Stortford Lodge Stock Values

Chronicle (Levin), 3 November 1949, Page 9

Stortford Lodge Stock Values

Pre&s Assocwtian)

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HASTINGS, Nov. 2. With grass seed growers now preparing to close their paddocks there was a sudden influx of store sheep at Stortford Lodge yesterday. Many drafts on offer in the yarding of 8500 head caxne from grass seed areas and iueluded sheep whieh for quality were, in the main, superior to eonsigninents whieh came forward last week. Although Manawatu and Wairarapa buyers were included among the attendance whieh was a little smaller than usual, the wether market, while still strong, was inclined to be a little easier. Good, well-grown shorn two-tooth wethers sold at up to 37s lOd with medium grown at 35s to 35s 7d. Four-tooths ofi the shears were traded at 30s 2d witii four and six-tootlis at 37s 3d and 37s 5d, oue line being passed in at 39s. The market was also well supplied with ewes with lambs at foot for whieh inquiry was mueli in line with recent saies, values ranging from 28s Id to 33s 7d. All counted the line of shorn ewes with lambs realised 24s lOd. Shorn 4-th ewes sold at 40s and woolly wether Ivoggets at 4Gs 5d. Butehers pald late rates for fa' sheep when they were olfered. The yarding was about 1500 head in whieh quality was generally good. Botli ewes and wethers were in plentiful supply Priine aged ewes olf the shears sold at 28s 7d to 30s lOd with others at 25s lOd to 27s 4d and unlinished at 24s to 24s lOd. Prime aged woolly ewes made to 39s" lOd and others 34s 4d to 34s 7d. Prime ycung shorn e\$es were quoted.at 33s lOd t'o 35s lOd. For prime shorn wethers butehers paid 40s 4d to 41s 4d, lighter ones bringiug 38s 4d to 39s lOd. Sinail woolly lioggets sold at 36s lOd and spring lambs at 24s lOd. Store Cattle TJnwanted The auctioneers struggled hard to find buyers for an entry of 940 head of store cattle but their efforts were of little avail because bidding was too far below value. Values declined sharply bv about 25s a head for all classes of cattle. The sale attraeted only a small attendanee of buyers who operated on re stricted iimits whieh, in many instances, i'ailed to reach vendors' reserves. In the first 45 minutes only two drafts were sold and the market subsequently maintainea rne same pace. Presumablv the a'osence of rain in October, whieh has liad its alfeet on tlie feed position, is now influencing fanuers in their buy- i ing aetivities. Bullocks were passed in | at up to £17, three-vear steers sold at i £14 Gs. Others passed at up to £15 10s. Most saies were effected among two- ' your steers, values for these ranging from £12 4s to £13 8s. Empty eows were passed in at £9 5s to £10 17s and two-yeaf heifers sold at up to £12 5s. Beef Market Firms After easing at the last two saies tlie Iteef market firmed by up to 30s a head. There was a small yarding of 12-1 head whieh oilered a selection of quality though tlie beef was lighter than usual. Ox beef was in short supply and heifers encountered the keenest inquirv. Bullocks topped the market at £2-1 8s Gd and for eows the top value was £1G lGs. Prime lightweight ox sold at £22 8s Gd to £24 "Ss Gd. Prime heifers were traded at £15 13s Gd to £l0 3s Gd with medium quality at £13 Gs to £14 13s Gd and light at £10 8s Gd to £12 18s Gd. Prime eows sold at £15 3s Gd to £1G lGs, medium weights bringiug £13 11s to £14 13s Gd and light £10 18s Gd to £12 8s 0)d. Itunners ehanged liands at £7 17s Gd tind £10 7s.