ADDINGTON MARKET Fat Wethers Show Marked Improvement; Good Lamb Sale

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31627, 13 March 1968, Page 12

ADDINGTON MARKET Fat Wethers Show Marked Improvement; Good Lamb Sale

Fat wethers showed a marked improvement in value at Addington market yesterday. The fat sheep sale numbered just over 2000 head, and following a short sale of lambs earlier in the day, values were the strongest for some weeks.

An entry of 1100 fat lambs met a good sale, but quality was much improved on last sale. With a good selection of butchers’ lambs, there were frequent sales round the $7 mark.

With an entry of 420 head, fat cattle were in over-sup-ply, and values for steers and heifers showed a distinct easing on last sale. Cows, however, continued to sell well.

Good quality cows and heifers in the dairy cattle offering met a ready sale, with the best of the cows realising 8188. Steer calves offered in the store cattle pens sold to $4B. Fat Lambs For the second week in succession. there was a small offering of lambs, the yarding being 1130 compared with 925 last sale. The level of values was higher, but this was largely because of a great improvement in quality. There was a big proportion of good butchers’ lambs, and these sold very well. The market opened fully firm on last sale, but it closed 20c to 30c a head stronger. There were a number of sales at more than $7. Values were:— Prime heavy lambs, $6.70 to $7 20, with odd sales at $7.60. Prime medium, $5.90 to $6.40. Lighter lambs, $5.10 to $5.60.

Best shorn lambs, to $5.80. Other shorn, $4.60 to $5.20. Leading sales of fat lambs included:

P. N. Ussher (Little River), 20 at $5.65 to $6; R. Swarbrick (Rangiora), 2 at $6.20: G. Middlewood and Son (Darfield), 45 at $4.60 to $6.10: W. J. S. McLaughlan (Greendale), 55 at $5.60 to $6.15; McCosker Brothers (Ashburton), 18 at $7.40 to $7.60; E. P. Robins (Motunau), 22 at $5.80 to $7.20; S. Henderson and Son (Kaituna), 23 at $5.75 to $6.50; Mrs M. Wilson (Kirwee), 15 January born lambs at $5.20 to $5.50; O’Leary Brothers (Kotuku), 45 at $5.45 to $7; F. D. C. Brown (Whitecliffs), 75 at $5.40 to $6; E. R. and J. C. Cottrell (Loburn), 38 shorn at $5.15 to $5.80; R. H. Wards (Lakeside), 26 at $6.05 to $7.40. Fat Sheep With a small yarding following a light sale of lambs earlier in the day, the fat sheep sale was a very good one. At 2135 head, the yarding was 765 fewer than last week. While ewes were forward in only small numbers, the market for them showed little movement on recent rates. In contrast with last sale, the two-tooth wether sale was a remarkably good one. There were frequent sales approaching $7, values showing a marked rise on last week.

