ADDINGTON MARKET

Press, Volume LXXXI, Issue 24568, 17 May 1945, Page 3

ADDINGTON MARKET

heavy entries

SLAUGHTERING DIFFICULTY CURTAILS BUYING Entries continue to come forward to Addington far in excess of those usual at this period of the year. Stock are coming from far afield, particularly •at cattle, the sources of supply yesterday ranging from Southland to Marlborough and the West Coast. at the abattoir is not proceeding with normal dispatch, and this had an effect on values, particularly as the market In all the fat sections was over-supplied. A arge entry of more than 6000 fat lambs maintained prices for prime quality; but the store lamb element slipped in price by up to 2s 6d. The sale was a satisfactory one for fat sheep, but buying was limited to the barest needs of the trade. Lambs in the store pens maintained values, and there was again a good market for the various classes of cattle In the store pens. Pigs were forward in much larger numbers STORE SHEEP The yarding m the store sheep section was 4221, against 5472 last week and 14.000 the week before. It included 2721 lambs. The attendance round the pens was not as large as at late sales, but in spite of this, recent prices tor both wether and ewe lambs were substantially maintained. The quality showed a decided improvement on that at sales during the last few weeks, and this no doubt accounted for the strong demand. Best ewe lambs' made from 25s 9d to 27s 6d; medium from 21s 6d to 23s 3d, and small and inferior from 17s 6d to 18s 6d. The best wether lambs sold from 19s Id to 22s 3d. good 17s 6d to 20s 3d, medium 15s to 16s 9d. small and inferior from 11s to 13s 6d The adult sheep were very mixed, and except for one or two pens, the quality was unattractive. A pen of 73 flve-year-old ewes In lamb to Southdown rams sold for 25s Two-tooth wethers made from 25s to 27s 9d. and a pen of two-tooths and four-tooths sold for 27s 6d. ,Twotooth ewes made up to 24s for a pen of halfbreds. FAT LAMBS The entry of fat lambs totalled 6041 against 1043 at the short market last week, and 7000 in the previous week The bulk comprised freezing weight lambs, and included a number of end-of-the-season light and unfinished sorts Pens showing quality attracted keen competition from the trade and the freezing buyers were reasonably active for the best of the remainder, but unfinished lambs found a dragging sale, and many sold at store prices. On the whole there was not any change in the prices for prime lambs, but for all others a drop of from 2s to 3s a head was recorded this being most pronounced in the tailend class. Some of the best sales were;— J. Legg (Leeston), 64 from 32s Id to 35s 7d: M. Galpin (Southbridge), 21 from 28s Id to 33s Id; C. G. Gardiner (Walau). 444 from 29s lOd to 32s lOd; W. J. Gibb (Darfleld). 32 from 31s lOd to 32s 7d. Brookdale Estate (Parnassus), 150 from 27s 7d to 31s 4d.

Values were;—heavy lambs, 32s Id to 35s 7d: prime, 27s 7d to 31s 4d; medium, 20s, to 235; light, to 18s: shorn lambs, to 31s Id. FAT SHEEP The fat sheep entry approximated 6000. against 4500 last week, a large proportion of the ewes again being light and unfinished Wethers'were forward in larger numbers than at recent sales, but except for a few attractive drafts, the quality generally was not up to a high standard The sale was a satisfactory one for all classes. Freezing buyers showed their usual activity for sheep suitable for export, but the demand by butchers was somewhat restricted by the difficulty in getting the number of sheep killed at the abattoir to fulfil their requirements For some time past the dally killing at the abattoir has not been sufficient to keep up the supplies to the shops, and until this has been overcome, butchers will have to curtail their purchases and in consequence have less meat to retail to customers. One of the best drafts of wethers sent in for some time was offered by W Abbott (Southbrldge), who sold 28 Romney two-tooths at from 41s 4d to 49s 7d. Values were:— Extra prime wethers;, to 49S 7d. Prime wethers, 39s 7d to 455-Id.' Prime medium-weight wethers, 33s to 375.

