STOCK VALUES FIRM

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 476, 4 October 1928, Page 12

STOCK VALUES FIRM

N.Z. MARKETS REVIEWED SHORT WESTFIELD YARDING By R.W.C. One factor which will have to be given close attention by dealers in live stock is the declining tendency of the market for both hides and sheepskins. As yet this factor has had little influence in prices throughout the Dominion, and, at the principal selling centres yesterday, values for all classes of stock showed little change from late rates.

At Westfield yesterday the shortest yarding of ox beef seen for many months came forward to meet with keen competition. The market had a decidedly firmer tone, premium prices being paid in many instances for pens of attractive cattle. The offering comprised mostly handy-weight cattle with no extra heavy boned, well-finished bullocks. Auctioneers’ quotations range up to 46s for choicest ox. The offering of cows and heifers was an average one, with few lines worthy of special attention. No specially heavy-weight cattle came forward in this section. Prices were maintained at late rates. Sheep Market Irregular

The fat sheep offering comprised several lines of well-finished, handyweight wethers. Several choice lines of ewes also came forward. The market strengthened as the sale progressed and values generally were from slightly easier to on a par with last week’s rates. H. F. Coghlan, of Mangere, was responsible for one of the best quality lines of heavy-weight wethers, several pens of well-finished sheep on account of this vendor going at 47s to The following butchers: —W. Smith, W. Scotts, Ltd., E. Wilson, Shanks Bros., and Caddy Bros. A well-finished line of mediumweight wethers, on account B. Hall, Wiri, sold for 435. The largest line of quality ewes came •forward on account Malcolm Buckland, Southhead, Kaipara. The line, which comprised 240 medium- framed choice prime sheep, met with keen competition at from 36s to 40s I'd. Top price for ewes was secured for a line of extra prime big-framed sheep trucked from Frankton on account of W. Chitty. The line made 425. Lambs Sell Freely A short yarding of spring lambs met with spirited competition, prices at times being Tip to 12d a lb. Top price was secured for a pen of choice quality Jambs on account W. Blair, Takanini. The pen made 355. An average yarding of calves met with keen competition, and values generally showed an improvement on late rates. Choice quality vealers sold at decidedly higher values. Store pigs met with a slightly easier market. Fats, on the other hand, met with keen competition, and values were very firm. Wellington Market At the Johnsonville saleyards yesterday wethers were dull of sale and'prices showed a decline on late rates. The market for ewes was very firm. A few pens of spring lambs met with a very keen sale. The cattle yarded comprised some heavy-weight bullocks, and extra, prime cows and heifers. Bullocks sold freely and cows and heifers were not in demand. Prices were: Bullocks, £ls 12s 6d to £l9; cows, £l2 10s to £l4 10s; cows (light), £5 10s to £8 12s 6d; wethers, 43s fid to 47s 9d; ewes, 38s 9d to 40s 3d; spring lambs. 37s to 41s fid. Easier Prices at Stortford Lodge A heavy yarding of both sheep and cattle came forward to the usual weekly sale held in the Stortford Lodge yards yesterday. There was a good attendance of buyers. Prices for both sheep and cattle showed a decline on last week’s rates. Values for store cattle were unchanged. The market fox* store sheep had an easier tendency. Following is a range * prices:—Fat bullocks. £l3 to £ls 16s. fat cows. £lO 5s to £l2 7s 6d; fat heifers, £9 10s to £lO 16s; forward bullocks, £l2 to £l3 17sthree to four-year bullocks, £9 to £ll 17s 6d; yearling steers, to £5 17s 6d; dairy cows, £4 to £8 15s; fat wethers, 38s 9d; fat ewes, 33s to 3Ss; fat ewes (shorn), 25s 6d to 275; fat lambs, 30s to o2s; two and four-tooth wethers, 33s fid to 35s 6d; wether hoggets, 28s to 32s 4d; ewe hoggets, 29s to 32s 3d; forward ewes, 18s to 23s 7d. Addington Market

