ADDINGTON MARKET Cattle values better; lambs firm

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33778, 26 February 1975, Page 7

ADDINGTON MARKET Cattle values better; lambs firm

A general belief that the Government will soon subsidise beef prices to the producer acted as a stimulus to prime-cattle and veal values at the Addington market yesterday.

However, another factor was the small yarding. At a little more than 250 head, it was well below requirepients. Prime-lamb values remained on a par with last week’s rates, although the yarding, at less than 1000 head, was much smaller than usual. In the prime-sheep section, young wethers were generally a dollar a head easier; however, ewes, under competition from both farmers and butchers, showed some improvement. Store-cattle prices remained fully firm, but dairycattle values again went into decline. Prime lambs Prime-lamb values remained firm, although a rise might have been expected, as the yarding was down from 1270 last week to 925. It Was a very small yarding for this time of the year. It included a useful selection of heavy lambs —some of which were over-fat—and there was also a larger representation of shorn lambs. In spite of the small entry, competition was rather limited. The small entry, it appeared, was he main factor in keeping the market rm. Values were:— Heavy lambs, to $10.50. Medium lambs, 88 to $8.70. Light lambs down to $7.50. Shorn lambs, $7.50 to $8.50. Leading sales of prime lambs included: — R. J. Turpin (Little River), 5 at 8.40 to $8.90; J. J. O’Boyle (Leeston), 8 at $8.40 to $9; L. W. R. Langdon (Ashburton), 98 at $B.lO to $9: C. J. Ballagh (Fernside), 12 at $10.50; H. N. Gilbert (Hawarden), 7 at $8.70; W. T. Topp (Hawarden), 19 at $B.lO to $8.70; R. K. Morrish and Son (Springston), 27 at $8 to $9.20; G. Painter (Mayfield), 10 at $9.20 to $10.30; H. R. and E. M. Burt (Scargill), 25 at 8.50 to $9.70; H. and P. Doak (Rakaia), 91 at $7.90 to $8.30; Little Rig Partnership (Brookside), 57 at $8 to $8.20; M. J. Foley (Teddington), 23 at $8; N. K. Copeland (Dromore), 16 at $9.10 to $9.40; D. and J. Winchester (Sedgmere), 16 at $8.75 to $9. Prime sheep The prime-sheep entry, at 1870 head, was much the same as last week’s, and ewes accounted for a sizeable part of the yarding. The ewes had a variable sale.

Reflecting the shortage of stock in the weekly store pens, there was regular interest from farmrs in any ewes with a row of teeth which might see out a season. These showed an improvement of 30c to 40c. Otherwise, avlues were firm, although on goodcutting ewes, the butchers were prepared to go along with the farmer bidders, and in some cases head them off.

The hogget market, over all, was not as strong. Although it opened quite well, values were quoted as being up to $1 a head easier. Few pens reached $9. Values were:— Best young wethers, to $9.50. Medium wethers, $7.50 to $8.30. Other wethers, $6.50 to $7.20. Best adult ewes, to $4.10. Medium ewes, $3.30 to $3.70, Other ewes, down to $2.50. Leading sales of prime sheep includes: — ■ Young wethers. —C. A. Adams (Greendale), 50 to $7.50 to 89; A. A. Hulston (West Melton), 20 at $8.50 to $9.50; J. ,1. O’Carroll (Hawarden), 43 at $7.30 to $7.80; W. Blackadder (Maruia), 51 at $7.30 to 7.80; R. S. Sutton (Springston). 19 at 7.20 to $7.50; Macartney Brothers (Tai Tapu), 6 at $7.70; Cudex Brothers (Whiterock), 36 at $7.80 to $7.90; P. W. Moore (Kekerengu), 61 at $7 to $8; A. J. Duncan (Sheffield), 58 at $5 to $8.10; J. R. Bain (Aylesbury), 55 at 8.10 to $8.80; D. Lang (Hawarden), 69 at 7.20 to $8.10; D. A. Philpott (Okuku), 41 at $6.60 to $8; Dovedale Farm (Amberley), 20 at $8 to $8.40; H. R. and M. E. Burt (Scargill), 55 at $6.70 to $8.50; R. J. Innes (Darfield), 40 at $7 o $7.50; E. Walsh (Tinwald). 39 at 7.30 to $7.90. Ewes: A. T. Arscott (Culverden), 35 at $2.60 to $3.70; P.l Brown (Waiau), 76 at $3.26 to] $3.40; J, R. Belton (Waiau), 71) at $3.40 to $3.60; R. W. and R. J. Wright (Dunsandel), 112 at $2.40 to $3.35; H. L. Pickering (Motunau), 115 at $2.95 to $3.70; A. A. Hulston (West Melton), 12 at $4.10; D. A. Philpott (Okuku), 36 at $2.10 to $3.30; L. M. Roberts (Scargill), 26 at $2.60 to $3.20; Clifton Farming Group (Waiau), 49 at $2.70 to $3.60. Prime cattle Prime cattle had a much improved sale, stimulated largely by rumours of a Governmentsupport price for beef. However, the yarding, at only 259 head, was below requirements by as much as 150 head. Clearly, the indecision surrounding the market is causing producers to hold their cattle. Steers improved a steady $lO to $l2, the light-weight cattle being in particular demand. Heifers improved $6 to $B, and the cow market showed a firmer trend. Prime heavy steer beef sold at $l4 to $l6“ per 1001 b (31c to 35.5 c a kg); light-weight steer beef at $lB to $2O (39.5 c to 44c a kg); heifer beef at $l6 to $l9; (35.5 c to 42c a kg), and cow beef ,at $ll (24.5 c a kg).