Young ewes showed a similar improvement. Values were: Best young wethers, $6.50 to $6.80, with odd sales to $7.49. Medium wethers, $6 to $6.40. Plainer wethers, $5.40 to $5.80. Best older wethers, $5 to $5.60. Other wethers, down to $3.20. Two-tooth ewes, $4.80 to $5.60. Best old ewes, $2.70 to $3.10. Medium, $2.30 to $2.60. Other ewes, down to $1.60. Leading sales of fat sheep included: — Wethers: J. G. Mugford (Ladbrooks), 8 at $6.20 to $6.70; D. S. Gibb (Wainui), 15 at $7.20 to $7.40; R. Swarbrick (Okuku), 12 at $5.75 to $6.10; R. H. Wards (Irwell), 14 at $6.20 to $6.40; McLeod and Scott (Waiau), 15 at $6.10 to $6.40; L. W. Prosser (Killinchy), 75 shorn at $5.90 to $6.40; J. A. Pears (Waiau), 14 at $6.60; Chaytor and Company (Blenheim), 108 at $6 to $7.05; Clarence Reserve, Ltd (Kaikoura), 38 at $6.80 to $7.20: G. A. Perry (Waiau), 21 at $6.20 to $6.60: J. S. Brydon (Blenheim), 40 at $6.40 to $6.90: A. Croft (Ashburton), 10 at $6.95: W. A. Meares (Scargill), 8 at $6.60 to $7.40; L. Doody (Ashley), 17 at $6.70 to $7; Brooksdale Estate (Springfield), 21 at $6.30 to $6.60; D. D. Jackman (Cheviot), 27 at $6.20 to $6.40; Mrs Z. M. Partridge (Southbridge), 10 at $7.30. Other wethers: Benmore Graziers (Springfield), 22 fourtooths at $4.60 to $5.60; McLeod and Scott (Waiau), 73 fullmouthed wethers at $3.50 to $3.80; J. A. Pears (Waiau), 10 four-tooths at $5.10; H. R Henderson (Rakaia Gorge), 40 at $4 to $4.20. /c , _ Ewes: W. Holmes (Southbridge), 39 at $2.30 to $2.60; estate C. M. Sheat (Dunsandel). 21 at $2.80 to $3.10; H. L. Cox (Halswell), 85 at $2.30 to $3.20: P. and K. M. Le Cren Trust (Parnassus), 23 at $3.10; E. H. Rickards (Hororata), 122 at $2.60 to $2.80; S. Henderson and Son (Rakaia:, 66 at $2.60 to $3.20; estate J. M. Boag (Rotherham), 60 at $2.60 to $3; estate H. A. and E. J. Beaven (Rotherham), 20 at $2.40 to $2.90; O’Leary Brothers (Kotuku), 20 at $2.90 to $3.10. Fat Cattle

With an entry of 420 head, compared with 376 last week, the fat cattle yarding was quite a large one. Steers predominated. and a fair number of them were heavy-weight cattle, which the trade could not readily absorb. With big supplies on hand at local freezing works, the freezing company buyers were not as active as at recent sales. The market reflected the recent fall in freezing schedule, steers and heifers easing $5 to $6 a head, and sometimes more. Cows were on hand in only small numbers, and values did not appear to show much change. Prime heavy steer beef sold to $l7 per 1001 b, prime mediumweight from $17.50 to $l9; prime heavy heifer beef, $l6 to $16.50, prime medium-weight from $l7 to $18; prime butchers’ cow beef $16.50 to $17.50 with lighter from $15.25 to $16.25. Values were:— Prime heavy steers, $llB to $l2B, with odd sales to $l4O. Prime medium, $lO4 to $ll5. Prime light, $9O to $lOO. Prime heavy heifers, $B4 to $9O, with an odd sale to $104.50. Prime medium, $7O to $BO. Prime butchers’ cows, $BB to $lOO Prime medium, $75 to $B5. Lighter cows, down to $65. Leading sales of fat cattle included:—

Steers: E. B. Hurst (Takamatua), 9 at $119.50 to $126; Clarence Reserve, Ltd (Kaikoura), 1 at $118.50; K. L. Brosnahan (Fernside), 1 at $121; W. Breen (Bromley), 2 at $136 to $140; Jarman Trust (Darfield), 1 at $134; R. T. Masefield (Akaroa), 1 at $130; O. K. and B. G. Wareing (Matai), 1 at $123.50; M. and S. Johns (Culverden), 12 at $116.50 to $120.50: C. S. Donald Belfast), 3 at $123; C. J. McLaughlin (Methven), 9 at $ll4 to $120.50; Glazebrook (Te Pirita), 12 at $114.50 to $121; G. Borlase (Evans Creek), 1 at $123; W. R. Lilley (Hawarden), 1 at $138; A. L. and S. A. Wakelin (Little River), 3 at $117; H. G. Hartnell (Culverden), 1 at $132.50.

