Most cattle prices slip

Press, 23 April 1980, Page 18

Most cattle prices slip

Beef cattle were mainly of] indifferent quality and hard 1 to sell at Addington market yesterday. However, the better lines still sold well, mainly at similar values to last week. Only a few vealers were offered and these sold surprisingly well considering the weakening of the beef market.

Too many overfat lambs] were yarded and these were! sometimes impossible to sell. There was a good market for well grown lambs and prime sheep prices remained similar to last week’s.

Prime lambs The prime lamb market was swamped with large numbers of overfat lambs. In some cases these did not sell and were transferred to the store pens. The yarding of 1582 lambs (1129 last week) was too large for the butchery trade, especially because this is a shorter week than usual. Values for the best of the lambs offered remained similar to last week but over all prices slipped about $l. Values were:—

Large lambs: $19.30 to $21.50. Medium lambs: $l7 to $lB.BO. Light lambs: down to $l5. Shorn lambs: $17.10 to $2O. Sales of prime lambs included. — L. G. B. McLachlan (Rakaia), 53 at $18.20 to $2l; C. V. Saunders and Son (Methven), 34 shorn at $l9 to $2O; J. J. Harnett (Rangiora), 52 shorn at $17.50 to $18.50; A. L. and B. Kerslake (Ashburton), 53 shorn at $17.80 to $l9; Mrs H. Cooper (Cheviot),' 16 at $18.20 to $l9; R. J. Banks (Reefton), 60 shorn at $15.30 to $18.70; A. G. and R. D. G. Lawrence (Hawarden), 8 at $20.80 to $21.50; D. R. Middlemiss (Ashburton), 32 at $19.50 to $21.30; Kendalla Stud (Rolleston), 28 shorn at $16.10 to $18.30; W. Rawcliffe (Ashburton), 41 at $18.90 to $20.30; J. M. Le Compte and Son (Aylesbury)j 51 at $16.30 to $16.40; A. A. Tabor (Ohoka), 39 shorn at $17.50 to $18.70; S. G. H. Northcroft (Whataroa), 17 shorn at $16.60 to $17.50; G. J. Power (Flaxton), 48 shorn at $lB to $18.40; S. W. Beatty (Darfield), 30 shorn at $lB.lO to $18.40; F. Greenslade (Ashburton), 19 at $l9 to $20.40; J. Meadowcroft (Ohoka), 6 at $20.70. Prime sheep Prime sheep generally had a buoyant sale. Values for two-tooth wethers remained similar to recent weeks and the few pens of older wethers offered had a very firm sale. Quality in the yarding of 1153 (1053 last week) was generally good. Several pens of shorn, heavy framed old ewes sold very well. Values were:— Best two-tooth wethers: $lB.BO to $21.50 with odd sales to $22.10. Medium two-tooth wethers; $lB to $18.70. Two-tooth ewes: $17.30 to $19.80, Best old ewes: $14.50 to $15.70. Medium old ewes: $ll.BO to $14.10. Old wethers: $12.30 to $14.70. Sales of fat sheep included.— T w o-t oot h s (wethers unless otherwise stated): D. Patchett (Cashmere), 60 shorn at $18.50 to $19.20; Arres Estate (Waikari), 16 at $20.30 to $22.10,

Adult wethers: Pabau Pastures (Culverden), 77 at $14.40 to $14.70. ; Adult ewes: C. G. Smith (Hanmer Springs), 72 at $l3 to $14.40; Ward Bros (Ashburton), 80 at $13.30 to $13.80; J. G. Hassan (Springbank), 73 at $12.90 to 513.30; C. O. Redfern and Son (Darfield), 31 at $13.90 to $14.10; Trinity Church (Darfield), 30 at $12.10 to $14.10; S. T. Wyllie (Omihi), 72 at $lO to $13.70; D. R. Hunt (Pigeon Bay), 51 at $10.90 to $14.50.

Prime cattle Again poor quality prevailed in the prime beef sale and prices paid reflected this. For the few good lines of beef offered values remained similar to last week but over all values dropped back between $5 and $lO.

The sale began on a low note and cattle, mainly because of poor quality, were hard to sell. The last three races contained better quality steers and heifers and these lent some buoyancy to the sale.

Good quality cows sold well and in many cases at prices above schedule rates. The yarding at 397 head (554 last week) was thought to be a suitable size for the trade.

