SMALL YARDINGS

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 23, 27 July 1939, Page 26

SMALL YARDINGS

LIVESTOCK MARKETS

DIFFICULTIES AT DUNEDIN

Short yardings and keen competition forced beef valu .s to a general Is rise at the Westfield fat stock sales yesterday. Calves were forward in smaller nu*~bers, and made. improved values, prime quality being particularly well sought. The very small entry of pigs sold under keen competition, porkers rising sharply in price, and baconers firming. Values for sheep were very firm, despite the heavy entry.

The weekly Burnside stock sale was held under difficulties, the yarding being restricted as a result of the heavy snowfall. The best types of fat cattle sold at prices firm on late rates, but all the others were down m price. The penning of fat sheep totalled 824, the small offering being & result of the prevailing conditions. Because of the small supply there was an immediate advance in values. With only 13 fat pigs forward, the sale was keen, with prices firm on late rates. JOHNSONVILLE SALE. /right, Stephens , and Co., Ltd., and Abraham and Williams, Ltd., re port that an average yarding of bullocks, a smaller yarding than usual of cows, and heifers, and the iisual yarding of runners and vealers were submitted at the stock sale held in Johnsonville yesterday. The bullocks penned were chiefly heavyweight cattle, with a few pens of medium-weights. Extra prime heavy bullocks met with keen competition, prices showing little alteration on those ruling last week, while medium-weight cattle were not 30 keenly sought. No prime quality cows came forward, the yarding consisting chiefly of unfinished cows. These were hard to sell even at reduced prices. The penning of h Ifers was of light quality—there was no prime quality—with prices on a par with last ./e Vs. A good sale, with no alteration, resulted for runners and vealers.

A small yarding of wethers, a lai'go yarding of ewes, and a few pens of hoggets were submitted in the sheep ; section. The prime heavyweight ' wethers were few, the balance of the yarding , consisting of light and unfinished sheep. Good quality sheep met with a ready sale at prices 6d to Is a head firmer than those ruling last week. Lightweight and unfinished wethers showed no alteration. Some exceptionally good quality ewes were yarded, prices for heavyweight sheep being slightly firmer than those ruling last week. Plain ewes were easier by Is a head. Because of the poor quality of the black-faced two-tooths they were not sought. The yarding of hoggets lacked quality, prices being down Is to Is 6d a head on those of last week. Prices are:— Cattle.—Prime extra heavy bullocks, £14 10s to £13 15s; prime heavy, £13 10s to £12 15s; heavy, £12 8s to £11 17s; light and unfinished, £10 10s to £9 ss; prime heavy cows and heifers. £8 11s to £7 16s; cows an<3 heifers, £7 5s to £5 10s; runners, £5 5s to £3 12s; vealers, £2 18s to 30s.

Sheep.—Prime extra heavy wethers. 24s 9d to 22s 6d; prime heavy, 21s 3d to 20s; medium, 19s 3d to 17s; prime extra heavy ewes, 23s 7d to 21s 9d; prime heavy, 21s 6d to 19s; medium. '8s 6d to 12s Id; heavy hoggets, 21 z 3d to 20s; light, 19s to 17s.