Values were:— Heavy steers, to $132. Medium steers, $lOO to $ll5. Light steers, $9O to $9B. Other steers, down to $BO. Best heifers, to $97. Medium heifers, $BO to $BB. Heavy cows, to $B7. Medium cows. $55 to $65. Other cows, down to $4O. Leading sales of prime cattle included:—

Steers: O. K. and B. G. War-; ing (Matai), 10 at $lO5 to $125;: F. P. Dennehy (Whataroa), 9 at $ll3 to $130; R. Guthrie (Tai; Tapu), 6 at $llB to $119; A. and C. Smith (Springbank), 4 at $ll6 to $132; Craigmore Farming Company (Timaru). 12 at $lO2 to $126; J. R. Dodge (Ohoka), 1 at $106; J. J. Minehan (Rolleston), 14 at i $lOl to $121; C. Winter (Spencerville), 9 at $106; estate J McFadden and R. McFadden (Belfast), 12 at $94 to $104; D. Watson (Greenpark), 2 at $101; E. J. Scott (Ashburton), 15 at $99 to $108; R. and I. Middleton (Springston), 4 at $122 to $132; B. and N. McMillan (Culverden), 5 at $101; G. G. Robertson (Balcalm), 4 at $llB to $124; J. Thacker Jun. (Okains Bay), 10 at $lll to $120; A. F. S. Rutherford (Culverden), 7 at $ll2 to $124; J. Hayward (Robinson’s Bay), 8 at $lO7 to $126. Helfers.—Eyreton Lee Farm (Springbank), 2 at $B3 to $96; J. J. Minehan (Rolleston). 7 at $9O; S. Kitchin (Whataroa), 10 at $B6 to $97; J. A. Calder and Sons (Culverden), 4 at $BO to $B3. Cows.—Eyreton Lee Farm (Springbank), 3 at $7l; T. A. Moore (Styx), 2 at $76 to $B7; K C. Robinson (Rangiora), 2 at $66 Ito $B4: J. A. Calder and Sons I (Culverden). 11 at $52 to $65. Store cattle Store cattle had a firm sale on the improved rates paid at last week’s market. The principal entry this week was a line of more than 200 steers from the Lands and Survey Department (Bell Hill). They met a most satisfactory sale for the season. One hundred and twenty-one adult Angus steers sold at $63.50 to $87.50, averaging $73, and 85 18-month-old steers sold at $56 to $67, averaging $6O. Of the remainder of the yarding, good 18-month-old Hereford steers sold at $72 to $Bl, with others mainly at $6O to $6B. Mixed-coloured store calves were sold at $3O. Sales of store cattle, other than those covered in the report. R. Warburton (Kaikoura), 45 18-month-old Hereford steers at $66.50 to $73. 7 Hereford-Friesian cross at $7O; R. S. Johnson and Son (Scargill), 26 18-lhonth-old Herefords at $7O to $81; 8 AngusHereford cross at $78.50, 6 Angus at $72.50. Dairy cattle Except for a small selection of the best lots, dairy cattle had a much easier sale. The yarding of about 25 head proved to be much harder selling. A few of the good heifers were little short of last week’s rates, but there was little or no inquiry for the others, and there were' some passings. Best Friesian | heifers sold to $l4O. A few others sold in the $l2O to $130; range, and others down to $65. • Vealers The veal entry of 83 head was much smaller than usual, and not surprisingly, the market ■ showed a worth-while improvement. Values showed a general rise of $6 to $B, and in some cases more. The best of the entry reached $9O. Good quality veal sold steadily at $65 to $75, with light down to $5O. It was (one of the briskest sales of the season. Fat pigs

A medium-sized yarding of fat; pigs was offered, and although there was a fair selection of good quality pigs, there was again a proportion classed as over-fat. The porker market was easiei by about $2 a head and pigs other than the white breeds were | not wanted. Heavy baconers had a good : sale, and an entry of 17 choppers I met a reasonable inquiry. Values were:— Light and medium porkers, $32 to $4O. Heavy porkers and light i baconers, $4l to $47. 1 Medium baconers. $4B to $56. | Heavy baconers, to $67. j Choppers, to $60.50. Store pigs Store pigs continued to meet a sound demand. The yarding, although smaller than last week, was adequate. Quality was i inclined to be mixed. Competi- ; tlon was cohflned to local ; fatteners, and values for weaners, slips and stores remained firm. Sales of breeding stock included a sow, due to farrow ]in a week, at 597. Other sows ranged from $3O to S5O A pedigree Landrace boar fetched $lOO. ■ Values were:— Small weaners, S 3 to $l3. Good weaners. Sl4 to $l6. ; Slips. $l7 to $22 Small stores 523 to $26 I Medium stores, $27 to $39. I Large (tores, to $33.