ADDINGTON MARKET

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22195, 11 September 1937, Page 11

ADDINGTON MARKET

A STRONG DEMAND BREEDING EWE VALUES After over-supplying the beef market for some weeks with heavy prime steers cattle fatteners on Wednesday adopted the other extreme, and sent forward only a bare sufficiency for the weekly requirements. This resulted in a sharp advance, equal to 3s 6d to 4s per 1001 b. Not since the pre-slump days have so many steers brought the 40s odd per 1001 b that prime bodies were making on Wednesday. The price is probably something in the nature of a fluke, as although prospects appear good for the next month or more it is improbable that they will maintain this high rate. There are still some good fat cattle about. Prime eows sold very little better on Wednesday than at the preceding sale, for the reason that this class had been hardening for some time. However, it was an indifferent sort of cow that failed to exceed the £9 mark. In contrast it took the best cows in the dairy section to reach this figure, so that the temptation to sell cows as fats instead of milkers is fairly obvious. With the way prices are shaping for the two classes of cows it would seem that the time is not far distant when there will be a distinct scarcity of dairy cows. A southern dairyman, as an indication of what is going on in his own district, informed the writer on Wednesday that for the first time since his herd was established nearly 50 years ago all the calves had been killed this season. There has been a fairly substantial killing off of cull cows in the last few years, and the present prices are likely to stimulate the tendency. Whilst lamb and mutton remain high in price—and the Home reports show no sign of weakening—beef must of a necessity remain at a good level, and the supply of dairy cattle be affected accordingly. The corresponding sale last year was the best for beef since 1930, so that Wednesday's rates may be deemed the best for seven years. The following is a comparison of the values received on Wednesday and those at the corresponding sale last year:—

Fat Sheep The small entry of fat sheep was insufficient to supply the trade, but some butchers were fortunate in having some stocks on hand. Prices for heavy wethers jumped up at the outset of the sale by about 4s a head, and this in spite of the weaker market for skins. Heavy ewes were about 2s dearer, but lighter sheep showed only a moderate change. The high rates were shaded down slightly as the sale progressed, but the market was nevertheless a very keen one. Most of the good pens of wethers made from 42s upwards and ewes from 355.

Store Sheep There was not a very wide selection of sheep in the store pens, but for young ewes the market was a strong one. Most of the offering, however, comprised old sorts, which of a necessity made low prices, but they were quite well sold. The particularly good price of 22s 4d was made for a pen of young ewes and lambs, on an all counted basis. The lambs were Down cross, and the percentage being good and the lambs a few weeks old, they should be ready for the early local market. Although there is little doubt that the demand for ewes in the autumn will be widespread it would not seem from the present values that they will reach the peak prices of last autumn. A pen of good sound-mouthed sheep sold on Wednesday at practically the same value as they brought in March, and. the cost of mating and feed should have put 7s or 8s margin between them. The ewe fair values, however, are not influenced much by preceding Addington rates, and farmers who are in the habit of buying certain station lines are not going to change for the sake of a shilling or two. A good "buy" to-day would seem to be four and six-tooth and good sound mouthed ewes —that is, if the buyer has feed to carry them over the dead two months period.

Sept. 9. Sept. 8. 1936. 1937. Steers— £ £ £ £ Ex. prime heavy to 21 to 21 Prime heavy 151 to 171 16 to 18 Prime med-wght. 13 to 15J 143 to 161 Ordinary 10 to 12} 11 to 14 Light to 92 to 103 HeifersExtra prime to 151 to 15 Prime ■• ...,,» 101 t->JJ2J 11 to 121 Medium 83 to 101 8 to 10 Light to 81 to 71 Cow»— Extra prime to 151 to 14J Prime 91 to 113 91 to 11 Medium 73 to 91 7 to 9 Light to 71 to 6J

Wetherss. s. S. s. Ex. prime heavy to 45 to 54J Prime heavy 35 to 33 41 to 45 Prime m«d-wght. 31J to 34J 33 to 40 Ordinary Light 28 to 31 to 27 30 to 35 to 29 EwesEx. prime heavy to 381 to 46 Prime heavy Prime med-wght. Ordinary Light 31 27 22 to 34 to 30 to 26 to 211 33 29 24 to 371 to 32 J to 27 to 23i