ADDINGTON MARKET Continuing Sound Inquiry For Fat Lambs

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30399, 25 March 1964, Page 20

ADDINGTON MARKET Continuing Sound Inquiry For Fat Lambs

The market for fat lambs remained fully firm at Addington market yesterday. A feature of the sale was the sizeable representation of good quality lambs.

In the fat sheep pens, where a good many younger sheep were offered, the emphasis was on the two-tooth wethers in preference to twotooth ewes. The latter were much cheaper and sometimes unsaleable. In the case of older ewes buyers were prepared to pay for sheep with a heavy fleece and graziers also came into the market.

Steers held their values in the fat cattle pens but most of the cows and the lighter heifers were cheaper.

Fat Lambs All classes of lambs met a good Inquiry In the fat lamb pens. Overall the market was fully as good as last week and in the case of some of the lighter and inferior quality possibly a shade better. Towards the end there was a feeling that values could have eased back a shade. In the offering of 2163, compared with 2186 last week, there was again a large representation of West Coast lambs and the best of these met a very strong sale. The market generally included a rather bigger representation of choice quality lambs which were in keen demand from butchers. Almost the whole selection made better than 50s. Shorn lambs again sold well but at prices which were very similar to late rates. Values were:— Best woolly lambs. 72s Id to 80s Id. Good lambs, 64s Id to 70s 7d. Medium lambs, 57s Id to 63s 7d. Lighter lambs. 48s Id to 56s Id. Best shorn lambs, 50s Id to 57s 7d.

Medium shorn lambs, 45s Id to 50s Id. Others, 35s Id to 43s Id. Among leading sales quoted by stock firms were: L. B. McKeage (Bennetts), 7 shorn at 52s Id; T. G. Dixon (Irwell), 2 at 76s Id; Edendale Farm, Ltd. (Pigeon Bay), 5 at 75s Id; C. W. Robson (Rolleston), 10 shorn at 57s Id; H. L. Cox (Templeton), 49 shorn from 52s 7d to 56s Id; P. J. Ford (Sefton), 20 shorn lambs at 57s 7d; J. Vogan (Duvauchelle), 14 shorn at 47s Id to 55s Id; H. L. Pickering (Motunau), 127 at 62s Id to 68s Id: J. H. Lawrence (Hawarden), 15 at 75s Id to 80s Id; A. G. Lawrence (Hawarden), 6 at 73s Id; L. C. Banks (Greenpark), 32 at 69s Id to 74s Id. Fat Sheep There was a variable trend about the fat sheep sale for which there was a greatly increased offering of 4353 head compared with 2709 last week. A higher proportion of young sheep were yarded and the emphasis here was on the twotooth wethers with the best meeting a sound inquiry at fully firm rates. However, shorn two-tooths could have been a shilling or two easier. There was a larger representation of two-tooth ewes and these met a definitely, slacker sale. After last week’s buoyant sale they dropped by as much as 5s or 6s and in cases were unsaleable. Buyers definitely favoured two-tooth wethers as compared with ewes. Older ewes carrying a heavy fleece were also in good demand and some heavily woolled sheep were included in the selection. The market for ewes opened on a strong note but it tended to ease off in the later stages when larger numbers came on offer. Graziers sometimes came into the market for sheep suitable for breeding and some very good sales were made of these. Well-woolled ewes could have been from par to a shade firmer. Values were:— Best heavy two-tooth wethers, 82s Id to 89s Id. Prime medium two-tooth wethers, 72s Id to 79s Id. Prime light two-tooth wethers, up to 70s Id. Best recently-shorn two-tooth wethers, 66s Id to 74s Id. Best aged wethers, to 72s Id. Best ewes, 46s Id to 54s Id, with an odd sale to 57s Id. Medium ewes, 40s Id to 46s Id. Light ewes, to 38s Id. Best shorn ewes, 33s Id to 36s Id. Medium shorn ewes, to 31s Id. Leading sales of fat sheep quoted by stock firms included: Wethers: G. R. Seaton (Courtenay), 5 recently-shorn at 73s Id; K. and I. Bailey (Springston), 36 two-tooths at 75s Id to 83s Id; T. G. Dixon (Leeston), 4 recently-shorn two-tooths at 74s Id: D. L. Mora (Tai Tapu), 11 two-tooths at 75s Id to 78s Id; M. Cameron sen. (Ladbrooks).

