STORTFORD LODGE VALUES EASIER

Chronicle (Levin), 17 October 1946, Page 7

STORTFORD LODGE VALUES EASIER

HASTINGS, Oct. 16. Though there appeared to be a big fall iu values in the early stages of the store sheep saies at Stortford Lodge today, the market rallied well despite the exceptionally heavy total entry of more than 17,000 liead. The lirst of the season's shorn wetliers made their appearance and commanded attention generally. There was an easing in values for other than the best quality lines. Wether hoggets made up to the exceptionally good price of 35a 2d, this being an outstanding line. Two-tootli wethers off shears went up to 35s lOd. Ewes with lambs were better. priced tliau expected in view of the big nuniber coming forward and quality lines realised good prices. Twotootli wethers sold readily at prices exceeding the £2 niark for top lines. The fat sheep pens were well lilled with an unusually big oifering. There was little ehange in the market and rates for the majority of the lines were up to recent figures. There was a keen demand for some shorn wethers while generally there was a butchers' demand for other classes. Ewes made up to 31s while tops wethers made up to £2 3s. Au extra large yarding of about 2000 head iu the store cattle section, was no encouragement to inaintain the, recent niarket valuations. Quality lines on the offer — and there were several of such — did meet with a good demand and the majority of the best pens were sold at rates 011 a par with recent saies. Other lines, however, were a little less in value and many were liard to quit at eased values. Top price for the offerings was a line of prime A.A. bulloeks that realised £16 8s, while a line of four and five-year-old P.A. and P.A. cross attracted attention at £15 15s. Ilerefords went up to £13 15s, fully £1 or more below recent figures. There was a big offering of two-year-old steers which ranged from £7 17s 6d to £10 10s, the pick of the offerings being an outstanding line in excellent order. Yearlings were passed in at about £6 10s while empty cows made to £8 16s. There was a definite easing in values and in the demand for beef cattle when there was a yarding of more than 300 head, considerably more than usual due to there being no sale next week. The big offering, the fact that butchers operated freelv last week, and the quality not being as higli generally as in recent weeks, caused a pronounced falling off in prime beef valuations, the pick of the offerings being passed in. Medium weights met with quite a good demand generally with lighter sorts tailing off to fairlv wide margins. A line of 24 A.A. ox was quoted at £20 while Shorthorn A.A. cross ox made from £19 6s to £22 18s 6d to average £21 Is 3d, quite tlie best lines sold under the hammer. Medium weights sold from £17 ls to £18 3s 6d. Praeticallv all yearlings were passed in. tn the female sections top heifers realised from £12 16s to £13 13s 6d, -lighter sorts making. from £18 8s OdCow beef made from £10 lSs 6d to £l3 8s Od, good runners making to £8 3s Od. .Tersev cows sold from £6 lGs to £9 13s 6d- *. ..