ADDINGTON MARKET

Press, Volume LXXV, Issue 22877, 25 November 1939, Page 10

ADDINGTON MARKET

DULL STORE SHEEP SALE

GOOD CHATHAM ISLAND WETHERS

Farmers at the sale on Wednesday were somewhat dubious about the value of the rain that was falling, as it was coming from a quarter not usually productive of much rain. However, it lasted much longer than expected, though it did not have much influence on the competition, as it was considered that feed was unlikely to benefit to much extent. Fortunately the fall continued throughout the day and into the night. There was some demand for good ewes with full percentages of wellgrown lambs, but there was little competition for old ewes without condition and lambs that did not give much indication of being got away off the mothers. Farmers at the sale commented on the shortage of feed, and their inability further to tax their reserves by purchasing more sheep. Forward wethers.and young ewes were in demand at about recent values, but the poorer classes of these were not wanted. The following is a comparison of values with those ruling at the corresponding market last year;— 1

Spring Lambs Apparently the Christchurch public is not buying spring lamb until the peas are ready, as a very moderate penning of 400 odd was too much for butchers. Values for them slipped as the sale progressed, and in the latter stages they were making no more than 8d per lb. Some good lambs were included in the yarding.

■Fat Sheep The collapse of the ewe market at the preceding sale did not give much room for a further recession on Wednesday. On an average the market was a shade better. Good wethers were definitely so, and selling, as many of the best pens did, at 30s or more, the price was quite a good one for. sheep out of the wool. Ewes, which had been selling for some time at relatively good prices compared with wethers, eased a little further for the heavy classes bn last week’s decline, but light ewes maintained values. However, the sale as a whole was very irregular, values changing quite pronouncedly during its progress. The fall in prices the previous week apparently prevented the usual consignments from distant southern sources. The feature of the fat sheep entry was part of a recent consignment of Chatham Island wethers, 93 averaging the good figure of 35s 3d.

Wethers— - Ex. prime heavy ' to 272 to 37| Prime heavy -. . 21| to 23j 31 to 33J Prime med.-wght. 18} to 21 26 to 30 - Ordinary - . 16J to 18 22 to 25 Light .. to 16 to 21 Ewes — Ex. . prime heavy to 25 to 35J Prime heavy, ~ ...: 18 to ,20 23 to 26 Prime, med.-wght. 15i. to 17i 20 to 22J -Ordinary- .. 13 to 151 16 to 19 Light , , ’ . .. IOJ .to 12i Hi to 15 Fat Cattle There was .an exceptionally heavy proportion of cows in the fat cattle pens, .- some of them scraggy and - old, but many fairly good types of moderately young cows. Many of these cows ; had apparently been milked throughout-the winter,' but with the shortage of feed and the cost of carrying: -them on until next lactation period, and tie bedrock price—-which may .recur—secured last winter for the ; local supply, prompted dairymien, to send a few-of-the best conditioned' of their herds to the saleyards. This, at all events, is an explanation. given .by one dairyman. .Better to get the £9 or so that these cows will bring just now than to carry them along to produce unprofitable milk next winter, this man said. Certainly many cows were, offered, the only' fault of which seemed that they had gone dry. The position, if as suggested, is .a. serious one, and calls for something being done by the authorities ;tb fix a* payable price for milk before next winter arrives. For every cow sold now one will have-to be requisitioned from further afield next season' to replace - it, which, again, means that these cows will be taken from those that otherwise would be supplying the factories for export. This tendency ?to • sell cows in the spring has been apparent for some years, but it appears to have been more pronounced this season. The market on Wednesday -was erratic, but heavy steers were definitely easier, and the big showing of cows was down in price *by up to 20s a head. Several pens of light, well'finished steers, sold extremely well at practically no reduction, but these few do not represent k. 500 head market.

- Mr E, E. Elphick, M.R.C.V.S., D.V.H., at present Government Veterinarian in Falpierstbn North, has been appointed livestock superintendent for Canterbury to -fill the vacancy caused by the death of Mr W. D. Blair. Mr Elphick was previously livestock superintendent in Hawke’s Bay, and was previously in Southland. He has a wjde experience of New. Zealand stock conditions.

The= prize schedule of the Royal Agricultural Show, to be held at Invercargill bn Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, Decejnber 12. 13, and 14, provides sections for the Suffolk and Dorset Horn breeds. This is the first time that the two prominent English breds: have been provided for in the Royal Society’s ' schedule. Four Suffolk - and five Dorset Horn classes are included. The two breeds have come strongly into favour in Southland this last year. Every breed used in New Zealand stock practice is provided for in the schedule, and there aire additional sections for crossbreds and freezing classes. . Entries close next Wednesday. November 29.

Nov. 23. Nov. 22, 1938. 1939. s. s. s. s. Ewes and Lambs— Good 15 to 161 to 133 Medium 111 to 14 10 to 12 Hoggets— Good wether ' .. to 15 to 15 Ordinary 12 to 131 11 to 12J Wethers— , Forward to 20J to 16 ' Medium 16} to 18 13 to 141

Ex. prime heavy Prime med.wght. Medium Light ...... to 29} 24} to 26} 22 to 24 18 to 21 23 21 to 273 to 25 to 22} to 20}

Steers-— . V& : £ . £ £ Ex.- prime heavy to 20 to 23 Prime heavy .. 16 to 18 17J to 20 Prime med.-wght.-143 to 16 151 to 171 Ordinary" 111 to 141 111 to 15 Light.■-■■>..„. . . to/11 to 101 Heifers—;: Ex. prime to m to 151 Prime 11 to 121 113 to 13| Medium - 91 to 10| 91 to 111 Light . .. to 9| to 91 Cows—, Extra prime .. to 141 to 151 Prime ■--.-..- 91 to 111 10 to 112 Medium .. 71 to 91 to 71 82 to 93 Light- .. to 81