LIVESTOCK MARKET

Waikato Times, Volume 106, Issue 22762, 10 November 1945, Page 9

LIVESTOCK MARKET

FIRM VALUES FOR BEEF WEAKER SHEEP SALES ; The majority of price changes on ; the Waikato stock market this week ; have been in favour of buyers, this ; being particularly evident in the case of store stock. The disappointing feed position has largely accounted for the position in the | store section of the market for : graziers and dairy farmers have only I sufficient feed in most cases for the I stock already on their properties. ! Supplies have been normal for this j time of the year although the fat | stock section is suffering from the j longer time being taken to turn off I stock because of the restricted feed, j Fat cattle prices have been well held at the various yards although prices for bullocks were back a shade at the Frankton yards when a full average offering was available. Heavy bullocks changed hands from £2O to £22 5s in comparison with £l9 10s to £2l 10s last week, but the entries auctioned this week were heavier sorts and included some of the entries from the Waikato Show. Cow Beef Short Little improvement has been recorded in the supplies of cows and heifers and few really choice sorts have been seen at the yards. Limited numbers of heavy cows and heifers ! have been making from £l3 to £ls with light to medium weights being cleared from £9 to £l2. More boner cattle have been on offer than is usual for this time of the year as owners have been anxious to quit them because of the backward feed position. More runners and vealers have been available this week and firm prices have ruled, runners changing hands from £5 to £8 12s 6d and vealers from £1 to £4 15s. At the Tirau sale where a sharp rise for beef was recorded, heavy heifers sold from £l7 to £lB and medium fat sorts from £l4 to £ls ss. Fat Sheep Market The fat sheep market has been weaker at times although there has hardly been a general downward tendency throughout the district. Although the market for prime wethers opened up firmly at the last Frankton sale, competition slackened noticeably as the sale progressed, values being decidedly lower over the concluding sales. Hoggets and lambs also tended easier, the one exception being ewes for which a sharp rise was recorded, best sorts j realising from 22s to 24s in comparison with 18s to 20s last week. The position regarding ewes could be accounted for by the fact that several outside buyers were operating. A slackenin'* tendency was also evident at the Te Awamutu sale for wethers and hoggets although ewes showed no change. A dull market has continued for store sheep and prices at several centres were easier than last week’s reduced rates. Best store hoggets have been realising from 26s to 28s, with medium descriptions selling from 23s to 255. Baconers Cheaper In line with the reduced schedule, baconers have been making lower figures although values for lighter pigs have been sometimes better. Stores at some sale centres have sold at advanced rates. Baconers have been selling from £4 to £5 7s,

and large stores and buttermilk pigs from £3 5s to £4 12s. Some improved sales of store cattle have been held during the week, the special fair at Frankton resulting in a good clearance. Three-year-old Polled Angus steers at this fair sold from £l2 to £ls ss. Two-year-old steers made from £lO 15s to £l3 10s. with smaller sorts realising from £8 lOs to £9 10s.