Light wethers, to 31s Id. Extra prime young ewes, 30s to 325, Prime aged ewes, 23s to 26s 4d. Medium ewes, 15s 4d to 17s 7d. Light ewes, to r4s. FAT CATTLE

There was again a‘ heavy over-supply in the fat cattle pens, practically all the South Island provinces being represented in the display Primf lines were forward from the Fortrose district of eastern Southland, Edeadale, and Gore, from North Otago, South Canterbury. Mid-Can-terbury, the West Coast, and southern Marlborough, besides most of the local fattening districts. The total penning was 711 head compared with 615 last week. With such an offering, quality was of a high order, although heavy-weights formed too big a proportion for the demand Slaughtering at the abattoirs has been Impeded during the last week or more, and the market was much more hesitant than for some time, with butchers buying only their Immediate needs. Generally there was an easing of 20s a head, a reduction in values which brought a large proportion of the entry within the export schedule: but not much of the entry was bought for the works. A proportion of the lighter cattle was bought by graziers, but passings of the large entry were comparatively few. It is expected that the abattoir difficulty will be overcome within a few days, which should be reflected in a keener market for the exceptionally heavy entries coming forward at present. In the meantime the entries from elsewhere are preventing any seasonal hardening of values. Best beef made to 42s per 1001b. good to 375, ordinary to 325, and cow beef to 28s. The following were among the top prices:—W. McCully (Temuka), 6 steers at £l7 17s fid to 12s fid; F. Holmes (Spreydon), 4 steers at £l7 12s fid, McBride Bros. (Winchester), 6 steers at £l9 12s fid to £2O 17s fid; Plaskett Bros. (Fernsteers at £l7 17s fid to £lB 17s fid; L. D. Stanbury (Wainui), 8 steers at £l7 17s fid to £2O 17s fid; Mrs T. T. Bethell (Pahau Downs), 8 steers at £l7 17s fid to £l9 2s fid; Klnloch Estate (Little River), 8 steers at £l9 2s fid to £2O 12s fid; J.. F. Macfarlane (Hawkswood), 4 steers at £l9 12s fid to £2l 12s fid; N. A.Gardiner (Kaltuna). 8 steers at £l7 17s fid to £lB 12s fid: A. S. Elworthy (Holme Station) . steer at £2 12s fid. 5 heifers at £l4 17s fid to £l6 7s fid. - Values were as under:— Extra prime steers, at £2l 12s fid. Prime steers, £ls !°s to £!7 10s. Prime light-medium steers. £l4 5s to steers, £ll }J* S J%* 7 g 3 8 d° s ' Extra prime heifers, to £l6 7s fid. Prime heifers; £9 15s to £ll 10s. Medium heifers. £7 t0 £9Extra prime cows, to £l3 17s fid. Prime cows, £8 10s to £lO. Medium cows, £6 to £B. , Light and aged cows, £4 15s to £5 las. VEALERS The entry In the vealer section was a large one, several station consignments being forward, making an overflow offering. A few pens of well-bred calves were offered In the store pens because of the excessive numbers. Graziers competed for well-grown and well-bred calves, and this helped the sale to a small extent. Values were lower than those of last week; but a total clearance was made. Low conditioned and rough calves, of nondescript character were hard to sen. Values were;— large vealers, £7 8s fid to £9 18s fid: others, £4 IBs to £7 3s fid; crime suckers. £4 16s to £8 8s fid: medium. £3 13s fid to £4 13s fid: large calves. 52s to 725; medium, 35s to 50s; small and rough, 10s to 325. ,

STORE CATTLE An entry of well-bred calves from Southland, totalling 152 head, and the annual draft of Lakes Station steers—ss In number —provided scope for the operations of graziers, there being also pen lots of various classes of cattle from other vendors. The Lakes steers were big-framed Herefords, mostly In moderate condition. One pen of nine fairly forward, made £l4 ss, and a second also of nine £l4. A third pen of similar number brought £l3 19s, and two pens of 28 £l3 les. The calves from -Southland als ® .P I ®.* * free demand. Seventeen Black Poll steer calves sold at £7 15s, and 12 of same description at £6 Is; and the 32 heifer calves of the breed, £6. Twenty-one Shorthorn steer calves sold at 26 Shorthorn heifers at £6; 18 Hereford cross steer calves at £6 10s and 26 at £5 10s. The calves were a well-grown healthy looking lot. Among other lines were two pens of Black PoU # st A er from the West Coast, one of 16 making £7 12s, and one of nine, £6 18s.