At Addington yesterday there were rather larger yardings of fat cattle and tat sheep as compared with the previous week, and while the quality of the cattle was not so good, that of the sheep was better. The market for beef was easier in all classes, but extra prime quality increased by 30s a head. Fat sheep were irregular, but generally prices were rather weaker. The store sheep market was dull, and prices showed a further decline. Fat lambs, which were offered in much larger numbers, met with a good sale at lower rates. Fat pigs declined in values, and stores were also easier. There was a rather larger yarding of store sheep than the week before, ewes and lambs forming the major portion, and there was a fair number of wethers. The bidding throughout was far from keen, the shortage of feed and want of rain restricting buyers’ operations. Prices declined by Is to Is 6d a head.

An offering of 135 lambs sold freely at up to 39s Id. The demand for fat sheep fell away toward the close ajid several lots were passed in. Extra prime wethers made to 50s Id; extra prime ewes, to 44s Id: best shorn -wethers made to 35s 7d: best shorn ewes to 35s 4d. The beef market except in the case of some very prime pens, opened at about 30s a head lower than the previous week’s rates. The average for prime beef may be quoted at 41s to 44s 6d: medium quality, 36s to 395: plain heavy steer, 33s to 375; prime cow and heifer, 41s to 445; medium, 36s to 38s; rough, down to 28s. Prices were: Extra prime steers, to £22 2s fid: extra prime heifers, to £l4 17s 6d; prime heifers, £l2 10s to £l4 16s; extra prime cows, to £l7 2s 6d. The vealer pens were well filled, mainly with young calves, but the quality was better and prices showed an Improvement. Values were: Yearling to 18-months’ sorts, to £10: good vealers, £6 10s to £8 10s; medium vealers. £3 5s to £5 15s; small calves, 20s to £2 10s. Westfield Prices Prices at Westfield yesterday ranged as follows: Cattle: Heavy prime steers made £JB to £2l 10s; lighter prime. £l6 to £l7 17s 6d; light prime, £l3 10s to £ls 17s fid; small and unfinished, £ll 7s fid to £l3 7s 6d. Extra heavy prime young cows and heifers made £l2 to £l3 17s fid; heavy prime cows and heifers. £lO 15s to £ll 17s fid; lighter prime, £9 to £lO 12s 6d: other killable cows, £6 10s to £ S 17s 6d. Sheep: Heavy prime woolly wethers made to 47s 9d; shorn, £1 13s fid to 37s 9d: medium to heavy prime, £2 2s to £2 4s 9d; light to medium prime, £2 to £2 Is 9d; unfinished, £1 13s fid to £1 19s; extra heavy prime young ewes. £2 to £2 2s; heavy prime ewes, £1 18s to £1 19s 9d; lighter prime, £1 16s fid to £1 17s 9d; other killable ewes, £i 13s to £1 16s 3d; other ewes, £1 9s to £1 12s 6d. Lambs: Extra heavy prime lambs made £1 12s to £1 15s: heavy prime. £1 10s to £1 lls 9d; lighter prime, £1 6s to £1 9s. Pigs: _ Heavy choppers made £4 10s to £5 5s for a good quality sow, fattened by J. Hogan, Pukekohe; heavy prime baconers, £3 12s to £3 17s; medium, £3 3s to £3 9s; light, £2 ISs to £3; heavy porkers, £2 12s to £2 15s; medium. £2 5s to £2 Ss: light, £1 19s to £2 2s; small and unfinished, £1 9s to £1 16s. Medium stores made £1 6s to £1 12s; slips, 15s to 19s; weaners, 6s to 13s, according to quality. Calves: Runners made £5 15s to £6 16s; heavy vealers, £4 5s to £5 15s; medium. £3 6s to £4 2s; light. £2 10s to £3 4s: rough and unfinished. £1 2s to £1 15s; small and fresh dropped, 8s to 325.