Stortford Lodge Stock Values

Chronicle (Levin), 15 April 1948, Page 7

Stortford Lodge Stock Values

' HASTINGS, April 14. The store, cattle- ..market ■ assurned a niuch brighter tohe at Stortford Lodge today as t-he result of the softer eliinatic conditions. Quality beasts* m particular wore in better demand, Values showing a rise f'roin 10s to 30s a head but even for lighter sorts the liiarket was better , by up to 10s a head. Thjs yyas tho first sign of 'impiovemeni. this season, the greater buying'strengfh being represented by Hawke 's Bay buyers. Outside graziers attendcd but they did not operate, Well grown 2-1-year A.A.' steers with good skins and attractive, condkion, toppcd jthe market >t £13.' Other steers were traded at 'iill 9s to £12 2s and lighter 2-off .steers fetched £9 IJs, . to £10 12s, , t5d. Eighteen-montli steers shared in the improyement to sell at from £7 ls.to £7 1,7s 6d ahd good A.A. weaner steers broujght £5. . Empty ' cows ehanged hands at £3 3s and light cond.itioned in-calf eows realised £4 12s £5. Business in fattOviug 2-off lieifers was reeorded at £7 15s. .*■ , There was a short yarding of 100 head of beef cattle. The market opened quietly but firnied later, the iuquiry fpr quality sorts being brighter than last weelc. Heifers comprised a la'rge -portion of the yarding and these remained firm on recent values. Medium to prime ox realised. from £18 18s (id tu £2-2 6s. Prime cows were knoeked dowu ,-fit £12 13s 6d ,to £14 13s 6d and lighter brought £10 1s to £10 8s (5d. lleiferin advaoced condition realised up t-j £1.(5 jfis .and lighter sorts ehanged handat £8 8s 6d to £14 ls. Vealers brough; £4.- . jBuyers showed more keenness in thcir opefations for store sheep, with grass growing again aftcr the rain, and as a result lanib values .reeovered 2s' to 3s of ilie drop over recent weeks. In-lanib ewes also eneountered a good 'demand where quality wus offering and priees ■were fuily -firm for all classes of sheep. The market hardeiied > as the sale progressed. Considerable • interest was sliown in -an •offering of a large consigu menl of 795 sliorn wether lanvbs. These young slieep were mos't attractive, topping the sale at 25s 3d and being sold as a shigle Hne. Other good sliorn wether lambs were traded at 23s lOd to 24s ld, medium lines at 20s 6(1 and culls dt 12s 6d. Down cross lambs in fresh order for carrying over, sold at 25s 4d. Five-year ewes mated earlv in Pebruary, sold at 31s 6d,' other in-lamb ewes of this age briuging from 15s 6d to 25s 10d, A consignment of 5 and 6-vr ewes made 30s and fattening ewes realised 13s and 15s 2d. Much of the yarding of fat sliecq showecl signs of goi.ng back in condilion, there not being the same. quality offering as in rec.ent yardings. Ho\y ever where the. stock was fre.sli buteher. bidded keenly, particularly for ewes and lambs wliich ./niqt with a firnioi market. ■ Prime j ewes sold at . f ron* 34s lOd to 3(5s 1 Od, ;-mediuin at 31s ,10(1, heavy young' ewes at 4is lOd -and'priDit ewes at.37s,10d to.ySs.Jod.,. Good eup ting lambs solcf.aL^up to'37s' lOd with otheirs ht;frotu 27s;Apd'fq 34B 10,d. Priiip we.tlie/S; cjiijuged: hnuds ;-at54j4s ljd ; to/ 4p»v and ■ mediuj'ii j t>,t . kHs; J d ; I q/hls,. ,7d; ~ ' i