ADDINGTON MARKET

Press, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23131, 21 September 1940, Page 9

ADDINGTON MARKET

BEEF STILL DEAR EXCELLENT DEMAND FOR STORE SHEEP' The demand for store sheep at Addington on Wednesday was again strong for all types, and though the yarding was not of very impressive quality, there was a ready market for everything entered. The main demand was for hoggets, particularly ewe hoggets. for which some good prices were paid. Hoggets are relatively dearer than any class of sheep at the moment. Probably the most attractive line in the*sale was the truck lot of finewoolled ewe hoggets which made 32s 3d, a good price for the farmer who can spare sheep in the present time of abundant feed. Other lines made up to 295, and there did not appear to be nearly enough to satisfy the requirements of the large attendance. Moderately good wether hoggets made to 18s 9d, with quite ordinary sorts worth better than 15s. The selection of adult wethers was fairly good, and attracted keen competition, A good line of young crossbred sheep made to 27s 9d, and several lines made better than 245.

The selection of ewes was not good, though there were one or two fair lines. About the best was a line of full-mouthed halfbreds near to lambing, which made 275. The ewes and lambs sold all counted were few in number and of poor quality, the best making only 13s 3d. Values were very Arm throughout the sale, and hoggets were dearer. The yarding was small, only about 2000 being forward, and was much too modest for the requirements of the market.

Fat Sheep

' The fat sheep yarding was considerably larger than that forward last week, but at 3000 was too small for a normal market. Values started out 2s a head above those last week, and though there was not quite so good a sale later in the day for the large number of inferior sheep included, for the better classes the rise was well maintained' throughout the sale. Once again, almost the only sign of quality was among the sheep sent up from the south. Without them, the market would have been almost bare of better class mutton, a commodity of which Canterbury seems to be very short. The sale of frozen mutton through the shops is having the effect of keeping prices more or less within reason, though it appears that not a great deal of frozen is being released.

Fat Cattle The beef yarding showed a welcome increase in size, the 388 penned being more like a normal entry. At the beginning of the sale it appeared as though the yarding would be short again, and there was a strong sale for a few pens. Later, the market setiled down to about last week’s rates except for the best steers and heifers, which were firmer, in some cases up to 10s a head. There was only a mod-, erate selection of first-class beef, and some of it was dear. Prices paid were in many instances equivalent to a full 60s per 1001b, which makes dear buying and requires high rates in the shops. As with mutton, the beef market is somewhat eased by the importation of beef from other sources in this cas'e. the North Island. More than 70 bodies are reported to have come down last week alone, and 70 bodies of prime beef are a considerable relief to the local market. , . , The difference in the value of beef in the North Island and at Addington is very marked. At Fielding for instance, the price for the best beef last week was about 33s to 34s per 1001b and at Auckland province sales of prime heavy Aberdeen Aiigus sleeis have been worth £l3 to £l4. This difference would seem to present an opportunity for an enterprising North Island fattener or a dealer, but the trouble is in getting the beef shipped on the hoof. There is plenty of shipping available, but those who have gone into the costs declare that h 3o^ l * on the wharves makes a profit most uncertain. s. S. S. S.

The cups and trophies won in this year’s provincial pasture competition will be presented in the Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday next, at 3.30 p.m. Visitors from all parts of Canterbury and some from Otago, are expected to attend.

Sept. 13. Sept. 18. 1939. 1940. s. s. s. s. Wethers — Ex. prime heavy to 50 to 54 Prime heavy 3G to 40 47 to 51 Prime mediumweight 29 to 35 44 to 4Gi Ordinary 25 to 28 39 to 43 Light 20 to 24 J to 381 Ewes— Ex. prime heavy to 4U to 531 Prime heavy 271 to 31 42 to 451 Prime mediumweight 24 to 27 35 to 411 Ordinary 19 to 23 30 to 341 Light 14 to 181 22 to 291

Steers— Ex. prime heavy Prime heavy 17 to to 243 18J 181 to 25{ to 221 Prime mediumweient 15 to 163 16 to 181 Ordinary Light 12 to to 141 111 ill to ISi to 13 Heifers— Ex. prime Prime Medium Light 113 10 to to to to 221 14 1U 93 14 10 0900 Ceu.-j— Ex. prime Prime 104 to to 161 123 101 to to 173 14 Medium . , 81 to 101 81 to 10 Light 51 to 8 to 8