PRICES HOLDING FIRM

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 564, 17 January 1929, Page 12

PRICES HOLDING FIRM

N.Z. STOCK MARKETS RAPE LAMBS WANTED (By R.W.C.) Fat stock met with a very keen demand at Westfield yesterday. Short yardings of both sheep and cattle helped to hold prices in these sections above exporters’ limits. In the South at Addington there was an easier tone in the market. An aggregate yarding of approximately 460 head of cattle at Westfield yesterday comprised a fair proportion of well-finished handy- weight cattle drawn mostly from near-Auckland vendors. Northern vendors, notably W. Allison (Kirikopuni) and W. Mason (Kaipara Flats), were responsible for one or two good lines of well-finished medium weight young cows. Top price of the day was secured for a pen of well-finished big-framed steers on account B. Reed (Waerenga), which went to the Auckland Meat Co. for £l7 7s 6d. The market held firm at late rates throughout, with local butchers doing the most of the bidding, prices apparently holding above exporters’ limits. Another exceptionally short yarding of sheep, comprising little more than two full rows, met a firm market. The quality, generally, was of average standard, with very few lines of heavy weight sheep in the offering. Here, again, exporters were not operating. An average yarding of lambs met with very keen competition, export buyers following the market right through and taking a big percentage, of the offering. Prices were very firm at late rates. A feature of the sale in this section was the number of farmers watching the market for any lines that looked as though they might show a profit after a few weeks on rape. Exporters were particularly strong on the market for light to medium weight lambs. Pigs met with a firm sale at late rates. A short yarding of calves met with a decidedly easier market, the only section showing any strength being that for medium weight vealers. Large Yarding at Johnsonville In the Johnsonville (Wellington) saleyards yesterday, very large yarding of sheep, lambs and cattle was submitted to the usual attendance of buyers. Competition throughout the sale was keen and spirited. Wethers sold at prices slightly in advance of last week’s rates Ewes were on a par with late rates, and lamb prices were fully maintained. Bullocks and cows met with a good sale, and a total clearance was effected at prices which must be considered satisfactory to vendors. Bullocks made from £ls 2s 6d to £l7 ss; cows, £lO 35s to £l4 7s 6d; heifers, £l4 10s to £ls; vealers, £3 15s to £5 14s; wethers, 30s 9d to 33s 6d: cows, 23s 9d to 27s sd; lambs, 26s to 325. Addington Market Increased offerings in all sections came forward to the Addington saleyards yesterday. Store sheep met with a particularly keen sale, rape lambs making to 27s 6d and young three-quarterbred ewes to 395. Best crossbred ewes made to 37s 6d. A yarding of 1,850 fat lambs saw wellfinished lines sell at export rates, but inferior finished sorts made slightly easier prices. Extra prime lambs made to 36s lOd. A drop of 3s to 4s on the ewes, and 2s a head on wethers, was noted in the fat sheep pens, compared with last week’s prizes. Extra prime wethers made to 37s lOd, and extra prime ewes to 35s 4d. A heavier entry of beef saw a slight easing in the market. Best quality made to 53s a hundred; best cow and heifer to 465. Westfield Prices Prices at Westfield yesterday ranged as follow; Cattle.—Extra heavy prime ox to £l7 7s 6d; heavy prime, £ls 2s 6d to £l6 ss; medium, £l3 10s to £l4 17s 6d; light, small and unfinished, from £lO. Calves.—Runners brought from £4 35s to £6; heavy vealers, £3 16s to £4 10s; medium, £3 2s to £3 10s; light, £2 5s to £2 17s; rough and unfinished, 3Ss to £1 ss; small and fresh-dropped, 2s 6o to £1 2s; good bucket-fed calves. £1 5s to £2 Bs. Sheep.—Extra heavy prime wethers made £1 13s to £1 14s; heavy prime wethers, £1 10s 6d to £1 12s 9d; medium to heavy prime wethers, £1 9s to £1 30s 3d; light to medium prime wethers, £1 7s 9d to £1 8s 9d; extra heavy prime young ewes. £1 4s to £1 5s 9d; heavy prime ewes, £1 2s to £1 3s 9d; lighter prime ewes £1 to £1 Is 9d; other killable ewes, 18s to 19s 6d. Lambs.—Extra heavy prime lambs, £1 9s to £1 10s 6d; heavy prime lambs, £l •s 6_d to £1 8s 9d; lighter prime lambs, 5® to £1 7s 3d; light prime lambs, £1 os 6d to £1 4s 9d; small and plain lambs, 16s t 0 £1 3S ’ small shorn stores, 14s to „ — < r' hop P ers sold from £1 10s to £2 17s; heavy and medium baconers, from £3 3s to £3 14s, light baconers and heavy porkers, from £2 15s to £3 3smedium porkers and light porkers, from £2 8s tp £2 13s; small and unfinished porkers, £2 to £2 6s. Store pigs were in keen demand. Values were very firm at late quotations. Large stores £3 8s to ill slips, £l to £1 6s; weaners, 7s