ADDINGTON MARKET

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23946, 13 May 1943, Page 6

ADDINGTON MARKET

HEAVY FAT CATTLE ENTRY I DECREASE IN VALUE I The. shortage of feed in most of 1 the province was indicated by the large entries of stock in most of the sections for fats. Fat cattle, some from outside districts, were in heavy oversupply, and there was a sharp decline in values. The former competition for beef for supnlying the camps having disappeared this is also Influencing lower values. Fat lambs were in heavy supply, but did not improve to the new schedule rates, but in a heavy entry of fat sheep the best wethers were dearer. Good breeding ewes and ewe lambs were in demand. STORE SHEEP There was a big drop in the numbers of store sheep yarded, which comprised only 1031 lambs and 1066 adult sheep. The attendance of buyers, however, was large, and there was keen competition for all lots offered in spite of the seasonal conditions. Ewe lambs were especially sought after, and a rise of about 2s a head on recent rates was recorded. One pen of 76 Romney ewe lambs drew plenty of bidding, and were sold at 27s 3d, and a pen of halfbred sheep made 24s 6d. Medium to good ewe lambs made from 16s 6d to 18s 6d. The best wether lambs made up to 19s Id, and others from 16s 6d to 18? Id, The adult sheep section included pens of fat and forward wethers. One of 198 six and eight-tooth big-framed sheep sold for 25s 6d, and were taken by freezing buyers. Another line of 260 two, four, and six-tooth wethers of medium size sold up to 235. A pen of sound-mouth ewes in lamb to Border Leicester and Southdown rams brought 25= 6d. Other pens of ewes in lamb made from 23s 6d to 255, with medium ewes from 16s 6d to IBs. FAT LAMBS The fat lamb yarding was again large, 5000 being penned against 5290 last week. Quality was very mixed, With a preponderance of medium and light-weight sheep. There were only a few pens of lambs suitable for the trade, and butchers did not evince much interest in the sale. In spite of the advance of one-eighth of a penny per pound in the schedule, there was no noticeable change in the general range, and prices did not go above those of last week. On the other hand there appeared to be an easing in the demand for inferior lots, which were strongly represented. Tlie bulk of the freezing buyers were operating, and the keen competition between them made it evident that all works are anxious to fill vacant space before the close of the season. Butchers’ best lambs made from 30s Id to 34s Id; good from 27s to 29s 6d; best freezing lambs, from 26s 7d to 30s; light-weights from 24s Id to 265; inferior, 17s to 19s 6d. FAT SHEEP The yarding of fat sheep totalled 6000, against 7000 odd last week. Although the bulk comprised ewes of varying quality and age. wethers were forward in larger numbers than for some weeks past. These were mostly of attractive quality and were keenly sought after by the trade at prices well in advance of recent values, and up to the new schedule of 6jd a pound. A line of 28 two-tooths from A. Fairbairn, Scargill. made from 33s Id to 39s Id, and a pen of 13 from J, Campbell, Methven, made 39s Id. Another truck lot of 64 from A. Davis, Rangiora, sold from 32s Id to 37s Id. Good young ewes also sold Well at the increased schedule of 3jd a pound, but the lower grade sheep again met with a dragging sale. The highest price for ewes was 28s lOd for a pen from a line sent by W. Anderson, Waiau. A line of 64 from the Broomfield Estate, Ambcrley, averaged 235. and another of the same number from S. G. Holland, Greta, averaged 245. The sale throughout was a very sound one, and further indicated the likelihood of .the fat sheep market remaining firm during the winter months. Values were:— Prime heavy wethers, to 39s Id, Prime medium-weight wethers, 33s Id to 38s 6d. Light wethers, to 31s. Extra prime ewes, to 28s lOd. Prime medium-weight ewes, 21s to 23s Light ewes, 15s to 17s 6d. FAT CATTLE One of the heaviest entries of the season was forward in the fat cattle section, the total comprising 630 head, as against 508 last week. In addition it was one of the best quality. One big line of 30 odd was from Southland, with other consignments of well finished cattle from intermediate districts, and the home province well represented. The proportion of heavy-weight prime cattle was the largest this season. Some of these lines, however, were showing signs of going off, and many pens of the younger steers could have done with another month or more of feeding. The big showing of heavy cattle and of the unfinished younger sorts is doubtless due to the continued dry weather and the deterioration in the feed position. In an ordinary season many of these cattle would have been held until later on. The market was weaker and dragging from the outset, and slipped badly for the excess heavy cattle in the concluding stages. Heavy steers were down by 30s a head for most of the sale and others by 20s. Over the last race of excess heavy-weigh'ts the demand collapsed, and a few sales showed a drop of 50s on those of a week ago. Passings werd more numerous than usual. Best beef made from 39s to 41s per 1001b, medium heavy-weight to 375, secondary to 345, best cow beef to 325, and inferior cow to 23s 6d. Values ranged as under:— Extra prime heavy steers, £l7 to £l9 ss. Prime heavy steers, £ls to £l7. Prime medium-weight steers, £l3 to £l4 10s. Light and ordinary, £lO to £l2. Extra prime heifers to £l4 2s ,6d . Prime heifers, £9 5s to £l2. Medium heifers, £6 5s to £8 10s. Light heifers to £6. Extra prime cows to £l3 12s 6d. Prime cows, £7 15s to £lO. Medium cows, £6 to £7 ss. Light cows to £5 10s. VEALEBS There was a very heavy entry and prices as a result were depressed. Some good quality calves were forward, and they were in brisk demand up to a price. Two lines of Black Poll heifer runners, 30 in number, made from £4 15s to £5 10s. A big consignment of vealers was forward from the West Coast, but they did not sell as well as similar calves did a week ago. Small calves were about the only class in better demand, most of the others being lower by to 8s a head, runners by more than 10s. Values were; Large runners to £6 18s 6d, medium to £5. Best vealers to £4 2s 6d, others £2 8s to £3 3s. Large calves 37s to 48s, medium 27s to 365, and small down to 8s 6d. STORE CATTLE Except for a pen or two of young cattle there was little attractive in the store pens, and the lack of condition in the entry made them unattractive to buyers. For most of the odd lots values were in the neighbourhood of those of a week ago. An attractive pen of 17 Black Poll steer calves, about nine months old, from Crystal Brook, sold at £5 Bs. DAIRY CATTLE There was an entry of 80 head in the dairy cattle section, which included a few good sorts. For these there was spirited competition, but secondary class cows and those some time in profit were definitely easier. Backward conditioned were saleable only at little better than store prices. Values were:— Best second and third calvers, £l9 to £2l. Good cows, £l3 to £ls 10s. Average sorts. £9 10s to £l2 ss. Inferior cows, £4 10s to £7 10s. Best heifers to £ls. Good heifers, £lO 10s to £l2. Ordinary heifers. £8 10s to £lO. FAT PIGS Tlie yarding of porkers was again a heavy one, and included three and a half trucks from the West Coast. There was a large proportion of plain and unfinished pigs. This class was easier by 6s to 7s a head, while good types were also easier by 3s to 4s a head. Choppers were in medium supply, and the demand was again keen, with no change in values. The bacon entry was smaller than that of last week, and here also competition was keen, and all pens changed hands at values fully up to late rates. Values were:— Light porkers. 49s 6d to 53s 6d. Medium porkers, 57s 6d to £3 7s 6d. Heavy porkers, £3 9s 6d to £3 14; 6d. Light and unfinished porkers, 43s 6d to 47s 6d. Average price per lb, 7Jd to BJd. Choppers, £3 18s 6d to £6 18s 6d. Light baconers, £3 19s 6d to £4 9s 6d; medium £4 12s 6d to £5 0s 6d; heavy £5 Is 6d to £5 9s 6d. Average price per lb, 7jd to BJd. STORE PIGS The store pig entry was about three times as large as that of last week. However, there was a fairly good attendance of buyers, and although prices were not up to last week's standard, all classes were cleared. Weaners were easier by about 3s to 4s a head, small stores by about 4s. while large stores practically maintained late rates. Values were:— Small weaners, 8s to 12s. Best weaners, 14s to 20s. Slips, 21s to 235. Small stores. 24s to 275; medium, 30s to 355; large, 38s to 445.

