LIVESTOCK MARKETS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 47, 25 February 1939, Page 15

LIVESTOCK MARKETS

LITTLE ALTERATION GOOD SALES CONTINUE FOR STORES. A resume o£ the past week’s livestock activities is as under, reports the Farmers' Co-op.:— Business in the store sheep section continues but there is a noticeable falling off In the numbers of breeding ewes and lambs being yarded. One might say the greater bulk of the activity in this class is now over. Other trade is confined to that of yard auctions where good entries of store cattle are coming forward, and as pointed out above, the demand continues very freely for this class. With exporters operating at full limits, the yardings that have been dealt with meet with good competition and are readily disposed of. In connection with the yarding of sheep that have been coming to hand —young sheep have enjoyed reasonable competition but older and inferior classes are slightly easier. The export schedule for lamb remains as reported last week. The greater bulk of the holdings have now been drafted. Ewe lambs continue to be keenly sought after and values may be reported very firm for this class. In the cattle side of the business there is a distinct enquiry for Jersey weaners, with quotations of top cattle in the minority. Values for this class range to £4 with an occasional sale exceeding the latter money, but the majority of values are about the £3 10s mark. Several spies have been effected during the week at the abovementioned figures. The in-calf heifer trade is also showing some prominence and several sales have been made at from £8 10s to £lO 10s, according to quality and delivery.

In the fat cattle section the position is unchanged. There is no dearth of Jersey classes and we anticipate a decline in values in this section. The fact that exporters are operating keenly for good meaty cows Is keeping this market stabilised.

In the fat sheep section there is no change. Freezing ewes are quoted at about 9s. top wethers in the vicinity of 19s, and anything for local trade is being purchased at prices slightly above these figures.

Large entries of pigs continue to come forward, and there is a good demand for good conditioned stores, porkers and baconers, but a noticeable easing in values for weaners.

Waverley Sale and Supplementary Sheep Fair.—This was held on Friday, the 17th. instant, and a full entry of sheep and lambs yarded. There was an excellent sale and we quote values quite equal to those of the previous week. Quotations are as follows: 5year old ewes 19s 2d, 18s Id, 17s Id, medium 14s 9d, 4-th. fat and forward wethers 17s 4d. Aged ewes sold from 5s to Bs, 2-th. ewes (medium) 25s 9d, 25s 7d. ewe lambs 17s 3d, b.f. lambs 14s lOd, Ils lOd, 10s 6d, with small and inferior lambs from 4s to 6s 6d, Southdown rams (aged) from ISgns. to 3Jgns.