Buyer’s day for cattle

Press, 19 November 1977, Page 19

Buyer’s day for cattle

It was a buyers' day when a 'special sale of store cattle was held at the Addington Jlarket I this v eek. With beef prices rapidly receding to export levels, it was clear [that the market would be I struggling to maintain recent ! rates. I A spell of dry weather also affected the situation. This was reflected in the yarding which at 3700 was the largest one-day [spring cattle offering for some (years. : Agents reported that the yards [were filled to capacity. As well, (the veal pens were full, all holdiing and water pens were occupied. and other cattle were held in the race leading from the railway embankment. Compared with recent markets, most cattle were $8 to 810 easier. At these rates, vendors were making very small margins —if any—on their cattle bought in as calves in the autumn.

In recent years, the trend has been for spring cattle markets to strengthen, but on Wednesday, the trend was distinctly in the reverse. Yearlings accounted for 2650 of the entry and they comprised a good selection of wellgrown steers and heifers, but also a very large number of very small yearlings which had had a hard winter. Best yearling steers sold to 8100. although this was an isolated price. Generally the best of the yearling steers ranged from $7O to $B5, with small to medium at $5O to $65, and tailenders down to $4O. Yearling heifer prices came down to very moderate levels. A few of the top lots bettered $7O; otherwise most sold at $4O to $55, with tail-end lots down to $3O. Considering the market for prime beef, well-grown two-year-old steers sold quite well. There was one sale of very wellgrown cattle at $136, but generally there were few sales above $.115. Medium two-year-old steers sold reguarly at $9O to $llO. They looked much better buying than the yearlings. Two-year-old heifers sold within strict limits. There was one sale at $lO7. and other occasional sales approaching $lOO, mainly where they were of butchers’ quality; however, $65 to $BO covered most of them. Buying inquiry came mainly from North Canterbury and Banks Peninsula. West Coast buyers were also active but there was little or no demand from southern districts. Sales included:— Two-year-old steers: I.H.F. Wil-

iklnsou 'Cheviot!, 34 Hereford and Angus-cross at >125 to $136; I Glens and Tekoa (Culverdem, 14 I Angus at $126: R. G. Morris .(Cheviot;. 81 Herefords at 893 to $120; E G. Grant (Little River), 11 Shorthorn-cross at $108; ,X. A Riddle lOmihi;. 30 Angus-cross at ,8124 to $128; Berriedaie Harm. [Ltd 'Amberley. 36 Herefords at [S93 to SHU; P. D H. Bush (Par nassusi, 10 Herefords at SUS; I Willow Farm. Ltd i Punsandell, i 16 Herefords at $106: John Hur ford and Sun (Irwell), 14 Shorthorn-cross at 596: R M. Manson 'Motukararai. 12 Friesian-eross at 8108; W R Lemon (Mitham), 10 Herefords at 897; 14 Angus-cross at 895; D. S Latter (Cheviot), 17 Angus at SI 16; H. M. Good KekerengU', 12 Angus-cross at 8101. 26 Herefords at $104; Inkson and Hardaker iOmihii. 25 Angus and Angus-cross at $109; Meretbeck Farm 'Ashburton', 19 Angus-cross at 890. Two-year-old heifers: P. D 11. Bush 'Parnassus'. 35 Herefords at 879 to $Bl, 12 HerefordSimmental cross at $107: D S. Latter 'Cheviot). 39 Angus at $64 to $7O: A. M. Deans (Cheviot,, 26 Herefords at $B3; A. G. MacFarlane 'Alford Forest), 25 Herefords at 880. 24 Angus-cross at $75; J. R Stanbury 'Little River;, 15 Herefords at $103; J. K. Fitzgerald (Cheviot), 26 Herefords at SB4 to 892. Yearling steers: Donald Bros iMethvem. 189 Herefords at $72 to $lOO, 11 Angus-cross at $B5; D. S. Morris (Cheviot), 90 Angus and Angus-cross al $BO to $92; G. Storrier (Ashburton), 20 Herefords at $65; Westmere Farming Company (Dromore). 22 Angus and Angus-cross at $B6, 56 Herefords at $6B to $79; N. C. Greenwood (Ellesmere), 43 Angus and Angus-cross at $B3 to $9O; M. C. Loe (Bankside), 35 Shorthorn-cross at $5O to $66; D. S. Latter (Cheviot), 60 Angus at $6O to $69; D. T. Archbold (Cheviot), 32 Angus-cross at $76 to $B5; S. R. and K. R. Leadley (Ashburton). 23 Herefords at $B4 to $B9, 11 Angus-cross at $79; C. D. Hurle (Mayfield), 45 Herefords at $Bl to $93. Yearling heifers: James Deans (Homebush), 59 Angus-cros's at $54 to $7l; A. C. Hyde lEthelton), 28 Angus at $49 to $5l; R. E. McMillan (Scargill), 30 Herefords at $4O; K. Ludeman (Mayfield), 28 Angus and Hereford at $5l; C, A. Croft (Culverden), 34 Angus-cross at $4l to $46; B. T. Grofskl (Ohoka), 27 Angus-cross at $55, 14 Herefords at $52; D. T. Archbold (Ethelton), 10 Anguscross at $55; Knockindale Estate (Pigeon Bay). 33 Angus and Angus-cross at $52 to $73.