prices realised for fat stock for the last two weeks at the Westfield fat stook sales:—

Best price In the ox beef market was secured by two trucks of extra prime steers from Mr B. Reed, of Waerenga, which realised up to £7 2s 6d; two trucks from Mr C. G. Vosper, of Cambridge, realised to £6 10s. Prices up to £6 7s 6d were brought by a further consignment from Mr Reed, and up to £5 17s 6d ruled for drafts from Mr F. Vosper, of Tirau and Mr H. Winter, of Tamahere. Cows and heifers sold up to £4 17s 6d, which price was obtained by a truck from Mr J. A. Hill, of Ohlnewai. The Estate of C. Hill, Ohlnewai, sent forward a truck of cows and heifers which made up to £4 15s. A consignment from Mr 11. E. Reed, of Waerenga, realised up to £4 2s 6d, and £3 7s 6d was paid for lots from Mr F. Freegard; of Waerenga, and Mr R. F. Hall, of Walton. Dalgety & Co., Ltd. Messrs Dalgety and Co., Ltd., Auckland report: At our weekly Westfield fat stock market to-day the yarding of ox beef was slightly below average numbers. A better demand existed, and values generally ruled at late rates. Cow and heifer beef was also penned in average numbers, for which values again ruled at late rates. Extra choice ox sold to 17s per 100 lb; choice and prime ox, 14s to 16s; just tillable, 12s to 13s; prime young cow and heifer beef, 14s to 16s; just tillable, 9s to 13s. Lighter prime steers made £5 to £5 15s 6d; light prime steers, £4 2s 6d to £4 17s 6d; small and unfinished steers, £3 17s 6d to £4; extra heavy prime young cows and heifers, £4 to £4 17s 6d. Heavy prime cows and heifers, £3 to £3 17s 6d; lighter prime cows and heifers, £2 2s 6d to £2 17s 6d; other klllable cows, £2. There was a small yarding of calves and good quality vealers were firm at late rates. Rough unfinished calves met with small competition and prices were rather easier. Runners made £1 15s to £3; heavy vealers, £2 10s to £2 17s; medium vealers, £2 5s to £2 12s; light vealers, £1 10s to £2; small vealers, 15s to £l-8s; rough calves, 5s to 12s; small and fresh dropped, is to 12s. Pigs were yarded in average numbers and prices here were again rather easier. Choppers made 10s to £1 10s; heavy baconers. £1 16s to £2 ss; medium baconers, £1 12s to £1 16s; light baconers, £1 3s to £1 11s; heavy porkers, £1 4s to £1 9s: medium porkers, £1 to £1 4s; light porkers, 18s to £l. Sheep came forward in large numbers, for which there was a steady demand at values on a par with late rates for wethers, while the demand for ewes was slack, with a pronounced drop in values. Heavy prime wethers made 11s to 11s 9d; medium prime whethers. 10s fid to Its; light and unfinished wethers, 9s 3d to lOs 3d; heavy prime ewes. 7s to 7s fid: lighter prime ewes, 6s to 6s 9d; other ewes, 4s 9d to 5s 9d. Lambs were penned in numbers fully equal to requirements and found a ready sale at full late rates. Heavy prime lamb made its fid to 12s; medium prime lamb, 10s to Its 3d; light prime, 5s 9d to 10s fid. N.Z. Loan and Mercantile. The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Co., 1,1 d., report: Today, at our weekly Westfield fat stock market, beef was penned in averago numbers- There was a steady demand.

