ADDINGTON MARKET

Press, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23000, 20 April 1940, Page 8

ADDINGTON MARKET

GENERAL STEADYING GOOD WETHERS SELL WELL The smaller entries this week-of fat sheep may be taken as indicative of the scarcity that is developing and the brightening up of feed as a result of the rain. A perusal of the values published in Thursday’s report shows the wide spread of the class of sheep coming forward—from 35s for the best of the wethers to 15s for the worst. There were a few exceptionally prime truck lots of wethers from South Canterbury, and also from the Ashburton County, and the demand by butchers for these sent up prices. With not enough of the class to go round, butchers had to fill their needs with medium wethers, and they advanced in- price proportionately with the primest sorts. Prime ewes also sold at an improvement, numerous pens exceeding 23s or more. The class that did not respond to the better tone were medium ewes. Export ewes, on the other hand, met with a freer demand and at values approaching schedule rates, although not all the firms were operating. Now that the lamb season is near an end there should be a revival of the market for mutton. An average 561 b wether at to-day’s schedule is worth 23s to 245, and a ewe 16s 4d. At the latter price farmers should have few reasonably conditioned ewes to bother with at the end of the freezing season. April 19, April 17. 1939. 1940. , s. s. s. s.

Store Sheep Practically all the attention at recent store sheep markets has been on young ewes,‘and these have been selling well in comparison with older ewes, particularly the fine wools. A slight change was apparent on Wednesday. There was scarcely the freedom for the better two-tooths, but sound-moutheds were in more request. There were only about 4000 ewes forward, the remainder of the store penning being taken up with lambs and wethers. The tail of the lambs was a pretty ragged lot. but the few that would fatten were in demand. I'at Cattle With the entry about 200 head less than at the recent sales, the market was given an opportunity of steadying. Prime steers sold better than for some time, and those in the next category were also firmer, the scarcity of good beef reacting favourably on the market for the other. There were few good heifers or cows to add to the quality; quite a good sale of the secondary‘sorts took place. A smaller proportion of old cows sold round about £5. A further Ministerial statement about winter beef has clarified the position, and this, with the orospect of some improvement in feed, doubtless caused the reduction in the entry.

HERD TESTING SOUTH ISLAND FIGURES The following is a summary of the 30-day averages for all cows tested during March fay the South Island Herd Improvement Association;—

Wethers— 35® Ex. prime heavy to 271 to Prime heavy .. 21i to 24 28 to 31 i Prime medium - 27i weight 18i to 21 24 to Ordinary 16 to 18 20 to 231 Light to 15i to 191 Ewes— Ex. prime heavy to 20 to 31 Prime heavy 16 to 17J 23 to 25i Prime mediumweight 12 i to 151 17 to 211 Ordinary 101 to 124 12 to 16i Light to 10 to in

£ £ £ e Steers— Ex. prime heavy to 173 to 193 Prime heavy 14. to 155 14 to 155 Prime mediumweight 12 to 14 1U to 133 Ordinary 9 to 115 83 to 11 Light to 83 to 85 Heifers— Ex. prime to 13 to Hi Prime 9i to m 85 to 103 Medium 63 to 83 63 to 83 Light to 65 to 53 Cows— Ex. prime' to 13i to Hi Prime 73 to Pi 7 to 93 Medium 5.1 to 7 55 to 63 Light and aged .. to 5 to 53

Group. Cows. Milk. Test. Fat lb. lb. Marlborough 601 600 4.9 29 Golden Bay 869 607 5.2 32 Waimea 1099 585 5.2 31 Murchison 1111 600 5.1 31 Karamea 666 478 5.1 24 Westport 617 601 5.2 31 West Coast 1160 530 5.1 27 South Westland . 983 510 5.0 25 Rangiora 849 679 4.1 28 Plains 646 727 4.1 30 Peninsula .. . 761 605 4.3 26 Chain's Bay 804 633 4.3 27 Sth. Canterbury 655 714 4.2 30 Taieri-Stirling 753 787 4.1 32 Edendale 1211 744 4.3 32 Oteramika 941 601 4.5 27 Waimatuku 1 1016 726 4.0 29 Waimatuku 2 .. 973 ’ 748 4.3 32 Otautau 908 747 4.3 32 -Association av. 16 618 643 4.57 29.4