Stortford Lodge Stock Market

Chronicle (Levin), 13 May 1948, Page 6

Stortford Lodge Stock Market

HASTING-S, May 12. Heavy rain which set in just before the sale of store sheep began at JStoriford Lodge today, resulted in plaekening interest. The selling was followea by a smaller attendance than usual and except for lambs, the market was sticky considering the quality of most of the lambs coming forward now, many of'. them beiug cull liues. The market for these was fairly sound. , Wethers ou the other haud could only be sold withiu restricted limits and tliere was nothing very bright about the inquiry for breeding ewes. There was a yaraing of 4000 head mainly lambs. Good vvoolly wether lambs realised 26s 3cl, small sorts selling at 18s Od and fairiy grovvn shorn wether lambs reafising 17s 6d. , Small vvoolly ewe lamlis sold at 27s and Down cross lambs brought 27s. Good wethers were passed in at 3os 6d, lightcr being sold at 31s 9d. Mixed agetl breeding ewes sold at 27s to 29s Oct, live-year-olds with poor mouths at lis 7d and empty 2-ths at 30s 3d. Wliere quality was olfering butchers bouglit keenly in the fat sheep market, with the result that values for tlie ent ry of 1000 head were lirm. Prime wethers made 43s 7d to 46s ld aud uulinislied 38s 4d to 39s 4d. Values for heavy ewes rangcd up to 36s 7d with unliuished sorts at 22s 7d to 30s 7d, and meclium young ewes at 33s 4d. Good lambs were traded at 36s 7d, medium at 30s 7d to 34s 4d and light at 25s lOd to 29s lOd. Tliougii the rostrum was well filled with farmers, there was little streilgth in tlie demand for store cattle. The yarding, of 300 head consisted largely of vveaners including some well grovvn and surprisingly good conditioned lines. A large consignment of quality weaner steers and heilers cniue from Matapiro station. It was quite apparent from the demand that many fhrmers are stilJ unable to operate because of the feed situation, while otliors who are buying are doing so witliout a great deal of coufidenee. The market was-particu-Iarly sticky for grovvn cattle. Bullocks in good order made £11 7s, rismg three-year steers £9 7s, rising two-vear steers £7 and light conditioned empty covvs £3 7s. A line of grovvn heifers brought £8 and rising two-year heifers sold at £5 12s 6d. .Saies in weaner steers were made at from £3 2s to £4 8s and weaner heifers were quit at from £3 5s 1 0 £4 1 1 s. A large yarding of 1;j0 head of fat cattle met with a niixed demand from a fairly large bench of buvers. The quality ol'fering varied, there again iieing a shortage of vveighty bullocks. V. eanors and heifers coniprised a large proportion of the yarding, the quality in the heifers beiug outstanding. -Jb'or these there was a fairly sharp inquiry. : A number of prime young beasts were oifered in the ox seetion and sdles were made at values 011 a par with ruling ' rates. Values for prjme' young - ox . anged from £16 6s to £16 16s, lightcr selling at £10 8s 6d. Prime heifers changed li.ands at £15 12s 6d to £17 ls. Others brought £12 Ss 6d to £15 8s 6d. Covvs were traded at £9 13s 6d to £12 ls (id, prime sort yealising £14, 8s Od. Vealer prices rangetf Ironi' fe 2s 0d to £5 12s Od.