with values for all classes on a par with last Wednesday's sale. Extra choice ox sold to 17s per 100 lb, choice and prime 15s to 16s 6d, srcondarv and plain 13s to 14s 6d, prime young cow and heifer beef, 14s to 16s, secondary 12s to 13s 6d. Heavy prime steers ranged in price from £6 to £6 12s 6d, lighter £5 7s 6d to £5 17s 6d, light £4 7s 6d to £5 ss, unfinished and small, £2 10s to £4 ss, heavy prime young cows and heifers, £3 10s to £4 10s, lighter £2 15s to £3 7s 6d, light £2 to £2 12s 6d, others 20s to 37s 6d. Sheep were yarded in large numbers. There was a steady demand for wethers, which sold at late rates. Fat ewes were plentiful and dull of sale, values being Is to 2s lower. Prime wethers, 10s to 12s 6d; small and unfinished wethers, 7s to 9s 9d; prime maiden ewes, 9s to 10s 6d; prime ewes, 5s to 7s 6d; poorer unfinished ewes, 2s 6d to 4s 9d; prime hoggets, 8s to 11s 6d; small and unfinished, 4s to 7s 6d. Lambs were penned in average numbers and met with a brisk sale, values being firm 2t late rates. Prime lambs made 9s to 13s; small and unfinished, 6s 6d to 8s 9d. Pigs were penned in average numbers. There was a steady sale, with values firm on last week’s quotations. Choppers sold from 17s 6d to £1 10s; heavy and medium baconers, £1 16s to £2 4s; light baconers and heavy porkers, £1 8s to £1 14s; medium porkers and light porkers, £1 to £1 6s. Store pigs- sold at easier values, large stores, 12s to 16s; slips, 8s to 10s; weaners, 5s to 10s. Calves were penned In small numbers. Values were on a par with last week’s quotations. Runners made £1 to £2 8s; heavy vealers, £2 to £2 iis; medium, £1 10s to £1 18s; light, £1 to £1 8s; smaller. 10s to 18s; small and fresh-dropped, 3s to 9s; rough calves, 5s to 9s. Alfred Buokland and Sons. Alfred Buokland and Sons, Limited, report on the sale yesterday as follows : Beef. —We penned fat cattle to the number of 212 head, as against 211 head at last Wednesday’s sale, comprising 156 steers and 56 cows and heifers. The -major portion of the ox beef was of excellent quality. There was no improvement in the demand and values were unchanged. Extra choice ox sold to 17s per 1001 b.; choice and prime ox 14s to 16s; secondary and plain ox, 12s to 13s; prime young cow and heifer beef, 14s to 16s; ordinary cow beef, 8s to 13s. Extra heavy prime steers ranged in price from £6 10s to £7 2s 6d; heavy prime steers, £5 15s to £6 Ts 6d; lighter prime steers, £4 15s to £5 12s 6d; light prime steers, £3 10s to £4 12s 6d; small and unfinished steers, £2 10s to £3 7s 6d; heavy prime cows and heifers, £4 to £4 17s 6d; lighter prime cows and heifers, £2 15s to £3 17s 6d; other klllable cows, £1 5s to £2 12s 6d.

Sheep.—The sheep pens- were moderately filled and there w>as no alteration In the prioe of wether and hogget mutton. Ewes were a trifle easier (971 sheep were sold). Extra heavy prime wethers -made from 13s 6d to 14s 3d; heavy prime wetherß, 12s to 13s 3d; medium to heavy prime wethers, 11s to 11s 9d; light to medium prime wethers, 9s 6d to 10s 9d; unfinished wethers, 8s to 9-s I3d; extra heavy prime young and maiden ewes, 8s to 9s 6d; heavy prime ewes, 6s 6d to 7s- 6d; lighter prime ewes, 5s to 6s 3d; other klllable ewes, 4s to 4s 9d.

Lambs. —Lambs penned to the number of 596 and sold freely at fully last week's rates. Heavy prime lamb? made 12s to 13s; lighter prime lambs, 10s 6d to 11s 9d; light, prime lambs, 9? to 10s 3d; small and plain lambs, 5s to 8s 9d.

Calves.—We had a smaller offering of calves. The demand for runners was not keen, but all prime motherfed vealers sold readily at improved rates. Runners made £1 5s to £2 12s 6d; heavy vealers, £2 15s to £3 2s; medium, £2 6s to £2 13s; light, £1 16s to £2 2s; small, 18s to £1 ss; rough and bucket-fed, 10s to 15s; bobby calves, 2s to 6s (a total of 169 calves was sold).

Pigs.—Pigs were also in shorter supply. Bidding was steady throughout, and although there is no appreciable advance In our quotations a firm sale resulted. Choppers made 15s to £2; according to weight and quality; extra heavy prime baconers, £1 19s to £2 ss; medium, £1 14s to £1 16s; light, £1 9s to £1 12s; heavy porkers, £1 6s to £1 9s; light and medium, 18s to £1 ss; stores, 15s to 17s; slips, 12s to 15s; weaners, 6s to 11s (a total of 353 pigs was sold).

This week Last Week BEEF (per 1001b.) — Extra choice ox 17/Choice and prime ox .. 14/- to 16/6 14/- to 16/Choice and prime cow and heirer . 14/- to 16/13/- to 16/Boner ii rough 8/- to 13/6 8/- to 14/SHEEP (per head) — Prm. wethers 9/6 to 14/3 9/- to 13/9 Unfln. w’tli'rs 7/- to 10/3 7/9 to 9/Prime ewes . 5/- to 10/6 5/6 to 9/Unfln. ewes . 2/6 to 5/9 4/- to 6/6 Hoggets 8/- to 11/6 6/6 to 12/C Spring lambs 9/- to 13/8/3 to 12/9 Unlln. lambs 5/-to 8/9 6/3 to 8/9 CALVES (per head):— Runners 20/- to 60/-20/-tO 72/6 Vealers .... 10/- to 62/15/- to 70/PIGS (per head) Baconers 23/- to 45/25/- to 43/Porkers 18/- to 34/16/- to 32/Weaners ... 5/- to 1 1/5/- to 12/Slips .... 8/- to 15/8/- to 15/Large stores 12/- to 17/14/- to 19/-