ADDINGTON MARKET

Press, Volume LXXV, Issue 22769, 22 July 1939, Page 11

ADDINGTON MARKET

FAT SHEEP STEADYING YOUNG EWES IN DEMAND It did not take a very large increase in the entry of fat sheep at Wednesday’s market to steady prices. . Apparently, however, the penning was just enough to meet requirements and there was a general levelling down.of values by 2s a head, light ewes a little more. It will be noticed in the appended comparison of values with those of last year that whilst prime sheep are dearer, light wethers are scarcely maintaining last year’s rates. This is possibly due to the bigger proportion of these, at this year’s sales. Last season was a gpod fattening one, and the fewer light wethers no more than supplied that section Of the trade for which they are suitable. There were some splendid lines of sheep from the south on Wednesday, although the tops may have been scarcely so good as those at the preceding sale, when 43s Was secured as against 39s 4d on Wednesday. The fact that last week’s strong market drew only 1000 extra sheep would seem to confirm the previous evidence that prime fat sheep are In short supply. Some good ewes are continuing to come .forward. It was .reported at the yards that consignments of fresh-killed mutton from the Nprth Island are contemplated. Spring grass Will be available there in a lew weeks, and if the ferry boats will carry this mutton the business may reach some proportions. However, it is questionable if such a trade could be developed to an extent to have much reaction on local values. Some years ago a shipment of frozen ewe mutton' was r rbrought to Christchurch from the North at a time when local ewe mutton of the class was Selling here on the hoof at about a penny per lb. There is little chance of such an aslninjty being repeated, but the present scarcity of fat sheep might suggest that just now is a suitable time to unload some of the big stocks held in the various works. This mutton was bought at a lair price and it would not come into severe cutting competition with currently sold live stock. In any case this mutton has got to be got rfd of somewhere before next freezing season commences. Values with those of the corresponding sale last year compare as follows: July 20. July 19. 1938. 1939. Wethers — s. s. s. s. Ex.- prime heavy ' to 34J to 391 Prime heavy .. 29 to 32 291 to 34 Prime med.-welfiht 25 to 28 25 to 28J Ordinary .. 32 to 341 30 to 24 Light .. to 21 { to IB Ewes— Ex. prime heavy to 28 to 301 Prime heavy .. 201 to 231 221 to 26 Prime med.-weight ,171 to 20 18 to 22 Ordinary .. 131 to 161 141 to 17 Light .. to 13 to 14 Store Sheep The healthier tone in the store sheep section continues, and for fair qiiality pens on Wednesday there was a free demand. Ewe hoggets again attracted attention and made up to 17s, and twotooth ewes to 21s. These are not prices to enthuse over, but the market has to be considered in relation to feed, and the spring Is still some distance away. However, two-toOths of the class sold at about the even 20s should be good property when the autumn comes round. , Fat Cattle The fat cattle sale opened rather sluggishly, but when the market was a third of the way through it firmed, and over the latter half was as good as the sale of the previous week. Medium cows may have failed to sell so freely, but generally the value of prime steers eased only by up to 10s a head on the whole sale. Lightlyfleshed cows again met with a market, and per 1001 b sold’equal to some of the better-quality cattle. Some prime lines of heifers were forward, and these made good values. Coasidering the comparatively small entry, the cattle sale might have been better, but the easier values In the mutton section may have had a slight influence on the comSetitlon. There was some talk around le pens of the killed beef imported from the North Island, but so far this bag not represented more than 20 head of bullocks weekly, and would have no Influence on values.. Steers— £ £ £ £ Ex. prime heavy to 17 to 18i Prime heavy .. 131 to 14? 15 to 16| Prime med.-welght Hi to 13 131 to 14? Ordinary .. 9 to 111 101 to 12? Light .. to 8? to 10 Heifers— Ex. prime .. to 121 to 13J Prime .. 8? to loj 10 to Hi Medium .. 61 to 8 6 to 9i Light .. to 8 to’ 71 Cows— Ex. prime .. to 181 to 13? Prime 71 to 94 8| to 10i . Medium .. SJ 'to 7i 6i to 8 Light to 84 to 6