BURNSIDE (P.A.) DUNEDIN, May 12. Large yardings in the major sections were again forward at this week’s Burnside market. Notwithstanding this, values were fully maintained for quality beef, although moderately conditioned and lighter sorts were easier. Baconers and porkers were in shorter supply, and there was again an animated sale for both classes. Store cattle did not attract great attention. Fat cattle.—On an average quality, beef maintained last week’s rates, but medium sorts were easier by 15s a head. Cows and heifers also showed a decline of 15s to 20s a head. Prime heavy ox made to £22 7s 6d, prime £l6 2s 6d to £lB 2s 6d; medium, £l2 7s 6d to £l4 2s 6d; light, from £9 2s 6d. Prime heifers made from £lO 7s 6d to £ll 17s 6d; medium, £7 2s 6d to £8 7s 6d; light, from £5 6s 6d; prime cows. £8 12s 6d to £lO 12s 6d; medium. £5 12s 6d to £8 7s 6d; light, from £4 2s 6d. Fat Sheep.—As in recent weeks, any sheep showing quality met with a good demand and prices were firm to a shade better than last week's. Prime wethers made 31s 6d to 32s 9d; medium, 27s 9d to 29s 9d; light, 24s 6d to 25s 9d; prime young ewes, to 27s 3d; prime. 21s 6d to 24s 6d; medium, 16s 9d to 19s. Fat lambs.—Freezing buyers secured the bulk of the entry at fairly well up to schedule rates. Prime heavy lambs made to 32s 6d; prime. 27s 6d to 30s; medium, 24s 6d to 25s 9d; light, from 20s. Fat Pigs.—The sale was a particularly keen one throughout, and porkers and baconers were 5s to 8s a head better than last week. Best baconers made to £7; medium, £5 4s to £5 13s; best porkers, £3 19s to £4 7s; medium. £3 9s to £3 16s. Store Cattle. —Two and a half-year-old Shorthorn steer? made up to £lO 13s, and IB months of the same description, £5 19s to £6 7s. Good dairy cows, recently calved or at drop, made up to £ll 10s, while medium made from £6 15s to £7 I 12s 6dL