Prime sheep better; cattle still weak

Press, 22 February 1978, Page 24

Prime sheep better; cattle still weak

Prime cattle continued to have: a very ordinary sale at the Addington Market yesterday, but there was more life in the lamb and sheep market. The cattle market was affected mainly by limited competition; in contrast, the better tone in the lamb and sheep sale arose through added competition. Veal had a poor sale, and store cattle sold on a buyers’ market. Prime lambs Prime lambs often had a better sale. The yarding was 745, compared with about 800 last week, and quality ranged from the average works-type, lamb to a small selection of butchers’ quality lambs. The market was always fully firm, with lambs of good retail weights lifting about 50c a head. Even the lightweights showed improvement. Values:—

Best lambs, $14.20 to $14.80, with some sales to $15.40.

Medium lambs, $l3 to $13.80. Light lambs, $11.70 to $12.70. Leading sales of prime lambs Included: — N. F. Pankhurst (Sandy Knolls), 28 at $13.30 to $l4; O. J. and J. J. Brownlee (Te Pirita), 13 at $14.80 to $15.30; D. J. Gilmour (Courtenay;, 56 at $13.20 to $l4; H. E. F. Calder (Halkett), 30 at $13.30 to $15.30; H. J. Hewson (Kaikoura), 32 shorn at $lO to $11.20; D. Hampton (Leeston) 6 at $l3 to $1;>:

P. Reardon (Yatdhurst), 22 at $12.40 to $13.10; Kaparanga Farm (Springston), 49 at $14.10 to $14.60; A. Watkins (Sprlngston), 13 at $13.50 to $13.90; Mrs S. Saunders (Sefton), 8 at $14.40 to $14.70; estate L. H. Clarke (Burwood), 16 at $12.40 to *14.30; R. G. Lang (Saltwater Creek), 19 at $14.20 to $15.40; S. C. Brown and Son (Oxford), 117 at $12.30 to $l4. Prime sheep After many weeks of moderate sales, prime Sheep values showed a welcome improvement. This was partly because of a fall in the yarding — from 2160 down to 1520 — and partly through added buying inquiry. Fewer hoggets were forward and added competition lifted the market a dollar a head, and in some cases as much as $1.50. Ewes lifted 50c to 60c a head, the goo d-cutting sheep frequently reaching or bettering $B. Values: — Best young wethers, $13.80 to $14.50, with odd sales to $15.50. Medium wethers, $l2 to $13.50. Plainer wethers $10.50 to $11.50. Best adult ewes, to $8.50. Medium ewes, $7.30 to $B. Plain ewes, $0.50 to $7. Leading sales of prime sheep Included:—

Young wethers: Kotare Downs (Fernside), 52 at $11.90 to $13.40; estate W. Hawker (Springbank), 14 at $13.70 to $14.30; A. J. Dixon (Barrhill), 26 at $11.50 to $12.20; H. L. Pickering :Scargill). 82 at $ll.BO to $13.30; C. S. Page (Courtenay), 14 at $13.50 to $13.60; C. A. Adams (Greendale), 56 at $12.30 to $14.70; N. F. Pankhurst (Sandy Knolls), 8 at 515.50; B. A. Hoban (Culverden), 20 at $12.60 to $13.40; J. M. and J. A. Jones (Oxford), 15 at $13.50 to $13.70.

Ewes: T. N. Bassett (Ohoka), 25 at $7.50 to $8; M. L. and B. A. Gilbert (Tai Tapu), 93 at $6.80 to $8; A. R. Davison (West Eyreton), 95 at $7 to $8.10; W. L. Breitmeyer (Little River), 30 at $7.20 to $8; A. G. and J. R. Maw (Southbridge), 51 at $7.40 to $8.40; E. S. Honeybone (Hawarden), 20 at $7.20 to $8.20; O. J. and J. J. Brownlee (Te Pirita), 24 twotooths at $12.70 to $13.30; 5 fourtooths at $9.

Prime cattle

Prime cattle had another very ordinary sale. This weeks yarding was 515, compared with 455 last week, and included quite a big entry of heifers. Competition was often very limited. However, there was some interest from fatteners in lightweight steers. Compared with last week this part of the market did not show much change.

