STOCK MARKET REVIEW

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 216, 1 December 1927, Page 14

STOCK MARKET REVIEW

FAT CATTLE MOVEMENTS INCREASED ACTIVITY IN STORES Throughout New Zealand greater activity is being registered in stock circles. At Addington there has been an increase in the number coming forward, and in the North bigger entries are being recorded at the store sales. The Waikato has proved a happy hunting ground for buyers of fat cattle over the past month, and, as well as regular j consignments coming into the Westfield works for the overseas markets. Southern operators have been on the alert for any lines that appear to offer a margin of profit. Apart also from one or two substantial purchases by Borthwicks for their Wellington works, a Press Association message reports a small entry of Waikato cattle at Addington yesterday. At Westfield yesterday, fat cattle were easier in price compared with the previous weeks sales, but this to a large extent can be accounted for by the increased entry which came forward. The market was erratic, and, while some lines were well below last week's average parity, some were not far off, if not equal to, it. Especially was this the case in regard to the better sorts of young cows and heifers. The on-the-hooks price by overseas exporters remains unchanged, but this has mostly only been regarded as a minimum figure by operators, for the bulk of the business over the past week or so has apparently been done in the paddock, or at least on the hoof, at a slightly better figure. The quality of the cattle offering yesterday generally was good, though tending toward the light side, especially in the female section. A heavy yarding of ewes yesterday met with a slightly easier market. The general quality of the offering was good, and included a preponderance of well finished ewes. The top-priced wethers were some of the best sheep seen at Westfield for some time. A heavy yarding of fat pigs met with a market practically on a level with late sales. Store pigs were in keen demand, and sold at a price that left little margin in them when compared with the value of porkers and baconers. Marketing Association Activities Increased activity is registered in all parts of the province in disposing of the surplus pigs. The New Zealand Cooperative Pig Marketing Association, with headquarters in Hamilton, has the greater part of the Waikato divided up into districts, and makes regular collections of pigs for consignment to the works, where they are dressed and parcelled for sale, either ex the works, to Australia, or the Home Country, on whichever basis offers the best proposition to the farmer. Until this week all the pigs were handled at Southdown, but, with the necessary plant installed at Horotiu, operations were started there on Tuesday of this week, and regular killings can be expected there for the rest of the season. Prices on the Hooks Few big sheep are as yet being handled for export, business being confined to lambs and beef. Subject to the usual conditions providing for alteration at a moment’s notice on receipt of advice from principals, the following -schedule of prices for stock on the hooks was quoted at "Westfield yesterday afternoon:— Lambs— Up to 361 b, Sgd. 371 b to 421 b, Bjd. Over 421 b, Sd. Seconds, 8!d. Beef Prime ox, 27s 6d. Prime cow, 20s. Yesterday’s Westfield Rates Values ruling at Westfield for the various classes of stock ranged as follows: — Cattle. —Extra heavy prime steers, £l3 10s to £l4 10s; heavy prime, £l2 to £l3 7s 6d; lighter prime, £lO 15s to £ll 17s 6d; light prime, £9 to £lO 12s 6d; unfinished and small, £7 15s to £lB 17s 6d; extra heavy prime young cows and heifers, £8 10s to £9 15s; heavy prime, £7 5s to £8 ss; lighter. £6 5s to £7 2s 6d; light cows, £5 to £6 2s 6d; other cows, £4 to £4 17s 6d.

Sheep. —Extra heavy prime wethers made £1 10s to £1 12s; heavy- prime, £1 Ss 6d to £1 9s 9d; medium to heavy prime, £1 7s to £1 Ss 3d; light to medium prime , £1 4s to £1 6s 9d; unfinished, £1 Is to £1 3s 9d; heavy prime young ewes, £1 2s 6d to £1 4s 3d; heavy prime ewes, £1 Is to £1 2s 3d; lighter prime, ISs 6d to £1 0s 9d; other killable, 16s 6d to ISs 3d; other ewes, 12s 6d to 15s 9d (1,584 sheep sold). Lambs. —Extra heavy prime lambs made £1 7s to £1 Ss; 80 Ryland cross lambs from Mr. K. D. Orr. Pukekawa, averaged £1 7s Is; heavy prime lambs, £1 os to £1 6s 9d; lighter prime, £1 3s to £1 4s 9d; light prime, £1 Is to £1 2s 9d; small and plain, 14s to £1 0s 6d. Calves. —Runners made to about £5 2s 6d; heavy vealers, to £3 ISs: medium. £2 5s to £2 19s; light and small frame, £1 to £1 ISs; small, rough, and freshlydropped, 3s to ISs. Pigs.—A pen of extra special heavy baconers realised £3 2s; heavy prime baconers, £2 12s to £2 15s; medium, £2 9s to £2 11s; light, £2 7s to £2 9s; heavy porkers. £2 9s to £2 12s; medium, £2 5s to £2 7s; light, £1 19s to £2 2s; small and unfinished, £1 12s to £1 17s; good stores up to £1 15s; slips, 19s to £1 4s: good weaners. 15s to £1; small, 8s to 12s: weedy, 2s to 6s.