SHARP DECLINE IN BEEF

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 588, 14 February 1929, Page 12

SHARP DECLINE IN BEEF

N.Z. STOCK MARKETS GENERAL EASIER TONE (Reviewed by R.W.C.). That peak levels for all classes of fat stock have been reached for the time being was indicated by the ‘ general tone of the market in New I Zealand’s principal stock-selling j centres yesterday. Beth mutton ! and lamb were easier in sympathy | with the reduced prices offered by exporters, while beef suffered the biggest decline for several weeks. New Zealand grazier has been lucky this season in the fact that lie was able to get the bulk of his fat lambs away, while keen competition kept the export market above levels which allow' for a safe margin. On a falling market the farmer now holds the cash, while the shipper has to face the possibility of losses. In the case of the small exporter these should be fairly substantial. The bigger concerns will, of course, be helped out by their own widespread retail system. Meat Board cables show' a steady decline in lamb on the London market each week. The flow of lambs to New Zealand works has eased considerably over the past week or so, and killing figures have been greatly reduced. On present levels, mutton is selling in New Zealand, for the most pa.rt, above the export parity. This is certainly the case in the Auckland district. The high price for stores is la.rgely responsible for this. Westfield Movements In the "Westfield yards yesterday an aggregate yarding of slightly over 600 head of cattle met with a rather erratic sale. W'ith only a small attendance of buyers at the start, ox beef suffered the most, a decline of from 2s to 4s a hundred in isolated instances taking place in the market. The market for cows and heifers opened somewhat on the same parity, but firmed toward the close. The quality, generally, was good, but there were very few lines of heavy-weight cattle, the bulk of the offering being made up of handy-weight well-finished sorts.

Calves met with a steady demand at late rates, although values for heavy vealers at times showed an easier tendency. No very heavy prime calves were yarded. Rough and plain sorts continue to meet with a steady demand from farmers seeking lots for store purposes.

The sheep pens were moderately well « filled, an average yarding coming forward. The market opened firm at late rates, but showed a slight easing tendency toward the close, although competition was fairly well sustained throughout. An exceptionally choice prime pen of young ewes on account of D. S. Shanks, Mangatangi, was one of the feature lines of the day, making from 2Ss 9d to 30s 9d. An average yarding of lambs met with a slig tly easier market in sympathy with the easier rates for export. Good quality fat pigs sold well. Stores met with a rathesr dragging sale on slightly lower levels. The Johnsonville Market A large yarding of sheep and an aver- ! -ge yarding of cattle met with steady ! competition m die Johnsonville (Welling- 1 ton) saleyards ; sterday. The market 1 1o ?» i, m i had a firmer tendency. Bullocks realised £l4 10s to £l7 15s: ! cows, £6 15s to £9 ss; vealers, £2 3s ! to £5 ss; wethers, 32s 6d to 36s Id; ewes, I -2s to 32s 3d; lambs, 25s lid to 31s. j H.B. Ewes Sell Freely At the Stortford Lodge yards yesterday there was a fair yarding of cattle and an extra heavy offering of sheep, includ--ing many excellent quality lines of station breeding ewes. These met with a ready sale at increased prices for older ewes and slightly less for younger ewes. Lambs receded in value. Other sheep sold at late rates. Cattle sold at less than late rates. Two-tooth ewes made to 36s 6d; fourtooth ewes, to 37s 6d; six-tooth ewes, to 35s 9d; four-year ewes, to 34s 2d; fiveyear, to 345; lambs, to 225. Big Yardings at Addington. At Addington yesterday the yarding of i store sheep was the biggest of the season, | the bulk of the adult sheep coming from ; I he North Island and Blenheim. Values ! held practically on last week’s levels right up to within an hour of the close when the departure of the farmers caused the market to weaken and many lots i were passed in. Fat lambs sold freely at The reduced schedule rates. Fat sheep also suffered a reduction. Fat cattle declined up to 3s 6d a hundred. Forward and rape lambs made up to 275: good Romney cross two-tooth ewes made up to 40s; good Romney-cross four, six and eight-tooth ewes, to 375; extra prime fat lambs made to 34s lOd; extra heavy prime fat wethers made to 35s lOd: extra prime ewes to 33s 4d; extra, heavy prime steers to £2l 7s 6d; extra prime young cows and heifers to £l4 10s. Prices at Westfield Prices at Westfield yesterday ranged as follows: Cattle.—Extra heavy prime steers ranged from £ls to £ls 10s; heavy prime steers, £l4 to £l4 17s 6d; lighter prime, £l2 15s to £l3 17s 6d; light prime, £ll 10s to £l2 12s 6d; small and unfinished, £S 17s 6d to £ll ss. Extra heavy prime young cows and heifers made £lO 5s to £ll 15s; heavy prime cows and heifers, £9 to £lO 12s 6d; lighter prime, £7 10s to £8 17s 6d; other killable cows, £5 to £7 7s 6d. Sheep.—Extra heavy prime wethers made £1 14s to £1 15s; heavy prime, £1 12s to £1 13s 9d: medium to heavy prime, £1 10s to £1 11s 9d: light to medium prime, £1 Ss 6d to £1 9s 9d; unfinished. £1 6s 6d to £1 Ss 3d; extra heavy prime young ewes, £1 6s to £1 10s 9d. for the special line of young sheep; heavy prime ewes, £1 4s to £1 5s 9d; lighter prime, £1 2s to £1 3s 9d; other killable ewes, £1 to £1 Is 9d; other ewes, 15s to 19s 6d. Lambs.—Extra heavy prime lambs made £1 8s to £1 9s, an extra special lamb selling up to £1 15s; heavy prime, £1 5s to £1 7s 9d; lighter prime, £1 3s to £1 4s 9d; light prime. £1 Is to £1 2s 9d: small and plain, 16s to £1 0s 6d. Calves.—Runners made £3 10s to £5 9d; heavy vealers, £5 to £5 6s; medium. £4 8s to £4 ISs; light, £3 10s to £4 6s: smaller. £2 ISs to £3 8s: small and fresh dropped. Ss to £2 16s: rough calves. £1 to £2 ss. Pigs.—Choppers made £1 10s to £3 12s, according to weight: heavy prime baconers, £3 12s to £3 17s: medium, £3 3s to £3 Ss: light. £2 16s to £3; heavy porkers, £2 10s to £2 13s; medium, £2 5s to £? 8s: light. £1 16s to £1 19s; small and unfinished. £1 4s to £1 13s: best stores to £1 10s; smaller. £1 to £1 4s: slips, 12s to 15s: weaners, Ss to 9s. CHICAGO WHEAT MARKET (Australian and N.Z. Press Association) Reed. 10.31 a.m. CHICAGO, Wednesday. Wheat.—March. 1 dollar 27£ cents a bushel; May. 1 dollar 31 5-S cents; July. 1 dollar 33i cents.