STORTFORD LODGE STOCK VALUES

Chronicle (Levin), 16 October 1947, Page 6

STORTFORD LODGE STOCK VALUES

HASTINGS, -Oct. 15. Big prices were paid for store sheep at Stortford Lodge' today. It is manv years since hoggets have been so dear. it being almost impossible to obtain anything under 10s. Buyers from the West Coast exerted a buoying mfluence on the market and Hawke's Bay fanners refieeted the renewed optimism whieh eanie with this week's rain. Top prices of the season were paid for all classes of sheep, hoggets in particular being dearer, buyers linding it necessarv to pay 2s to 3s a head niore. The yarding oi' 4000 head incliided some good qualily. To obtain a quaiity line of woolly wether hoggets a buyer extended his limits to 44s 7d Otlier wether hoggets in the woo. realised 39s 7d to 41s 6d with woolly ewe hoggets at 41s lOd. Sliorn wethers were firnier at 38s with shorn twotooths at 31s lOd to 32s and shorn twotooth evves at 32s 2d. The market t'or ewes and lambs was also iirmer at from 27s to 30s (5d. As with beef, butchers found the supply of fat sheep inadequate for the double yarding and as a result conipetition was intensified. Values •t'or ewes were up fully 2s a head atud with wethers, whieh were particularly short, the rise was even greater. Heavy wethers made 53s 4d to 55s lOd, prime 48s 7d and unfinished 39s 4d to 39s lOd Heavy ewes realised 40s 7d, prime 36? lOd to 37s lOd, medium /31s 7d 32s lOd, unlinished 25s lOd to 27s 4d, sliorn young ewes 33s lOd to 35s 4d aiu! shorn older ewes 25s lOd to 27s 4d. An odd pen or two of new season 's spring lambs made 33s lOd to 37s lOd. Heavy hoggets brought up to 52s lOrl and ligliter 40s 4d to 41s 7d. Tliough there were not as many buyers present as last week, the deinand for quaiity store cattle was steady at recently appreciated values. There were some good quaiity lines included in the entry of 1000 head. Bulloeks in ,,1'orward order realised £16 19s to £17 5s with others at £15 16s. Top priee of the season for twoyear steeis of £13 17s, was obtained for a quaiity line. Otlier steers the same age made £10 15s to £12 11s. Good yearling steers brought £S 6s to £9 ls. In-ealf eows in fresh order realised £^ 2s 6d, empty eows £8 12s, two-yeai lieifers £10 10s to £10 12s "and yeariing heifers £5 10s. The season 's top prices for female beef were paid when a yarding of 180 head included some good quaiity cuiting beasts. The market was very linn with females dearer by £2 to £•"> a head. The market was influenced by the faci tliat there will be no sale next week A consignment of 12 particularly choice Ilereford heifers ranged from £16 18s 6d to fl9 ls, the latter settinj, a new level for tlie season 's prices. The season !s l)est price for eows titi1season was £17 6s. Prime eows madf £14 .'!s (id to £15 3s 6d and lighte: £8 18s 6d to 012 ls. Though the market opened a littlc stickilv for ox, it hardened as the sal> progressed and values were firm. Bnl bicks clning.d harnis at tVoin £25 8s 6e to £28 6d. Medium ox realised £22 8.(id to £23 18s 6d.