Stortford Lodge Stock Values

Chronicle (Levin), 23 June 1949, Page 9

Stortford Lodge Stock Values

HASTINGS, June 22. Af ter several weeks of excited bidding the store sheep market at Stortford Lodge to-day lacked sting. 'As a result values showed a" marked easing estimated by some authorities at up to '3s a head. All classes of farming propositions were ofiEered in the yarding of 5500 head. Though the quality in most pens was not as good as last week, the sale was again followed by a good gathering of farmers but competition was not so, keen and buying limits were reduced. The easing in the market led to a greater number of passings than for several weeks. In-lamb ewes were again sought but on lower levels. Five-year ewes realised 40s to 44s, good quality but low mouthed five and six-year olds 49s ld and forward fattening ewes 24s 10 d. Shorn wether lambs were traded at 33s 8d to 34s, woolly wether lambs 35s and wethers 45s to 45s 4d. Fat sheep values continue to harden. The market was influeneed by an outside demand and by the attention of store buyers' being foeused on pens of unlinished sheep. The quality, though good, was baek on last week in the full yarding but because of the attentions of store buyers, unlinished sheep were dearer in proportion to prime sorts. Prime heavy wethers were traded at 49s 4d to 53s 4d, medium weights selling at 45s lOd to 47s 7d. The first .of the season's shorn wethers sold at 41s 4d. Prime aged ewes brought 33s 7.d to 36s 7d with others at 31s lOd to 32s lOd. Por extra prime young ewes' butchers paid 39s lOd to 43s lOd. Good lambs realised 37s lOd to 42s 4d, small bringing to 33s 7d. Another good market existed for store cattla when almost the whole offering of 503 head was cleared at'

auction. The attendance was not quite as large as last week but apparently cattle are still required to clear up roughage on many properties. Bidding was at times not quite as lively as last week. Values, fiowever, held up well in faee of the sustained inquiry. The yarding included some good quality drafts, two-year A.A. steers making £13 2s 6d and three-year old £16 4s Od. Values for bullocks ranged from £16 7s 6d to £16 10s Od, three-year steers sold at £14 5s to £16 4s, rising fdroyear steers £12 2s 6d to £13 2s 6d and good weaner steers £8 16s. Several pens of female cattle were passed in. In-ealf cows sold at £10 17s 6d, empty' cows at £9 10s and good rising twoyear heifers £9 16s. Ox beef values improved slightiy inthe fat cattle market, when a good sprinkling of prime medium weight bullocks was included in the entry oi 140 head. Cow beef was in short supply, however, and heifers of medium weight dominated the yarding. Female beef sold at values on a par with ruling rates, the demand being stronger for heavier beasts. A consignment o± 28 well finished light to medium weight bullocks .sold at £20 16s to £22 18s 6d. , A few heavy weight heifers or cows • came forward, the market in these see- . tions being topped at £18 6s and £15 } 13s 6d respectively. Prime medium weight ox was traded at £20 16s to £2i 18s 6d with lighter at £17 18s 6d to £19 18s 6d. Heavy heifers sold at £1", 18s 6d to £18 6s Od, medium weights bringing £12 16s to £14 18s Od anu light and unlinished £9 11s to £11 18s 6d. Heavy cows changed hands at up to £15 13s 6d with medium quality at £11 13s 6d and light at £9 18s 6d.