FAT SHEEP SELL WELL

Chronicle (Levin), 21 July 1949, Page 8

FAT SHEEP SELL WELL

Stortford Lodge Stock : Values HASTINGS, JTJLY 20. Although the atteiidim.ee. was -not large, there was .uo laek of buying streagth in tlie store slieep sectiou at Stortford Lodge to-day. As a result tlie market maintained its "buojyant tono. Wethers .were in .short -supply but lambs and breeding ewes were well represented in tlie yarding of 4000 head. Botli these classes of slieep sold particulaiiy well. West Coast' buyers set tlie pace,' tliougli district farmers too'k niost of tlie lines. Best quality among a _ good oifering of lambs, was provided in a draft of woolly wether lambs, sold at 43s. Woolly ewe lambs were making ■16s 9d. Good shorn wetlier 'lambs were traded at 40s 2d, medium seiling at 35s to 35s 4&. Good woolly wether lambs at 4.1s 3d to 43s, small shorn ewe lambs at 33s 2d. Good wooly ewe lambs at 46s 0d and smaller at 37s rOd. Dowa cross lambs changed hands at 35s 6d to-37s 8d. There were ftot a great' many breeding ewes in _the yards but what there were mainly "heavy •in-lamb, arousing keen buyer intere'st. . Two-tooths sold at 48s: 4d to 55s O.d, 5-yr. olds at, 45s to 49s 6d, the latter price being paid for a quality line, 44s 6d for 5 and 6 year .olds and 45s ld to 46s 7d for mixed aged sorts. Wethers were traded at 45s 7d to 50s.

The market for, iat slieep was again sound when butchers were ofEered a yarding of eb'out 1000 head including some excellen.t quality. Mutton values ; remained /'steady on late quotations.; Heavy wethers sold at 60s 7d, .prime ■ sorts b.ringing 56s 7d to -57s ld, nie- ; aium/weights 52s 7d to 54s lOd and un- ; hnisAed 41s lOd to 50s" 7d. Extra prime. yo.a'ng ewes were traded at 52s lOd to 5,6s lOd, other young ewes at 39s 10d ; ,to 46s lOd, prime heavy older ewes 39s lOd to 40s lOd, medium 35s lbd to 37s lOd ahd unjinished 25s lOd to 33s 7d. Good lambs sold at 42s lOd, to 43s 16 and smaller 37s 7d to 38s 4d. Buyers of store cattle again provided a steady inquiry for the offering of 540 was well spread and reeent rates were fully maintained, it being apparent district farmers were still anxious to obtain cattle to cope with roughage on their properties. Values for bullocks ranged from £16 5s to £17, rising threevear steers bringing £15 to £16 7s 6d and weaiier steers £8 2s 6d to £9 15s. Female cattle was in slightly better. supply tlian last week and shared iu the good demand. Empty cows were traded at £9 16s to £10 12s 6d, empty. heifers at £12 6s and weaner hei^ers at! £7 12s to £7 14s. ' Although 146 head of beef is usually a short supply for Stortford Lodge, to-day it proved the reverse. 'Overloading on the market last week found butchers to-day with their requirements fairly Well filled. The result was a collapse in the market and many good pens of quality beef were passed in. Values eased appreciably in face of the lack of butchers'' interests. Ox beef was in best supply, prime beasts changing hands nt £20 3s 6d to £22 6s and lighter at ^19 3s 6d to £20 3s 6d. Top quality female beef was cont'ained in one small pen, a he'ifer bringing £16 ISs 6d and a cow £17 3s 6d. Heavy heifers sold &t £15 13s 6d to £16 18s 6d and lighter £13 3s 6d. Heavy cow beef brought up to £17 3s 6d, prime sorts seiling at £13 11s to £13 ISs 6d and unfinished £9 16s.