Cows: I. C. Stanbury (Little River), 1 at $96.50; C. A. Bailey (Springston), 1 at $100; Valetta Trust (Ashburton), 1 at $93; J. McMillan (Waikari), 2 at $90.50; R. H. Ballagh (Hororata), 1 at $9O: A. Sparks (Halswell), 2 at $100; C. J. McLaughlin (Methven), 3 at $82.50 to $B9; G. A. Pearce (Coutts Island), 2 at $9O to $99.50; L. Tullett (Papanui), 1 at $lOO. Heifers: A. C. Reynish (Pigeon Bay), 5 at $B4 to $B5; T. E. Armstrong (Akaroa), 6 at $81.50 to $100.50; K. A. Rose (Flea Bay), 1 at $90.50; P. N. Ussher (Little River), 1 at $104.50; R. T. Masefield (Akaroa), 2 at $9l; C. J. Palmer (Rangiora), 1 at $B6; R. Swarbrick (Akuku), 2 at $80; G. Borlase .(Evans Creek), 2 at $85.50 to $90.50; W. R. Lilley (Hawarden), 1 at $92.

Dairy Cattle With an entry of 16 heifers and 13 cows, the dairy cattle entry was a big one, but there was a good inquiry, particularly for the pick of the entry. For quality, the heifers were much the same as last week, with a number of small and plain types included. The best of the entry—two good Friesians—sold at $l4O and $l4l respectively, while good average heifers sold from $lO7 to $124, plainer from $76 to $9O, and smah down to $63. The quality of the cow entry

was the best that had been seen at Addington for a considerable time. Six Friesians met a good demand, with prices for five ranging from $124 to $173, and the other selling at $lBB. Crossbred heifers sold from $72 to $lOO.

Store Cattle An entry of 185 store cattle did not sell quite up to recent rates, although two pens of store calves were an exception. The yarding again included quite a number of pens of Friesian cattle of mixed ages, and there were a few pens of beef-bred steers. Two-year-old Hereford steers sold to $B4, and there were sales of young Aberdeen Angus steers at $7O and some 20-month-old Friesians at $65.50. Friesian steers sold to $5B, and Friesian steer calves to $4O. Two pens of Aberdeen Angus cross calves met a ready sale, the steers selling at $4B, and the heifers at £42.50. Vealers In contrast with the fat cattle section, vealers met a good sale, with the better class of calves showing a rise on last sale. The larger class of vealer predominated, and for good quality beasts, values improved $2. There was not a very big entry of calves, and values were firm.

The best of the vealers sold from $7O to $79, medium from $6O to $6B, and smaller from $5O to $56. Best calves sold from $4B to $56, with medium from $36 to $44, and small from $2O to $32. Bulls Only eight bulls were offered this week. While it was a very small yarding, some high prices were paid. A huge Shorthorn bull topped the sale at $230, and another bull of the same breed realised $l9l. Values for the rest ranged from $7l to $125. Fat Pigs

The fat pig entry was much larger this week, and it included a fair number of plain

and secondary sorts. Values fell with the increased number offered and for lighter pigs there was very little inquiry. Good pens of medium porkers were back by 30c to 50c a head, while short, fat, and unfinished pigs showed a greater decline. The trade could not absorb the quantity of pigs on hand, and a number of passings were made.

Heavy pork and light bacon met a fluctuating market, with the best inquiry being shown for the quality pigs. Medium and heavy baconers were on a par with recent rates.

The chopper entry was the largest entry for some weeks, but consisted mainly of unfinished and inferior pigs. The odd good butchers’ chopper was on a par with last sale, but others were very difficult to quit. Values were;—

Light porkers, $12.20 to $14.10. Medium porkers, $15.80 to $l7 20

Heavy porkers. $lB to $19.20. Light bacon, $19.80 to $20.70. Medium and heavy, $21.50 to $24.50. Choppers, unfinished, $3.75 to $15.25. Finished, $20.50 to $32.75. Store Pigs The store pig entry was much bigger than last week’s, but it included some good quality pigs. Weaners again met only limited competition, but the best were firm on late rates. Slips and small stores were on a par with last sale, and medium and large stores were practically unchanged. Buyers again showed a distinct preference for better quality pigs. Poorly presented store pigs were harder to sell. With the larger entry, values tender to weaken over the closing stages, as buyers filled their requirements. Several in-pig sows were offered, and the best sold to $27. Others, including a sow and litter, made less than $2O. Values were:— Small weaners, $1 to $2.60. Best weaners, $3.10 to $4.10. Slips, $4.60 to $5.60. Small and medium stores, $6 to $9.30. Large stores, to $11.20.