STOCK MARKET REVIEW

Southland Times, Issue 24243, 28 September 1940, Page 12

STOCK MARKET REVIEW

HIGHER VALUES FOR PRIME WETHERS

FAT CATTLE PRICES EASE

The steady withdrawal from the local market of supplies of fat wethers for. the Burnham military camp has resulted in a steady firming bf the market and this week prices reached the highest peak for many years. An exceptional pen of wethers realized 60/a head, and it is believed that this is the highest price paid for wethers at Lorneville since the last war, when extraordinarily high values were ruling. The pen sold this week was the dearest in the South Island, the top prices at the other South Island markets being on a lower level. Increasingly large supplies of prime sheep have been coming forward in Canterbury and prices have shown a downward movement, a decrease of about 2/- a head being noted at Addington this week. Supplies at Burnside have not been so numerous and a short entry met a firm demand at prices about 2/- to 3/- a head dearer.

For some weeks supplies for Bumham camp have been drawn from Southland and an average of about 150 head of the best wethers have been railed north each week. This has accentuated the shortage of wethers in Southland this season and supplies are now becoming scarce. The present indications are that the Southland market will quickly lose its favourable balance compared with northern mar—kets and the railing of sheep north may not be economical much longer. The appreciation in values at Lornville was from 4/- to 6/- a head and followed on a similar sharp rise a week before. The competition was particularly keen and a good clearance was made. Following is the range of prices:—Extra prime heavy wethers to 60/-, others from 50/- to 56/-, prime mediumweight wethers from 38/- to 43/—, and lighter from 32— to 35/-; prime heavy ewes from 40/- to 42/-, prime mediumweight 35/- to 37/-, lighter from 28/- to 30/-, and unfinished from 24/- to 26/-.

There was a fairly good entry of fat cattle at Lorneville on Tuesday and supplies were above requirements. Some butchers might have held off the market to a greater extent than usual because of the prospect of securing cattle in good prime condition from among the entries at the special cattle sale yesterday. There was no outside competition to sustain the market and prices showed an easier trend, a reduction of about £1 a head occurring in values of good quality cattle. Unfinished quality showed a greater reduction and in some cases a drop of £2 a head occurred. Burnside prices were also about £1 a head lower and Canterbury rates showed little change. The range of prices at Lorneville was as follows:—Prime heavyweight bullocks up to £23/15/-, heavyweight bullocks from £lB to £2l, prime handy weights from £l4 to £l7 with light and unfinished from £lO/10/- to £l2; prime heavy heifers to £l6/7/6, prime quality from £l4 to £l5/10/-, with lighter from £lO to £l2; good heavy cows to £l5/15/-, prime quality cows from £l2/10/- to £l4/10/-, mediumweight from £lO to £ll/10/- with light and unfinished down to £6.