Molesworth cattle in demand

Press, 18 March 1982, Page 11

Molesworth cattle in demand

Almost 85 per cent of the Molesworth-station cattle sold at the Addington market yesterday were bought by buyers from outside buryThe sale was one of the most successful held, with the 1156 steers selling for an average of §363.74 a head, an increase of $32 compared with last year's figure. The sale was much stronger than had been expected with the drought conditions in Canterbury and a recent reduction of prices in the export beef schedule. Many regular buyers of Molesworth cattle were unable to fill their orders because of the spirited competition from outside buyers. A buyer from the West Coast bought about 500 cattle. 270 were bought by a buyer from Otago, and 200 were purchased by other Otago buyers. Competition from local buvers was restricted because of a lack of feed in Canterbury. The Molesworth cattle are renowned for their quietness

during handling and for their ability to shift well. Thev grazed at heights of-1000m and upwards and were mustered in the third week of January.. After travelling across country to Hanmer Springs, the ’ cattle were taken to Addington bv truck on Tuesday. . The cattle were all bred on Molesworth and were aged from 2.5 rears to 3.5 years. A total of 441 Hereford steers was sold for an average of $372.30 and a best individual price of $4BO. compared with last year's average of $329.17 for 431 steers and a top price of $428. The 272 Angus steers met a ■ stronger demand than in previous years and averaged $357.64. with a best price of 5456. Last year, the 273 steers had an average of $305.66 and a best price of $368. An average of $358.97 was paid for 443 Angus-Hereford-cross steers, with a. top price of $450. compared with an average last year of $349.04 and a best price of $416 for 448 steers. The ]]sp steers realised a total of $420,488. Store sheep Adult store sheep had another difficult sale, with most interest

confined to several good lines of annual-draft Romney ewes. The larger-framed Romneys sold to $15.20 but light sheep were hard to sell. Mixed-age Coopworths sold to $16.40. .Little interest was shown in fine 7 woo! led sheep, most of which lacked condition. A good line of Corriedales, sold for $8.90 and Halfbreds made $9.60. Low-mouth ewes with little condition sold form $2 to $5. Two draftings of Border-cross two-tooths sold for $24.80 and $24.40 but the two-tooth sale over all was depressed. Most of the two-tooths yarded lacked condition. Several lines of small-to-aver-age-sized Corriedale two-tooths sold from $ll to $l4 and a line of Romney-cross sold for $22.40. A total of 6929 adults and 948 two-tooths was yarded. A small yarding of store lambs met a stronger demand than last week. The quality of the 3925 lambs yarded was poor, with most of the lambs showing signs of the drought. The best iambs sold to $15.20. Sales included: Lambs: Lands and Survev Department (Bell Hill). 800 Perendale wethers at $10.60 to $15.20: Mount Vulcan. Ltd (Omihi). 600 Corriedale wethers at $11.20 to $14.60.

Adult ewes: J. U. McCracken (Okuku>. 440 five-vear Romnevs at $9.60 to 515.20:’ Estate T. W. Hutchinson (Little River). 341 annual-draft Romnevs at $15.20; A. J. Hutchinson (U'ainui). 269

annual-draft Romneys at $14.80; L. G. Ward (Ohokai. 496 mixedage Coopworths at $10.20 to $16.10; Coleridge Downs (Rakaia Gorge). 326 annual-draft Halfbreds at $9.20 to $9.60.