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Chronicle (Levin), 18 March 1948, Page 7

Press Association)

' (Per

■ HASTINGS, Marcli 17. Though the advanee in values for store sheep at Stortford Lodge today was not as marked as at Waipukurau yesterclay the market nevertheless had greater strenglh. Lambs on ,an erratie market were 2s to 3s dearer than last . week, it being evident that 1 farmerB , optimism had. returned following the receut rains. The attendanae was hot unduly large but tliere were enoughbuyers to provide more confident eompetition. The ewe m'arket was also stronger and quality was in no way featured in the sliort entry. of 3000 head. The lambs were small to medium carrying-over 'lines and the ewes were nxainly a little rough and typical of the hard country from wliich they eaine. Shorn wether lambs realised 24s 2d, woolly wether lambs 24s 8d to 27s and .small ewe lambs 22s 3d to 24s; goocl flve-vear ewes with . which a rain had been running sold at 40s 4d, harder eonditioned lines bringing 15s to 19s 9d. Mixed-aged drafts ehanged hands at from 15s lOd to 31s and a line of twotootlis brought 31s 6d. Garry-over wethers were quoted at 31s 7d to 34s Od, a forward eonditioned pen being passed in at 36s 6d. ^ Only a very small entry of fat sheep was offered and butchers engaged in lceen competition. As a result values advaueed by ls 6d to 2s 6d a head. The season 's top price of 46s lOd was ob tained for heavy wethers; prirne sorts sold at from 42s lOd to 44s ld, 'and plain tfnflnished sorts at from 38s lOd. to 40s lOd. Well-flnished etves realised 36s ld, other prime. pens making 31s 4d to 31s lOd and unfinislied 24s 4d to 26s lOd, with prime young ewes at 35s 7d to 35s lOd. Medium lambs ehanged hauds at 30s lOd to 34s 7d and small 35s 4d to- 27s 7d. Butchers were again only mildly interested in beef, and although .there was only a small entry of 70 head pass ings were numerous. Prime heifers were traded at'£13 ls to £15 13s 6d and ex-dairy heifers at £10 18s 6(1 to £12 15s 6d. Business in light ox was recorded at £14 16s, Jersey bullocks selling at from £12 18s 6d to £13 8s, wliile ex-dairy e-ovvs ehanged hands at £9 3s 6d. The receiit rains failed to int'use life into the store cattle market, Jittle iuterest being taken in an oft'er ing of 310 head and more than half the entry failed to reach vendors' reserves. Two and tliree-year empty A.A. heifers brought £8 10s to £9 9s and steers of the same age realised £9 10s to £10 ls.