DAIRY CATTLE ... One of the largest entries of dairy cattle for a long time was penned up, the total approximating 140 head. Heifers were heavily represented In the total. The qualIty of these, except for a fairly large tail-end, was up to recent standards. Generally last week’s rates were maintained right up to the late hour at which toe sale was concluded. The best-priced heifers ranged from £2O to £23, several coming within this range. Apart froin prices best heifers made from £l6 to £l9. good £l2 10? to £l4 10s, others to £lO. Best cows made from £l6 to £l9, good average sorts from £l2 to £ls 10s. medium £8 10s to £lO 10s, Others £5 5s to £7 10s. FAT PIGS Doubtless because of the small entries last week, the penning of porkers yesterday was one of toe largest of toe season. It comprised for toe most part very small porkers and unfinished porkers. The marfat att round vm a dragging on* end

only the best quality wgs freely competed for. Actually some of the pigs would have brought better values in the store nens. Choppers were also yarded in large numbers, and this sale was an excellent one, last week’s good rates being fully maintained. Baconers. like the other sections, were In large supply: but In this section buyers were keen and recent values were fully maintained. Values •were:— Light porkers, 44s fid to 52s fid, medium 55s fid to 62s fid. heavy £3 9s fid to £3 19s fid. Choppers from £5 18s 8d to £lO 18s 6d. Light baconers, £4 6s fid to £4 14s fid; medium, £4 18s 8d to £5 4s fid; heavy, £5 7s fid to £5 17s fid; extra heavy, £6 2s fid to £6 14s fid: price per lb. BJd to 9fd. STORE PIGS There was a very heavy yarding, compared with little more than a skeleton one last week. There was a good attendance of buyers, and all classes sold readily, excepting In the case of weaners. These were not wanted erecept at very low rates. Values were:— Small weaners, 3s to 9s, best 12s to 15s, slips 18s to 235. Small stores. 25s to 28s, medium, 30s to 365; large, from 46s to 545.,. BURNSIDE (P.A.) DUNEDIN, May 16. The cattle section was again heavily supported at Burnside and the result was that prices slipped considerably for medium and light descriptions. Best quality oxen were in limited supply, and received strong attention from the trade. The reason for the market again being overstocked was the anticipated shortage of feed next spring because of the wet season. At present there is a heavy demand on space for fat cattle at the freezing works, and farmers, instead of waiting for animals to be accommodated, are placing them on the market. Best quality bullocks made to £2l 2s fid; prime, £l7 7s fid to £lB 17s fid: medium. £l3 7s fid to £l4 17s fid; light, from £ll 7s fid: prime heifers, £9 2s fid to £lO 12s fid; medium, £8 2s fid to £9 2s fid: light, from £6 17s fid; extra prime cows. £ll 17s fid: prime, £8 7s 6d to £lO 2s fid; medium, £»l7s fid to £7 12s fid: light, from £5 17s fid. There were about 370 cattle yarded. ■ There was an overflow yarding of fat sheep, and approximately 3000 were offered. Wethers and young ewes experienced keen inquiry, but apart from these classes the market was neglected, buyers for freezing works securing most of the lighter descriptions. Extra prime wethers sold to 44s 3d; prime, 38s to 41s 6d; medium, 35s to 375; light, from 295; prime young ewes, 34s 6d to 375; prime heavy, to 255; prime, 20s to 225; medium, 17s to 19s: light, from 13s. There was a yarding of 1500 fat lambs, and quality was average, prices consequently hardly reaching last week’s rates Extra prime lambs sold to 34s fid; prime. 30s to 335: medium, 26s to 27a 6d; light, from 21s.

The yarding of store cattle was an average one,' and demand was fair, although not as keen as recent sales Three-year-old steers sold to fill; two to two and a half-year-old, £9 to £lO ss: vearlings. from £5 15s. The number of baconers offered was 140, and the sale was a keen one. Best quality sold to £8 9s; prime, £6 12s fid to £7; medium, £5 Ids to £5 16s; light, from £4 15s.