93 two-shear at 64s Id to 67s Id: R. H. Maidens (Lauriston), 27 two-tooths at 87s Id to 89s Id: A. J. Hall (Brookside), 16 twotootbs at 88s Id; J. Kennedy (Glentunnel), 5 two-tooths at 83s Id; S. F. Redmond (Ladbrooks), 61 shorn two-tooths at 67s Id to 70s Id; W. J. Doyle (Leeston), 15 two-tooths at 73s Id.

Ewes: R. Griffiths (Rangiora). 18 at 49s Id: L. L. Craw and Son (Chorlton), 26 at 52s Id to 53s Id; N. Mason (Little River), 24 recently-shorn at 34s Id; L. K. and G. E. Muirson (Fisherman’s Bay), 84 recently-shorn ewes at 33s Id to 35s Id; C. McAnulty (Norwood), 195 at 49s Id to 57s Id; J. W. Ensor (Okuku), 43 at 47s Id; F. W. Hansen (Fernside), 47 ewes at 47s Id to 48s Id; B. Gill (Doyleston), 12 at 47s Id to 48s Id, 20 six-tooths at 48s Id to 54s Id and 16 four-tooths at 51s Id to 52s Id; estate of J. W. Byrch (Motunau), 116 at 42s Id to 51s Id; G. D. Stanbury (Little River), 51 shorn at 32s Id to 36s Id: Slattery Bros. (Darfield), 55 at 42s Id to 46s Id; A. L. Adams (Sheffield), 9 at 40s Id to 53s Id: R. W. and H. G. Freeman (Aylesbury), 99 at 46s Id to 49s Id; w. H. McConnell (Ashburton), 59 at 51s Id to 53s Id; J. P. McGuire (Christchurch), 36 at 49s Id to 51s Id; J. W. Harrison (Scargill), 44 at 49s Id to 50s Id: S. Henderson and Son (Rakaia), 15 at 49s Id to 50s Id: E. J. Francis (Halswell), 8 at 49s Id; S. E. Chapple (Killinchy), 75 at 46s Id to 48s Id; N. R. Wilkinson and Son (Cheviot), 26 at 46s Id to 48s Id: Mrs E. M. Gray (Hororata), 16 at 47s Id; A. C. Greenwood (Southbridge), 24 Southdown twotooths at 54s Id to 55s Id. Fat Cattle Fat cattle were yarded in relatively small numbers, the offering totalling 341 compared with 415 last week. While the selection Included a smattering of choice quality cattle, there was again a large representation of broken coloured, nondescript sorts showing the effects of the recent dry weather.

Both medium-weight and heavy-weight steers held to about last week’s prices, but there was some easing of value for heifers and cows. The lighter weight heifers were harder to sell and were cheaper by up to 30s a head, but the top choice qualitv sorts were fully firm. In the cow section only odd top quality entries maintained late rates. The balance of the entry realised values about 20s to 30s cheaper. A pen of nine steers from H. D. Greenwood (Teviotdale) aroused favourable comment. They were described as being good, big. meaty cattle. They were among the top price steers of the sale, selling at £52 12s fid to £54 17s fid. Prime heavy steer beef realised from £6 7s fid to £7 2s 6d per 1001 b, prime mediumweight steer beef from £6 17s 6d to £7 12s 6d, and plain and light steer beef from £6 2s 6d to £6 17s 6d; prime heavy heifer beef £6 2s 6d to £6 15s, prime medium weight heifer beef £6 15s to £7 7s fid and plain and light heifer beef £5 15s to £6 7s fid; prime butchers’ cow beef £5 15s to £6 2s fid and secondary cow beef £4 7s 6d to £5 10s. Values were:— Prime heavy steers, £5O 2s fid to £55 17s fid. Prime medium steers, £44 17s fid to £49 17s fid. Prime light steers, £3B 12s fid to £44 7s fid. Plain and light steers, £23 17s fid to £37 7s fid. Prime heavy heifers, £35 17s 6d to £42 2s 6d. Prime medium heifers, £3O 2s fid to £35 7s fid. Prime light heifers, £23 2s 6d to £29 7s 6d. Prime Heavy cows, £35 12s fid to £3B 12s fid. Prime medium cows, £29 7s fid to £34 2s fid. Prime light cows, £24 7s fid to £27 7s 6d. Plain and light cows to £2O 7s fid. Top sales of cattle included: — Steers: J. Clayton (Mawhera-

