ADDINGTON MARKET

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 21986, 9 January 1937, Page 9

ADDINGTON MARKET

WEDNESDAY’S KEEN SALE RESULT OP UNDER SUPPLY Prices at Addington on Wednesday do not provide a dependable basis on which to estimate impending values. As far as lamb was concerned the export schedule remained unchanged from the pre-holiday period, a fact which was rather satisfying in view of the heavy offerings generally forward after the holiday. A rather disturbing element was the trouble at one of the works, a reference to which was made in Wednesday’s issue. Happily this interruption came to little, but ordinarily it would have been enough to “knock.” the rather severely. Butchers and export buyers other than the firm referred to absorbed the whole of the entry at the best of the schedule rates. At the double sale a fortnight previously the export price was considerably exceeded in cases, and the fact that Wednesday’s rates scarcely equalled those ruling on that occasion need not be taken any notice of. The small entry of lambs and the rather unfinished condition of a good proportion of them indicate that fattening is not proceeding very satisfactorily. Perhaps the strong drying wind which prevailed over a good deal of the province on Thursday will help to harden feed somewhat and enable 'better,finished lambs to come forward. On account of the small spread in the schedule this season the heavier the lamb the better the return. Most of the good lambs on Wednesday reached the 27s '6d mark, and if this price holds few growers should be dissatisfied. . t The following is a comparison of the values secured at Wednesdays auction and the corresponding one of 12 months ago:—

Butchers’ stocks of sheep had apparently been all consumed, judging, that is, by the animated sale on Wednesday and the prices paid. Anotner factor in the keen market was buying on West Coast account, and it was not surprising as a result that at the end of the day there were still unsupplied buyers. The last race realised the best mutton prices for some years, at this. period, some of the lighter wethers making near 6d per lb and ewes 5<L These prices were in advance of the export rate, and freeing representatives were out of the market A much bigger proportion of the entry comprised ewes than has been the case for some time, and a good number of them were very light and aged. At the first post-holiday last season there was the biggest entry for many years, and prices receded by 3s to 4s a head. The comparative range of values appended indicates the change since then.

Store Sheep There was little in the store sheep penning calling for notice. A pen of 81 hallbred lambs, off good hill country, well grown and forward, sold at 23s 3d. At the present export rates they should repay the 5s or 6s a head required for fattening off. The line made 3s 5d more than the lambs from the* same property last year. This difference is scarcely equal to the advance that has taken place in the export market, but with the high export values this year more margin is required. One or two pens of grown wethers made round about . 23s sd. There was a complete absence of young ewes. Fat Cattle Not since the “boom” period of eight years ago have fat cattle equalled at the beginning of. the year the prices ruling on Wednesday. Even more than in the sheep section this was due to the very small entry. Butchers had bought a fortnight ago no more than their bare holiday needs, and there was a shortage. In practically all cases there was an advance of about 3s per 1001 b for steers. Heavy cattle, which would dress about lOOOId, came within this advance. A few pens of young steers made mid-winter prices, there being one instance of about 38s per 1001 b being secured. There is little doubt that the high prices of lamb and mutton are creating a heavier demand for beef, and it is not improbable that entries of up to 400 head each week will be absorbed without unduly “bending” the market.

RED POLL IMPORTATION ADDITION TO OTAHUNA STUD There arrived during the week at Otahuna a valuable Red Poll 18 months bull for inclusion in that wellknown Red Poll stud. The bull—lvanhoe Ladas—was bred by Mr David Meredith, Plenty, Tasmania, and was purchased by Sir R. Heaton Rhodes some months ago. The new arrival claims some of the leading English herds in his pedigree, notably those of Sandringham, the Whiteway, the Framlmgham, and the Knepp Castle. Ivanhoe Ladas should prove a great asset to the Otahuna stud. He possesses characteristics similar to those of Woodburn Waterline, imported by Sir Heaton in 1933. As a sire, "Woodburn Waterline proved himself one of the best in New Zealand.

Jan.6, Jan. 6, 1936. 1937. s. s. s. s. Ex. prime heavy .« to 292 to 313 Prime heavy 222 to 241 28 to 29| Prime medium weight 21 to 22J 26 to 271 Ordinary 191 to 202 24 to 252 Light to-191 to 23| Fat Sheep

Wethers— ■ Ex. prime heavy , to 261 to 34 Prime heavy 213 to 23J 29 to 32 Prime medium . ■ weight 20 to 21} 27 to 281 Ordinary 181 to 191 25 to 263 Light • to 18 to 24| Ewes— Ex. prime heavy to 21j to 29 Prime heavy 161 to 183 241 to 26 Prime medium 22 to 24 weight 14 to 153 Ordinary 12 to 133 19 to 211 .Light to 111 151 to 181

£ £ £ £ Steers — < Ex. prime heavy to 121 to 162 Prime heavy ., 82 to 102 12 to 14 Prime medium weight 72 to 9 Hi to 13 Ordinary 6 to n 91 to 11 Light to 52 to 91 Heifers— Ex. prime .. to 91 to 112 Prime ., 6 to 8 9 to 101 Medium 4i to 52 61 to 81 Light to 4 to 41 Cows— Ex. prime to 81 to 12 Prime .. 51 to 61 71 to 91 Medium 4 to 5 51 to 7 Light and aged to 32 to 51