The best steer price was $430 for the best of five beasts from W. D. Latham (Little River). The top price for heifers was $292 and for cows $322. Heifers and steers to 220 kg sold between 118 c and 122 c a kg; between 220 kg and 270 kg, from 117 c to 120 c; and over 270 kg, 116 c. Values were:— Prime heavy steers: $405 to $430.

Prime medium steers: $356 to $387. Prime light steers: $306 to $353. Prime heavy heifers: $289 to $292. Prime medium heifers: $259 to $282.

Prime light heifers: $235 to $255. Prime heavy cows: $3OO to $322. Prime medium cows: $278 to $295.

Prime light cows: $2lB to $265. Sales of prime cattle included. ■ —

Steers: Waingaro ' Farm (Cheviot), 8 at $2BO to $310; Langminon Holdings (Rakaia Gorge), 8 at $296 to $345; L. J. G. Wittie (Tedding ton), 9 at $419 to $426; C. Winter (Spencerville), 12 at $350 to $418; R. F. Fear and A. R. Gilchrist (Swannanoa), 8 at $372 to $382; W. D. Latham (Little River), 5 at $326 to $430; R. W. Watson (Prices Valley), 5 at $344; Purau Farm (Purau), 5 at $307 to $330; J. Guthrey (Amberley), 2 at $366; L. H. Power (Flaxton), 6 at $352 to $420; I. G. Robertson (Springston), 1 at $331; Ward Bros (Ashburton), 1 at $358.

Heifers: L. K. Sloss (Omihi), 1 at $292; Ward Bros (Ashburton), 4 at $228 to $249; D. J. Banks (Courts Island). 4 at $2OO to $221: E. G. Gibb (Scargill), 6 at $220; Spencerville Partnership (Spencerville), 5 at $224 to $265; Lands and Survey Deoartment (Okuku Pass), 3 at $222 to $268; J. Guthrey (Amberley) ‘3 at $228 to $280; K. Y. Boyd (Kaikoura), 1 at $250; W. D. Latham (Little River), 4 at $240 to $252; H. J. Hewson (Kaikoura), 9 at $222 to $228; C. an< C. G. Hill (Springston), 5 at $230 to $235. Cows: Ben Ohau station (Fairlie), 9 at $226 to $322; W. D. Latham (Little River), 3 at $258; Pahau Downs (Amberley), 1 at $252; D. B. McKay (Hurunui), 7 at $246 to $272; E. A. Clarke

(Greenpark), 1 at $288; T. D. Barwick (Te Ika), 2 at $262; E. H. Moore (Ohoka), 2 at $228; J. J. Lochead (Omihi), 7 at $224; I. G. Robertson (Springston), 4 at $249 to $280: J. Kingston (Oxford), 1 at $260; N. B. Cooper (Cust), 1 at $269. Store cattle Today there is a special sale of adult store cattle, along with a store calf sale. Vealers The hesitancy in the prime beef market was not reflected too seriously in the veal pens where values remained not far behind last week. The best of the steers in the yarding of 30 vealers (12 last week), made to $2lO. Heifers reached $199 and bulls $2OO. Dairy cattle Only three dairy cows (none last week) were offered and the best of these, an in-calf Friesian heifer, made $270. An older Friesian cow, with a calf, sold for $226. Fat pigs

There was a distinct lack of quality in the fat pig market yesterday and, as has been the case in recent weeks, good quality pigs had

iby far the best of the market.

Overfat pigs were unwanted and in many cases were transfered to the store pig market The good quality, heavy porker had a better sale than in recent weeks. Good quality bacon remained at similar rates. A much smaller yarding of choppers regained most of last week’s rates although quality over all was much better. Values were. — Light pork: $55 to $64. Medium pork and light; bacon: $66 to $BO. Medium and heavy baconers: $B2 to $96, with odd sales of extra heavy pigs to $ll6. Light choppers: $7O to Heavy choppers: $lOO to $135. Store pigs The activities of an. outside buyer improved prices for a medium sized store pig market. Weaners and slips had by far the best of the market, regaining all of last week’s $6 loss. Good store pigs also met a keen inquiry and prices remained very firm on last week’s, values throughout. There were no quotable sales of breeding stock. Values were: — Small weaners: $l5 to S2L Good weaners: $23 to $33. Slips and small stores; $34 to $42. Large stores: $43 to $5O with odd sales to $59.

: Addington Market 1