ON THE LAND

New Zealand Tablet, 15 December 1921, Page 43

ON THE LAND

MARKET REPORTS. There was another very large yarding of fat cattle at Burnside last week; 309 head as offered, the quality of which was good. There were one or two pens of very fine cattle forwarded, while the balance of the yarding was made up of medium to good steers, heifers, and cows. Competition was not animated, and prices showed a drop of 10s to 15s per head, as compared with the previous week. Quotations: Extra prime bullocks, £l6 10s, prime £lO to £l2, medium £8 10s to £9 10s, light steers £6 10s to £7 15s, prime heifers and cows to £ll, light and aged £5 to £6, good cows and heifers £7 to £8 10s. Fat Sheep.—A good yarding, 2339 head being offered. There was a much greater proportion of ewes,, offered than has been the case for some time, while the bulk of the yarding consisted of shorn sheep, the number of sheep in the wool being smaller than of late. The proportion consisting of prime wethers was not great, and the bulk of the yarding was composed of, medium to good ewes and wethers.. At the commencement of the sale prices were about Is in advance of the preceding week’s rates, and as the sale progressed prices advanced to even a greater extent, especially for prime wethers. Altogether an average advance of about 2s per head would be recorded. Quotations; Extra prime heavy woolly wethers 26s to 295, prime 22s to 255, medium 18s 6d to 22s 6d, light sorts 12s to 17s, woolly ewes, good 15s to 19s 3d, light 10s to 14s, extra prime heavy-weight shorn wethers 245, prime 19s to 235, medium 16s to 18s, light from 12s upwards, extra prime shorn ewes 225, prime 17s to 19s, medium 14s to 16s, light and inferior 10s to 13s. Fat Lambs. —A very large yarding, 753 head coming under the hammer. The supply was much in excess of requirements, and competition was brisk at a reduction, prices being lower from 3s to 4s per head as compared with the previous week. Quotations: —Extra prime lambs 23s 9d, good 16s to 18s, medium 12s 6d to v 14s 6d, light 9s to 11s 6d. Pigs.—A large yarding, all classes being well represented. Bidding was somewhat slack and prices for large pigs were again easier. Best baconers made from 7d to 71d per lb, and best porkers from 7jd to B£d per lb. At Addington market last week there was an average yarding in all sections of stock, excepting fat lambs, which v were in over-supply, and fat sheep, of which there was a smaller entry. There was a decided drop in lamb values, • and slight steadying-up in prime mutton. Beef showed a further drop. Fat Lambs.223o penned, which was much in excess of butchers’ requirements. There was another drop in prices, which were the poorest for a number of years. At the opening values averaged 4d to per lb (a few exceptional pens a shade over).- Extra prime lambs 17s 6d to 20s, prime 13s 9d to 16s 9d, medium 11s 6d to 13s 6d, light and inferior 8s 9d to 11s 3d. Fat Sheep.—A slightly improved market for good wethers. Secondary ewes were in little demand. Extra prime wethers up to 22s 7d, prime 17s 6d to 20s, medium 15s to 17s 3d, light and inferior 10s lOd to 14s fid, prime ewes 15s to 17s, medium 11s to 14s 9d, light and inferior 7s 4d to 10s 9d. Fat Cattle.—Big beef was down about 20s to 25s a head, light prime beef maintaining recent values. Old cow beef was almost unsaleable. Extra prime steers up to £ls, prime £lO 17s 6d to £l3 12s 6d, medium £8 to £lO 12s 6d, light £5 10s to £l7 17s 6d, prime heifers £7 15s to £9 15s, ordinary £6 5s to £7 12s, prime cows £5 10s to £8 15s, ordinary £3 10s to £5 7s 6d. Vealers. —Prices were on a par with late rates. Runners up to £4 17s 6d, good vealers £3 2s 6d, medium £2 10s, good calves 15s to £1 2s 6d, small 5s to 12s fid. Fat Pigs.—The demand was a shade better, except for heavy baconers. Choppers £2 to £4 10s, \ light baconers £3 5s to £3 15s, heavy £4 to £4 5s (average price per lb fid to 6|d), light porkers £2 7s to £2 12s 6d, heavy £2 15s to £3 3s (average price per lb 8d to 9d).