LIVESTOCK MARKETS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 41, 18 February 1939, Page 15

LIVESTOCK MARKETS

SALES OF THE WEEK GOOD INQUIRY FOR BREEDING EWES The Farmers’ Co-op. states that activities in the livestock market since last week show little alteration, and in the main, values may be said to be on a par with those of our last report. Business has been centred around store sheep chiefly, and the demand, particularly for breeding ewes, continues freely. Yard oddments of store cattle have eomprised the balance of the week’s transactions. The main rush of the sheep fairs is now over. The demand for store lambs is surprisingly good. Moreover, when we consider the adverse season the district is at present experiencing and the curtailment of pasture growth during the past three weeks, the further reported id per lb. reduction in the export price of lamb, and furthermore, the fact that the season is well advanced, all these circumstances must make it apparent that this section must suffer a set-back in values from now on.

The store cattle section, mostly confined to Jersey oddments, sees values firm at last week’s rates. More reject cattle are now coming forward and with competition from works’ buyers very much to the fore, sales maintain a steady level. Occasional sales of weaner heifers are being made, with buyers showing a distinct preference for top sorts, of which there is not an over-supply. Values range to £4 for well-grown good quality cattle, with other sales at £3 10s.

Operations in the fat cattle section confine themselves mostly to yard auctions, with occasional sales of prime beef being made outside. Values are more or less unaltered as compared with those of last week.

In the fat sheep section, apart from a reduction in the schedule for fat lambs, leaving first quality woollies at 7d per lb., nothing of great interest is shown in this market. Butchers obtain their supplies at prices slightly in excess of freezing rates. Best prime wethers sell from 20s to 21s; fat ewes, Ils, with the latter slow of sale.

Entries of pigs continue to come forward in large numbers. There is a good demand for good-conditioned stores, with an easing in values for weaners.

On Monday, 13th. inst., we conducted a dispersal sale at Kai Iwi on behalf of Mr. W. O. Williams. This fixture attracted a large attendance of the public from various districts and a very successful sale resulted. The stock came forward in splendid order, and the implements were also in first-class condition. A summary of the main realisations is as follows: 4tooth ewes realised 30s; 6-tooth ewes, 26s Id; 4-year-old ewes, 225, 21s 7d; 5-year-old ewes, 17s 3d; maiden 4tooth ewes, 255; Southdown rams sold from 4gns. to Bgns.; 2-tooth wethers (a small lot), 17s; forward-conditioned P.A. heifers, £7 6s; medium, £5 17s 6d; forward-conditioned Shorthorn and Hereford-cross heifers, £6 7s 6d; Jersey store cows, £3 15s; P.A. cows with calves at foot, £5. Horses, implements and sundries also sold well.

At the Kakaramea sale on Monday last there was a full entry of cattle forward, the yarding comprising several pens of good-conditioned cows and bulls. A ready sale resulted at values firm on last sale rates. Realisations: Best beef, to £6 7s; lighter beef, from £5 to £5 10s; heavy works cows, £4 17s, £4 15s, £4 12s 6d, £4 10s, £4 ss; lighter works cows, £3 19s, £3 18s, £3 17s 6d, £3 10s, £3 6s, £3 4s; cows with vealers at foot, £5, £4 12s 6d; heavy bulls, £7 10s, £7 7s 6d, £7, £6 13s, with numerous other sales ranging frorr. £5 to £6 10s.

DANNEVIRKE EWE FAIR.

A record yarding of about 40,000 sheep came forward at Thursday’s ewe fair held in Dannevirke yards. The attendance of buyers was large, and the yarding was comprised largely .of four and five-year ewes, together with a large yarding of twotooths, the top price for which was 295. A good line of 600 four-tooths brought 24s 3d; 145 four and sixtooths. 25s 3d; six-tooths to 23s 6d; good five-year ewes ranged about 20s; and best six-year ewes were up to 15s 6d.

EWE FAIR AT GISBORNE.

