STOCK MARKET REVIEW

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 250, 12 January 1928, Page 12

STOCK MARKET REVIEW

BIG TRADE IN LAMBS DEMAND FOR BEEF A healthy tone continues to be registered in New Zealand markets for most classes of stock. Values are well maintained at both Westfield and Addington, while there are no signs of an early weakening of the overseas frozen meat market. Business at the moment is conlined chiefly to lambs, though, for this time of the year, heavy killings of beef are recorded. Export prices show little, if any, alteration on the season’s opening rates, and the majority of the works in both islands are reported to be working to capacity In the South prices for lamb have been fluctuating, influenced largely by the local butchers’ demands, and yesterday the Addington market hardened up to Is 6d a head on the exporters’ schedule rates. However, buyers generally continue to satisfy most of their requirements at practically unchanged rates. Heavy Killings at Works All parts of the Auckland Province are being well combed, buyers concentrating mostly on lambs. Beef is also in demand and eagerly snapped up. Both Auckland works are working to capacity, and at Westfield alone about 2,700 lambs and over 200 cattle are being handled daily. In addition to exporters, buyers for big butchering firms are operating freely in most parts of the province. The quality of the bulk of the stock coming forward is well up to the standard of the overseas buyers’ requirements The flush of the lamb season should ease off toward the close of the present month, when it is expected that increased business will be done in big sheep. It is worthy of note that London market quotations for new season’s best grade New Zealand lamb are given at llid, indicating that early shippers from New Zealand this season must have found the move worth while. Auckland’s Chief Market At Westfield yesterday there was littlfe appreciable movement in prices in any section. There was a short yarding of beef and the quality of the stock indicated that exporters must be busy in the paddocks of most of the bigger graziers, as few large lines came forward and the offering generally had the appearance of being an assemblage of job lots from ali parts of the district. Despite the fact the bidding was confined to practically a handful of buyers, late rates were well maintained. An average summer yarding of sheep came forward, and though values for the better grades of wethers were well up to late rates, the market for ewes and inferior finished sheep had an easier tendency. A heavy entry of lambs comprised a large percentage of pens which could have done with considerably more finish. Prices generally were regulated by the export parity, though values for inferior finished lots were slightly easier. Westfield Prices Brices under the hammer at Westfield yesterday ranged as follows: — Cattle.—Extra heavy prime steers, £l3 to £l3 15s; heavy prime, £ll 7s 6d to £l2 17s 6d; lighter prime, £lO 15s to £ll 15s; light prime, £9 to £lO 12s 6d; small and unfinished, £6 10s to £8 17s 6d; extra heavy prime young cows and heifers, £8 10s to £10; heavy prime cows and heifers, £7 10s to £8 7s 6d; lighter prime, £6 5s to £7 7s 6d; other killable cows, £3 15s to £6. Sheep.—Heavy prime wethers, £1 7s to £1 8s 9d; medium to heavy prime, £1 5s 6d to £1 6s 9d; light to medium prime, £1 4s to £1 5s 3d; unfinished, £1 Is to £1 3s 9d; small store wethers, 17s to 19s 9d; extra heavy prime young ewes, £1 to £1 Is 3d; heavy prime ewes, 17s 6d to 19s 6d; lighter prime, 16s to 17s 3d; other killable ewes, 14s to 15s 9d; other ewes, 8s to 13s 6d (1,684 sheep sold). Lambs.—Heavy prime lambs made £1 5s to £1 6s 3d; lighter prime, £1 3s 6d to £1 4s 9d; light prime, £1 2s to £1 3s 3d; small and plain, -14 s6d to £1; small stores, 8s 6d to 12s 6d. Pigs.—Extra heavy prime baconers made up to £2 13s; 4 * medium to heavy baconers, £2 7s to £2 10s; light, £2 3s to £2 ss; heavy porkers, £2 2s to £2 ss; medium, £1 19s to £2 Is; light, £1 15s to £1 17s; small and unfinished, £1 2s to £1 13s. Stores were also lower. Best made up to £1 8s; smaller, £1 to £1 ss; slips, 13s to 18s; weaners, 5s to 11s. Calves.—Heavy prime vealers made to £4 13s; medium vealers, £2 16s to £3 8s; light, £2 2s to £2 18s; small, £1 to £2; rough and fresh-dropped, 5s to 12s.