iti), I at £5l 7x fid to £54 Ils fid; estate A. E. Blrdllng (Birdlings Flat), 1 st £55 2s fid; estate J. S. Bland (Winchmore). 5 at £5O 17s fid to £52 17s fid; H. D. Greenwood (Teviotdale), 9 at £52 12s fid to £54 17s fid: O. K. and B. G. Wareing (Matai), 13 at £49 17s fid to £5O 17s fid: Glazebrook (Te Plrita), 3 at £5O 12s fid to £53 7s fid: C. S. Donald (Belfast), 3 at £5l 12s fid: J. V. Chapman (Tat Tapu). 6 at £56 12s fid to £55 7s fid (average £53 15s). Heifers: Happy Home Trust (Cashmere), 1 at £42 2s fid; D. O. Masefield (Goughs Bay). 10 at £35 12s fid to £3O 17s fid. Cows: E. S. Sloss (Omihi), 2 at 136 7s fid; R. O. Haylock (Barrys Bay), 1 at £3B 12s fid. Store Cattle With the main store cattle market now transferred to Wednesday for the autumn series of sales this section included an offering of a handful of nondescript steers, heifers, calves and boner cows. The bigger boner cows were selling from about £2O to £25. The offering totalled 81 head. Bulls The bull entry was of similar size to last week at 14 head and comprised mainly mediumweight sorts which met a sale that was by no means buoyant but was at about last week’s price levels. The heaviest in the offering brought from £45 17s 6d to £53 17s 6d, with the top figure being paid for an Ayrshire. A Friesian and an Aberdeen Angus each sold for £49 17s fid. Medium-weights realised from £3O 17s fid to £39 8s fid and small and light sold down to £l6 3s 6d. Dairy Cattle The entry of dairy cattle dropped sharply from 48 last week to 25, including nine cows with the remainder heifers. The heifers, which were all Friesians, varied considerably in quality. From the outset only a small gallery followed the sale, but for the better class of cattle prices were a shade better than last week, possibly due to the smaller supply, but at no stage was the market buoyant. The best of the heifers sold from £35 to £4l, with an odd sale at up to £44 10s. and others ranging down to £27. The few cows on offer were of only average quality. The best of these made from £29 to £33 with others ranging down to £24. At the close of the sale in-

terest was at a low ebb, only a handful following the sale. Vealers The veal section attracted the largest entry for some time. It totalled about 236 compared, with about 106 last week, but was lacking in heavy runners. Quality was mixed and was described as only very fair. With only a limited killing period before the Easter holidays buying power was somewhat restricted, and the market was a little erratic with prices ranging from par to a shade easier.

Best vealers sold from £2B 2s fid to £3O 7s fid. with an odd exceptional sale to £32 7s fid, medium vealers made from £24 2s 6d to £26 2s 6d, and smaller vealers from £26 7s 6d to £22 2s 6d; good calves from £l6 7s Cd to £lB 2s fid, medium calves from £ll 7s fid to £l3 2s fid, small calves from £6 7s fid to £9 2s fid, and bobby calves from 23s fid upwards.

Fat Pigs There was a slightly larger entry in the pork section this week and values for good quality pigs were firm on last week’s prices, but inferior or over-fat pigs were harder to sell. There was a smaller entry of baconers and here again best quality pigs met a keen demand. There were very few choppers In the yarding and values improved on late rates. Values were:— Light porkers. £5 15s 6d to £7 Is 6d. Medium porkers, £7 6s fid to £8 4s fid. Heavy porkers, £8 9s 6d to £9 Ils 6d. Light baconers, £9 16s 6d to HO Ils fid. Medium and heavy baconers, £lO 19s fid to £l2 17s fid, with a few’ top pens to £l3 9s. Choppers, £5 3s 6d to £ll Is, with one top pig making £l2 Is. Store Pigs The yarding of store pigs was larger than last week and consisted of weaners, slips and small stores with an almost total absence of large stores. Values for the better quality small pigs were on a par with last week’s rates. A feature of the market was the preference for white store pigs. Tamworth cross sold at a slight discount. There were no sows yarded.

Values were:— Weaners 32s to 40s. Best weaners, 43s to 545. Small stores, 57s to 68s. Medium and large stores, 74s to £5 3s.