The Gisborne Fourth Ewe Fair at Gisborne on Thursday, saw an entry of 14,400, which was more representative of station lines than at the previous fairs. A fair amount of the stock purchased was by Cambridge, Waikato, Wairoa, and Hawke’s Bay buyers at an animated sale. Major lines offering were sold at an advance estimated at 2s a though there was a decline on smaller pens, these going in buyers’ favour. Values are:—

Aged ewes in good store condition made 5s to 7s; others were cheaper according to condition; six-year ewes, extra good, made 15s 3d to 16s; good to 13s 6d; others, 9s upward; five-year ewes, best, 15s to 16s 3d; generally, 13s to 14s 8d; four-tooths made 22s Id to 23s 7d; two-tooths, top lines, made 24s Id to 26s 6d; medium, 15s 3d upward; mixed ages, four, six and eight, made to 16s Id and 19s 7d; and six and eight-tooths, to 19s 2d.

FINE QUALITY EVADES.

Levin and Company and Murray, Roberts, Ltd., offered a yarding of fine quality at the annual Hautotara ewe fair. There was a big attendance and though bidding was not animated, prices were fully up to expectations. J. McLeod, Whakapuni, again topped the market <or both young and older ewes.

Quotations are as follows: —■ ’ Account John McLeod: Six-year ewes, 25s to 20s; five-year ewes, 20s; maiden four-tooth ev.>ss. 29s 6d; twotooth ewes 30s to 295. Account Robert McLeod: Four and five-year ewes, 21s; four and six-tooth ewes, 22s 6d. Account Murdoch McLeod: Fouryear ewes, 255; five-year ewes, 20s; two-tooth ewes, 255. Account Gordon McLeod: Two-tooth ewes, 255; account D. H. Riddiford, as Te Awaite: Maiden four-tooth ewes, 26s 6d to 23s 2d. Account D. W. Ross: Four-year ewes, 21s Id; four-tooth wethers, 16s Id; two-tooth wethers, 13s 9d; lambs, 10s 3d. Account S. McDougall Estate:

Five-year ewes, 20s 7d; two-tooth ewes, 26s Id; two-tooth wethers, 16s 3d. Account J. McDonald: Fouryear ewes, 225; two-tooth ewes, 22s 6d; two-tooth wethers, 14s 6d. Account J. W. Spiers: Four-year ewes, 21s 4d; five-year ewes, 17s 6d. Account G. T. Huttqn Estate; Five-year ewes, 18s 6d. Account J. Sharpe: Two and four-tooth ewes, 20s lOd. Account F. A. Deller and G. W. Gilbert: Two-tooth ewes, 21s lOd. Account T .A. Herrick: Two-tooth ewes, 19s 6d.

MASTERTON RAM FAIR

GOOD REALISATIONS MADE [ Per Press MASTERTON. Feb. 17. A considerably better tone prevailed at to-day's Masterton ram fair, and values were well on a par with vendors’ expectations. The entry was well in excess of last year but the bulk of the offering was disposed of either under the hammer or by private treaty. Prices for flock Southdowns ranged from 2gns. to 28gns., with an average of about 4gns. Stud Southdowns sold consistently well, the top price being 82gns., realised by Mr. W. J. Gimblett for a splendid ram sold to Mr. W. Howard Booth, of Carterton. A flock of Ryelands and English Leicesters were not very keenly sought after. It was a very good sale for good sheep.

FEILDING EWE FAIR

43,000 HEAD PENNED I Per Proas Association.! FEILDING, Feb. 16. An entry of 43,000 head of breeding ewes thronged the Feilding yards for the annual ewe fair to-day. The attendance was very large and business brisk, although prices were a shade lower than expected. A heavy entry of two-tooth ewes sold well with 45s as the peak price and an average round 30s. Four-year ewes made to 25s 6d; 5-year to 19s 7d. The quality of the latter was very uneven, a lengthy "tail ’ dragging down the average to under 18s. The sale, nevertheless, was a very good one.