ADDINGTON MARKET

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21886, 12 September 1936, Page 22

ADDINGTON MARKET

FURTHER BEEF FIRMING

COMPARISON WITH LAST YEAR

Butchers were rather surprised on Wednesday that the high prices of the preceding sale for fat cattle at Addington did not bring forward an excess entry for this week’s auction. The entry was really the other way about—substantially smaller than the weekly needs of the community. The average requirements recently have been up to 450 head, and on Wednesday the total of 395, following on the moderate entry of 408 the preceding week, left butchers with a rather restricted supply. Consequently the market met with another advance, particularly for the better class of steer beef, and still more so for prime heifers. The latter in numerous cases sold from £l2 to £l4, with a few odd ones more. Some of these heifers must have made about 46s per 1001 b. There were cases of young, well-finished steers selling at up td 44s 6d, but the average rate for good prime beef was about 41s to 43s 6d. Numerous steers that did not come within the first classification sold at not far short of the even 40s, and anything that made less than 35s was of very ordinary merit. Though the advance was restricted mainly to the better classes of beef, there was a strong market for all sorts. Moderate cows that would dress no more than 6001 b were steadily making in the vicinity of a “tenner.” With such prices for cows there is every prospect that dairy cows which have dried off will be brought to the market. Increased labour costs in dairying, consequent on the shorter hours policy and higher wages, may be expected to encourage the appearance of this class at the yards when they can be cashed so satisfactorily. A few weeks ago a comparison, of figures over a number of seasons showed that the prices ruling recently were the highest since 1930 at a corresponding market. Wednesday’s prices are below those for the corresponding sale of 1930, but only to a very very small extent. A show beast in 1930 made £29 10s, but most of the prime beef then was about 20s a head better for steers and to 30s for heifers and cows than was the case on Wednesday. 1c was in the 1929 season that skyhigh prices ruled, and it was only moderate steers that did not then realise more than £2O. Very little of the steer penning made less than £l7 or £lB, and cows. and heifers sold in proportion. The following is a comparison of the values at the sale on Wednesday apd of those at the early September sale last year, when good beef was costing the butchers approximately 12s 6d per 1001 b less than it Is at present. - 4

Fat Sheep Probably the good prices for fat cattle was an influence in the firm mutton sale. At all events the heavy yarding of sheep was absorbed with a firming demand for most of the better classes, and this in spite of the fact that the penning was quite up to a normal week’s requirements. Some outstanding drafts of sheep are coming forward this season, and from all parts of the province. In the earlier part of the sale heavy ewes were up on the previous week by 2s a head, and there was at least one case where this advance was exceeded when sheep held over from last week were offered Heavy wethers were also firmer, but light wethers for shearing do not appear to be as eagerly sought after as they were a few weeks ago, although their price has not declined. At the end of a long market the attendance of buyers dwindles, and the lack of competition as a consequence causes a • slight easing unless auctioneers are prepared to carry over some of the offering. This accounts for some passings. Such was the case on Wednesday. £s. a. s. Wethers— Ex. prime heavy to 34 to 45 Prime heavy .. 27i to 31a 35 .to 38 Prime med.-weight 25 to 27 31 to 34 Ordinary .. 21J to 24J 28 to 30 Light •. to 20| to 27 Ewes— Ex. prime heavy to 30 . to 381 Prime .. 22J to 25 31 to 34 Prime med.-weight 19 to 22 27 to 30 Ordinary .. 17J to 18? 22J to 26 Light .. to 17 to 21J Store Sheep There was not the usual buying strength in the store sheep market. Possibly many farmers were engaged attending to the lambing. Except for the few wethers forward there was a steadying in values. Most of the older ewes were up to a shilling a head cheaper, although the few pens with lambs sold keenly, and as far as could be judged from the very small offerings of these previously, at no reduction in values. At the 15s to 17s some pens of ewes and lambs made the prices did not appear excessive. There were too few ewe hoggets forward to enable a useful comparison to be made with previous markets, but values were inclined to be down. Adult wethers are still wanted, yet it is a question if the light sheep sold in the fat pens at a few shillings a head more are not better buying considering their condition. There is still an abundance of turnips in the country, but many of them will be getting far advanced for fattening.

Sept. H. Sept. 9, 1935. 1936. £ £ £ £ Steers— Ex. prime heavy to 14| to 21 Prime heavy 10| to 123 153 to 172 Prime med.-weight 9 to 10i 13 to 15 Ordinary 53 to 8 10 to 123 Light to 5^ to 9 h Heifers— Ex. prime to 10J to 153 Prime 6 to 8J 10i to 123 Ordinary 43 to 53 83 to 103 Light to 43 to 83 Cows— Extra prime to 93 to 15| Prime 5i to 7 93 to 113 Ordinary 4 to 3 73 to 93 Light to 33 to 7i

Ewes— S. and ion. Rom. cross 20 to 22i to 25 Ordinary s. and f.m. 151 to 18 21 to 23 Two-tooth J-bd. to 243 S. and f.m. Corr. and lambs Ord. ibrd. lambs to 19 13J to 171 Hoggets— Best J-bred ewes to 26J to 334 Med. to good J-bred ewes 22 to 241 29 to 31 Halfbred wether 17 to 184 22 to 24J Ordinary to m 19 to 81