Good heifers had a fair sale, but lightweights were $5 to $7 easier. Cows were unchanged. Steer beef sold mainly at 55c

to 58c a kg; heifer beef at 48c to 53c; and cow beef at 45c to 49c. Values:— Extra heavy steers, to $223. Prime heavy, $175 to $195. Medium steers, 5155 to $l7O. Light steers, $l3O to $l5O. Other steers, $ll5 to $125. Top-weight heifers, to $l4B. Medium cows, -115 to Sl3O. Light heifers, $BO to $lO5. Butchers’ cows, to $147. Medium cows, $ll5 to $147. Light cow’s. $B5 to $llO. Leading sales of prime cattle included:—

W. J. Winter and Sons (Kaiapoi), 14 at $143 to $162; G. D. Stanbury (Little River), 10 at $162 to $179; G. M. Lang (Amberley), 2 at $l6B to $191: J. R. Stanbury (Little River), 3 at $142 to $160; R. P. Wright (Little River), 3 at $142 to $158; D. R. Hunt (Pigeon Bay), 13 at $164 to $191; S. J. Kingston (Akaroa), 6 at $154 to $171; Mrs L. J. Stone (Kaiapoi), 2 at $222 to $223; G. G. Gardner (Scargill), 10 at $142 to $153; G. W. Letham (Ashburton), 10 at $165 to $171; W. H. Foster (Omihi), 5 at $156 to $168; Mrs J. E. Thompson (Clarkville), 4 at $144 to $170; R. G. Phillips (Christchurch), 10 at $lB5 to $206; A. B. Partridge (Halswell), 10 at $177 to $185; J. N. Boag (Rotherham), 8 at $l3O to $179; H. T. J. Reddle (Little River), 3 at $154 to $lB4.

Heifers.-r- R. J. Earl (Scargill), 1 at $148; A. -A. and C. S. Smith Waiau), 1 at $140; Fiecken Bros (Tai Tapu), 1 at 5155; L. and M. Newell ( Waiau), 3 at $116; T. L. Reid (Christchurch), 2 at $123; I. W. and B. K. Baxter (Rangiora) 1 at $128; K. D. and H. Thaker (Okains Bay), 2 at $137 to $145; J. R. Stanbury (Little River), 8 at $121; H J. Bennett (Rakaia), 3 at $113; J. H. Petrie (Woodend), 5 at $ll5 to $120; T. W. Husband (Burwood), 14 at $l9O to $122.

Cows.— M. Bryant (Amberley), 1 at $147; T. D. Joyce (Eiffelton), 5 at $l2B to $134; J. Baird (Ladbrooks), 1 at $130; R. Hewitt (Ohoka), 1 at $120; Fiecken Bros (Tai Tapu), 1 at $130; Miss F. M. Richards (Hororata). 2 at $95 to $119; M. A. Watson (Ellesmere), 1 at $120; K. D. and H. Thacker (Okains Bay), 1 at $l3O. Store cattle There was very little strength In the store cattle market after last week’s special monthly sale. The yarding of about 200 head was very mixed, and the sale was followed by a small gallery.

Useful 18-month Angus and! Angus-cross steers sold in the! $75 to $B5 range, with a few! heavier cattle to $lO5. Heifers' drew little demand. One pen fetched $65, but others were sell-. ing around $4O. Sales of store cattle ln-l eluded:— L. H. H. Wevers (Kaikoura), 18 18-month Angus and Angus-cross! steers at $7B to $81; M. H. Fitz-! gibbon (Cheviot), 19 Angus-cross: heifers at $65. \ ealers Vealers had a weaker sale! throughout. The yarding of 210 1 was above requirements, and this’ led to a decline of $6 to $B, except where quality, was good. Much of the veal was fetching’ about 48c to 52c, estimated dressed weight. A few of the heavier cattle approached $lOO a head, but most sales fell between $7O to $BO, with light weights down to about $55. Fat, pigs A medium yarding of fat pigs generally had a better sale because of the better class of pig on hand. The retail trade, accordingly, bought more freely. The yarding was mainly heavy porkers and baconers. A large yarding of choppers included many pigs in store condition. These had a harder sale, although good pigs sold well up to recent rates. Values:— Light porkers, $36 to $4O. Heavy porkers, $4O to $47, Light and medium baconers, 348 to $56. Heavy baconers, $57 to $6O, with some sales to $63. Choppers, $4O to $5O, with odd sales to $63. Store pigs Store pigs had a slightly better sale, although demand still couldnot be regarded as strong. The yarding consisted mainly of weaners and slips with very few large stores. Buying inquiry was confined to local fatteners, although limited outside interest helped to maintain the market. Values:— Small weaners, $6 to $9. Good'weaners, $lO to $l3. Slips $l4 to $lB. Small stores, $lB to $25. Large stores, $26 to $3l, with odd sales to $33.