Stortford Lodge Stock Values

Chronicle (Levin), 5 August 1948, Page 9

Stortford Lodge Stock Values

• Press Association)

(Per

HASTINGS, August* 4. For Ihe first time this season, the market for ewes and lambs was. tested at Stortford Lodge today. The market opened^strongiy and improved as the sale progressed, keen interest. being ahown in this elass of farming proposition among the large attendance of farmers. The opening pen was traded at 25s Sd and other pens ranged up to 28s 3d all eounted. Ewes inat'ed with Southdown and Border LeieesterSouthdown cross rams and hoggets were alsO again in strong demand. The big advance in values x'ecorded last week. was fully maintained -for most lines and it was difficult to obtain wether hoggets at below 40s. In-lamli ewes which were in short supply in the yarding of 4500 head, sold on an improved market. The spring-like weather and assurance of inereased meat prices next season, appeared to be factors influencing farmers in their buying operations. Top price for wether hoggets was 43s obtained fof a quality draft. Other good wether hoggets wero, traded at 40s to 41s 4d, smallef selling at "30s lOd to 38s 9d. Quality ewe liogget.s excited animated bidding to sell at 48s. Emall ewe hoggets realised 30s. five-year in-lamb ewes were quit at 44s 6d to 46s 8d and a good woolle«l line of iive and six-year-olds brought 32s 9d. . A further advance .in values was seen in the fat sheep market wlien some good quality pens were. included xn an average yarding. Wetliers were dearer up to 4a a head and ewes by up to 3s. Once again new top prices for the season were obtained, 67s lOtl being paid for a quality pen of fxve - wethers and 62s lOd for .extra prirhe two-tooth .Southdown ewes. Hogget values soareu (o 62s lOd and 63s - lOd, tliese prices being paid for single sheep. Heavv wetliers sold at 65s 7d to 67s lOd, prinie 57s ld to 60s 4d and unfinislxed at 42s lOd. Heavy ewes made 49s . 10d, prinio 43s lOd to 47s ld. and- li-ghter 31s 7d to 39s 4d. Extra prinie young owes were traded at 58s 7d to 62s 10d, prime at 53s 4d and others 43s 4d to 47s ld. Heavy hoggets sold at 62s 10d to 63s lOd, mediuin at 39s lOd to 49s 4d and small 20s lOd to 34s lOd. Last wcc-k's improvement in the store cattle market was maintained for gonuine station lines, in an offering of 400 head. A good deal of interest was taken in the sale and any line Jwhere the vendor was named, sold, readily, partieularly where a quick fatteniug proposition was offered. Buliocks realised £15 2s 6d to £15 17s, hard conditioned rising three-year steers £13 to £16 5s, rising two-year steers £9 14s to £10 8s and weaner steers £5 10s to £8 2s. In-calf cows brought the, 'Season 's best price for this class of farming proposition at £10. Weaner heifers wei*e quoted at £3 to £6 5s. . A short entry of S0 head of fat cattle sold on an exeeptionally strdng nxarket. Prices advanced by fully £2 a head for second grade beef and over tixat figure for better iinished offerings. All classes of beef sold at 60s a 100 Ibs. and in soihe instaiices rnore. Buyers maintained their interest throughout the sale and conipetition was better foi quality pens. ,A consignment of heifers realised the season 's top price of £20 3s 6d aiul cows £19 18s Od. These were vvell Iinished beasts in prime conditiuxi but a lot nxore shelly cattle also made godd- prices. Ox beef was in short supply but what there was offering uiet with a sound inquiry at inereased rates though it was only of medium quality. Medium ox was traded at £20 13s 6d to £22 Ss 6d with light selling at £18- -6s. Prirne heifers were quoted at £16 13s 6d to £20 3s 6d, medium £14 lSs 6d to £16 3s 6d and light £9 3s 6d to £12 18s 6d. Cows in prime order ehanged 'hands at £16 8s 6d ' to £19 18s Od, medium bringing £15 6s to £15 8s 6d and light £9 18s 6d to £11 ls.