Stortford Lodge Stock Values

Chronicle (Levin), 7 April 1949, Page 3

Stortford Lodge Stock Values

HASTINGS, Aprll 6. Evidenee o'f the way store sheep values have moved upWard over the past vear, was given at Stortford Lodge to-day. Woolly wether lambs in good condition aud well-grown, realised 33s 2d, wliereas last year's consign.in.er> t ; from the same source topped at 25s tid, The store sheep market generaliy today was again sound with values fuily in line with tlrose ruling last week. A varding of 4001) provided farmers f'ith a mixed grill tliough wethers predoniin afed. The market for wethers recovered some ground lost during the past week or two, farmers bidding keenly for quality. A really good draf't brought 43s lOd, top price of the season for tne vards. Other wethers ' in good condition were traded at 41s 2d to 42s 5d, with less attractive lines at 32s 3d to 36s 9d and two tooths at 36s 6d. Woollv wether lambs made 20s 6d to 33s 2d, medium shorn wether lambs 25-s 6d to 28s ld and small to medium shorn ewe lambs 28s 9d to 33s lOd. Down, cross lambs brought 29s 2d. Poor conditioned to average fattening ewes sold at 17s to 21s 9d. Tliough the congestion at the freezing works because of the proximity of the holiday period, may have had its effect on the fat sheep sale, the market remained steady at recent levels. Qual ; itv was generaliy good in a yarding of 1500 liead. This was particularlv noticealile among wethers which soid at nj>

to 46s ld. • Heavy wethers were traded at 44s ld to 46S ld, others bringing 42s lOd to 43s 4d. Prime aged ewes were quoted at 31s lOd to 33s 4d, medium vveights bringing 2Ss 7d to 31s ld and liglit 23s ld to 26s lOd. Prime young ewes sold at up to 39s lOd. Prime young Southdown ewes ehanged hands at 43s 4d. Heavy lambes realised 37s to 38s ld, others making 33s lOd to 35s lOd and light 27s 7d to 32s 7d. ■ Quality was not partieularly featnred in the store cattle market wh.en the greater part of the yarding of 380 head consisted mainly of small consigninents. The good bench of buyers was respon sible for a sustained inqniry. Almost the wliole offering was sold at values fully in line with ruling rates. Medium bullocks were traded at £6 15s, 30-montli steers at £14 10s and 18-month steers at £9 4s to £10 9s. Hard conditioned emptv eows sold at £7 5s and another line was passed in at £8 12s 6d. Values for small 18-month heifers ranged from £5 19s to £6 10s. Confronted with a large entry of 198 head, fat cattle buyers maintained a steady demand right through in the beef market which was strong where quality was offering, heavyweight selling at slightly above schedule rates. The pressure of outside buyers in the rostfujn helped to stimulate c'ompetition. The market for ox beef topped at £24 16s. The heifer entry included some ehoice beasts and these too met with a good inqniry, tops selling up co £17 8s 6d. Prime heavyweight ox soid at £22 12s 6d to £24 16s. Medium vveights ehanged hands at £19 16s to £21 18s 6d and light made £16 3s 6d to £188s 6d. Prime heavy heifers vfere traded at £15 Ss 6d to £17 Ss 6d, medium weight beasts in prime order bringing £13 18s 6d to £14 18s 6d and light £1 1 lSs 6d to £13 Ss 6d. Prime cows realised to £14 16s, lighter making £10 3s 6d to £12 3s 6d. Heavy vealers sold at £6 15s to £S 16s and others made £4 15s to £5 12s. Eunners were quoted at £8 to £8 15s.