VERY FIRM PRICES

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 742, 15 August 1929, Page 10

VERY FIRM PRICES

N.Z. STOCK MARKETS SHORTAGE OF BEEF By E.W.C. Exceptionally firm markets faced buyers of most classes of fat stock in the Dominion’s principal stockselling centres yesterday. No sale was held at Addington on account of National Week. At Westfield yesterday another short yarding of ox beef met with keen competition, prices being fully up to last week’s higher rates. Cow and heifer beef showed a further advance of up to 2s a hundred. Best ox beef made to 44s a hundred; best cow and heifer to 42s a hundred. A feature of the yarding was the big percentage of exceptionally heavy prime steers drawn mostly from outside the province. One line of 30 bigframed Shorthorns on account W. Milverton, Palmerston North, averaged £l9 6s 8d and made up to £23, the highest- price in the Westfield yards this season. The line was freely commented on as being the heaviest seen in the yards for many months. Another line of solid-boned bullocks on account B. Reed, Te Kauwhata, was also subject to much favourable comment. Other lines of well-finished but smaller-boned cattle came forward on account of T. Murray (Tuakau), P. Donovan (Te Puke), and James Taylor (Cambridge). The average quality of the cow and heifer offering was not high, inferior finished dairy sorts making up a big percentage of the entry. With an entry of less than 170 head out of a total fat cattle offering of approximately 430 head, the smaller butchers were compelled to pay premium prices in order to make up their week’s quota. Keen competition ruled throughout, the market showing a tendency to further strength as the sale progressed. Top price in the section was secured for a line of ten big-framed P.A. cows on account of the Ngapuke Estate, Wairamarama, which made up to £l6 10s. One of the choicest quality lines of handy weight heifers came from the Southland estate, 20 well-finished medium-framed beasts in the line averaging £ll 8s 3d, and making up £0 £l3 10s . The heaviest calf offering of the season took till well after 3 o’clock to clear —over five hours’ continuous selling. Very few heavy vealers were yarded, and there were no well-grown quality runners. The market had an easier tone throughout, prices showing a falling tendency as the sale progressed. At the finish one export operator had the market practically in his own hands. A feature of this section of late has been the absence of wellgrown vealers; even at today’s comparatively high prices the average grazier is finding that it pays better to keep the calves for stores. Sheep Market Firm Slightly under an average yarding of fat sheep comprised a big percentage of well finished heavy prime wethers. The market was very firm at par to 2s a head in advance of late rates. The buyer for one of the bigger butchering firms, bidding on practically every line of quality sheep, gave increased strength to an otherwise firm market. Top price in the section, and the highest Westfield price this season, was secured for a pen of big-framed heavy prime wethers on account W. Duder, Clevedon, which went to F. D. Parsons, Epsom, for 465. Extra choice prime wethers, carrying a heavy weight of wool, on account Craven Bros., Paparoa, made up to 44s 9d. Choice quality heavy prime wethers, on account Houghton, Te Kauwhata, made up to 41s 3d for a pen bought by the Auckland Meat Company. Well finished medium-framed wethers, on account A. Miller, Glen Afton, met with keen competition at from 38s to 40s, going principally to the Auckland Meat Company and R. and W. Hellaby. Ltd.

A small yarding of hoggets met with a very keen sale at late rates. Pigs also sold freely, baconers showing a slight advance in price. General Shortening of Supplies Recent yardings at provincial stock sales have supported the contention that the market is threatened with a temporary shortage of fat stock. This is particularly the case in regard to cattle.

In the Waikato, up to a dozen butchers will attend a small sale, and compete for an entry of perhaps 20 head of fat cattle. Graziers who in ordinary times can always be depended upon to have something to offer the bigger buyers, are now mostly cleaned out of surplus supplies. One of the most significant features of -the position is the fact that the bigger buyers have been forced to go outside for supplies, and Southern graziers are now starting to send drafts forward to the open market. Oyte of the bigger butchering firms brought up a draft of 100 head from the Wairarapa last week, and expects a further line of 150 head in the near future. Bay of Plenty graziers are reported to be holding supplies, but for the most part are inclined to look for higher prices. The position in regard to sheep is not quite so acute. Ample supplies have been available, up till the last week or so; buyers are now beginning to experience a slight difficulty in meeting demands, however, as there is a tendency for holders to either wait for shearing, or look for even higher prices than those ruling at the moment. Hawke’s Bay Market All classes of stock were short yarded in the Stortford Lodge, Hastings, yards yesterday. Prices held at late rates.

Fat bullocks, heavy, made £ls to £l6 3s; medium, £l2 to £l4 15s 6d; fat cows, £9 to £ll 17s 6d; fat cows, dairy sorts. £5 to £8; vealers, £ 2 to £4 14s; yearling Jersey heifers, extra

good, £6 10s; dairy cows, £ 6 to £lO 12s 6d: fat ewes, prime, 15s to 28s: fat ewes, light, 20s to 24s 6d; fat wethers, 27s 6d to 33s 6d; Southdown hoggets, 16s 9d to 18s 9d; wether hoggets. 23s Sd; two and four-tooth ewes, in lamb. 255. JohnsonviJle Sale At the Johnsonville, Wellington, sale yesterday, there was a large yarding of sheep,and cattle. The quality of the stock offered was good and a keen sale resulted. Prices for all classes of stock were on a par with last week’s sale. A small consignment of lambs met with a keen demand. Prices were:—Extra heavy bullocks, 17s_ (Id to £l6 ss; medium bullocks, £ls 5s to £ls 10s; heavy cows, £l2 to £l2 7s 6d; cows, £lO 10s to £ll 12s 6d; light cows, £6 to £7 17s 6d: vealers, £5; heavy wethers, 38s Sd to 39s Sd: wethers, 35s Cd to 375; heavy ewes, 31s Cd to 335; ewes, 27s 6d to 29s (Id. Prices at Westfield Prices at Westfield yesterday ranged as follow: Cattle. —Exceptionally heavy prime steers, £l9 to £23; heavy prime, £l6 to £lB 10s; medium, £l4 10s to £ls 12s 6d; light and unfinished, from £lO. Extra heavy prime cows and heifers to £l6 10s; heavy prime, £ll 10s to £l3 10s; medium, £9 10s to £ll ss; light and unfinished, from"—£ 6. Sheep.—Extra heavy prime wethers to 46 s; heavy prime, 38s 6d to 40s 6d: medium, 36s to 3Ss; light and small, from 31s; heavy prime ewes, to 35s 9d; medium, 29s 6d to 335; small and unfinished, from 265. Hoggets made to 32s 3d.

Pigs.—Choppers sold at £3 to £4 9s; heavy and medium baconers, £-1 14s to £5; light baconers and heavy porkers, £ 4 to £4 12s; medium porkers and light porkers, £3 8s to £3 18s; small and unfinished porkers, £2 Ss to £2 18s, and values were firm at late quotations. Store pigs were penned in average numbers. Large stores made £1 15s to £2 ss; slips, <£ 1 9s to £1 13s; weaners, 8s to 19s.

Calves.—Runners made £4 to £6 ss; heavy vealers, £5 to £6; medium. £1 6s to £4 16s; light, £3 4s to £4 4s: smaller, £2 16s to £3 3s; small and fresh dropped, 7s to £ 214 s, according to size and quality; rough calves, £1 5s to £2 10s.