ADDINGTON MARKET

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22467, 30 July 1938, Page 11

ADDINGTON MARKET

EXCESS OF SECONDARY MUTTON

PRIME WETHERS SELL WELL It seems fairly plain that if fat sheep vendors do not want the mutton market to collapse completely they will have to curb their enthusiasm for sending forward so many sheep. This can be qualified, of course, in respect of the class. There has been a scarcity of good prime wethers throughout the autumn and winter, and this is likely to continue until the spring is well on its way, but the flood of old and medium conditioned ewes is threatening to knock back the market for all sorts. On Wednesday there was a penning of 7500 odd sheep, and this on top of a surplus entry the previous week far outstripped the buying demand. Probably 1500 or more ot Wednesday’s sheep were turned out after the sale, and will again be forward next Wednesday, so that holders of second class sheep should hold them if possible until the present excess is worked off. On Wednesday numerous pens of ewes were started at bids of 6s or 7s, and found buyers at from 9s to 10s 6d. Readers of the detailed prices appearing in Thursday morning’s report would possibly be impressed with the number of lines the tail end of which failed to reach more than double figures. The inelasticity of the market in absorbing these heavy entries is claimed to be due to the amount of mutton supplied from various works. Singularly enough, at the pre-National sale last year there was an entry of more than 7000 head, and a steadily rising market met with a rebuff to the extent of about 2s 6d a head. The good sheep on Wednesday did not recede to this extent —as a matter of fact prime wethers were only about Is down—but the_ ewes which could have been offered in the freezing season were back by 3s a head Ewes which sold on Wednesday at 9s and 10s would probably have brough! 13s and 14s two months *go. and in measuring up the comparison the heavier fleece and the cost of carrying through the two months of sodden weather have not. to he overlooked Vendors at next week’s National market should restrict their offerings to prime sheep. The following comparison shows thr lower scale of prices ruling this season;

Fat Cattle The quality in the cattle section was uniformly good. There were many pens of medium steers which could have done with another month or more of feed, but there was nevertheless an attractive showing of quality cattle, This class really overbalanced the market and lower values had to bc_ accepted. The showing -of prime heifers was again a good one, and this class lost only a little of the preceding week’s values, whilst medium cows more than held their own. The quality of the entry on Wednesday should guarantee a good class coming In for the judging next Tuesday in the fat stock competition. The cattle will be judged the first day an'd sold at the market next day. ££ £ £

July 28. July 27. 1937. 1938* Wethers— s. s. s. s Ex. prime heavy to 48 to 323 271 to 301 Prime heavy 35 to 40 Prime med.-weight 31 to 34 23 to 27 Ordinary 27J to 30 21 to 221 Light to 27 to 201 Ewes— Ex. prime heavy 1o 35 to 23J Prime heavy 27 to 30 18 to 21 Prime med.-weight 24 to 28.1 14 to 17 Ordinary 20 to 23J 11 to 131 Light to 19 to 101

Steers— Ex. prime heavy to 193 to 164 Prime heavy 14 to 154 123 to 141 Prime med.-weight 13 to 14 11 to 124 Ordinary 10 to 124 83 to 104 Light to 93 to 84 Heifers— Ex. prime to 13 to 12 Prime 9 to 104 81 to 10 Medium oi to 84 61 to 72 Light to 6 to 6 Cows— Ex. prime to 123 to 114 Prime TS to 94 71 to 91 Medium 51 to 7 54 to 7 Light to 5 to 51