Prices ease for most lines

Press, 13 October 1982, Page 27

Prices ease for most lines

Values for most classes of prime cattle, hoggets and pigs fell at the Addington market yesterday.

Ono reason for the drop in prime hogget prices is believed to be the offering by two Christchurch supermarket chains ol frozen sides of last season's export lamb at $10.99 and $11.99.

Buyers at Addington yesterday were unsure of the effect these special offers would have on local sales by butchers and an air of uncertainty hung over the hogget section.

Hogget prices were back by up to $3 compared with last week's sale. The top hoggets sold to $2B. Prime cattle prices continued to lose ground and competition was limited in the store sheep pens,

Spring Lambs The demand from butchers remained steady for spring lambs and values'were fully firm on last week's rates. Only 191 lambs were yarded compared with 324 last'week. The overall quality was good. Values were;— Heavy spring lambs, to $26.80. Medium, spring lambs, $22 to $24.50. Light spring lambs. $l7 to $2l. Sales included — J. Frazer (Woodend). 12 at $19.20 to $20.40; Miss I. Hoatten (Ashburton). 6 at $26.40 to $26.80; V. T. Winter (Sedgemere), 12 at $23 to $26.20; Mill Isle Farm

(Rakaia), 18 at $2l to $25.20; C. N. Cummings (Springburn), 42 at $17.60 to $2O. Prime Sheep The hogget market started on a weak tone, with values back $3 compared with last week. By the end of the sale, light to medium hoggets were still down by $3 but top hoggets had regained some of the lost ground. A total of 1286 hoggets was yarded compared with 1321 last week. The yarding included many lightweight hoggets. Old ewe prices generally remained steady, although medium quality ewes showed a slight improvement Ewes with plenty of wool had the best of the market.

The yarding of adult sheep was 1898 compared with 2063 last week. Values were;— Best hoggets, to $2B. Medium hoggets. $l9 to $24. Light hoggets. $l6 to $18.50. Best old ewes. $l2 to $16.60. Medium old ewes. $9.50 to $l2. Light old ewes. $7 to $9. Sales included (aged ewes unless otherwise stated):— Morchard Account (Darfield), 56 at $10.60 to $l2; G. J. Newton arid Son (Hawarden). 40 at $13.20 to. $14.40; T. D. Gallagher (Kirwee). 20 at $9.80 to $11; E. L. Wright (Annat) 45 at $lO to $1’0.80; A. R. Garrett (Springston). 2L at $lO to $11.40; S. D. McKav (Tai Tapu). 19 at $10.20 to $11.20; W. M. Gilbert (Springston). 28 at ss.2o to $11.80; S. 13. McKay (Tai Tapu). 20 two-tooths at $20.20 to $22, and 39 four-tooths at $l4 to $17.20; M. G. Chesmar (West Melton), 18 four-tooth wethers at $16.40 to $16.60; L. W. Craigie (RorOrata), 29 four-tooth ewes at $l7 to $17.20; J. R. Inch and Son (ijororata), 30 at $14.60 to $l6; P. Ri Kvdd (Rolleston), 23 at $10.20 to $1'1.40. -

'Hoggets: I. H_. Winchester (Sedgemere). 62 at $24.20 to $?7.40; Mrs C. M. Denton (Tai Tapu), 37 at $19.40-to $24.40; M. R.. Fletcher (Templeton), 20 at $20.60 to $23; W. D. Baxter Trust (Southbridge), 20 at $21.40 to $23; At R. Bussell (Weedons), 27 at $26.80 to $2B; Brendean Farm (Weedons), 44 at $23.60 to $27; J. CSark (West-Melton), 26 at $25.40 td $27.80; H. E. Jenkins (Sheffield), 33 at $18.60 to $25; E. A. Meredith (Springston), 26 at $22.60 to $25.60; E; A, Hutchinson (Te Oka), 32 at $21.20 to $23.60; T. M. Harnett (Kaikoura), 66 at $l9 td $20.40; E. J. Francis (Yaldhtirst), 31 at $24.20 to $25.20. Prime Cattle .■prime cattle values dropped by $l5 to $2O although some heavy steers were back a lot nlore.

'Cattle prices reached a peak

three weeks ago and since then have lost ground. Competition yesterday was limited, especially for the heavier cattie.

The yarding totalled 269. compared with 248 last week. Overall quality was described as plain. The top price was $664 for an exotic-cross steer sold on account of K. O. and H. Thacker (Okains Bay). A Friesian heifer from Mrs J. E. Thompson (Clarkville) made $454 and a Friesian cow from Spencerville Partnership (Spencerville) sold for $344. Steers and heifers to 220 kg sold for between 166 c and 170 c a kilogram; between 220 kg and 270 kg. from 166 c to 170 c; and over 270 kg. to 168 c. Values were:— Prime Heavy steers, to $570. with odd sales to $664. Prime medium steers. $385 to $460. Prime light steers. $285 to $370. Prime heavy heifers, to $430. with odd sales’ to $454. Prime medium heifers. $2BO to $320. Prime light heifers. $220 to $270. Prime heavy cows, to $344. Prime medium cows. $250 to $3OO. Prime light cows. $2OO to $235. Sales included:—

Steers: C. V. Saunders (Methven). 2 at $436 to $444: R. G. Humm (Tai Tapu), 2 at $450; T. J. Masefield (Goughs Bay). 2 at $362 to $470; D. O. Masefield and Sons (Goughs Bay), 3 at $468 to $470; K. 0. and H. Thacker (Okains Bay). 2 at $570 to $664; Mrs J. E. Thompson (Clarkville). 6 at $458. to $600; Fear and Gilchrist (Swannanoa), 2 at $412 to $592; E. W. Coop and Son (Port Levy), 12 at $396 to $444: C. J. Simpson (Rakaia), 3 at $532 to $540; A. J. Meikle (Cheviot). 2 at $506 to $544; O. H. T. Williams (Robinsons Bay). 12 at $3BB to $434; Wright Brothers (Annat), 3 at $3BB to $432; Orton Bradley Park (Charteris Bay), 12 at $370 to $410; Mrs P. J. H. Masefield (Children's Bay), 6 at $470 to $570; Hoatten Brothers (Ashburton), 1 at $624; A. B. Byrch (Motunau), 12 at $360 to $380; N. Armstong (Port Levy), 1 Hereford bull at $425. Heifers: I. C. Stanbury (Little River), 10 at $324 to $350; I. J. D. Minson (Tai Tapu), 14 at $266 tc $362; J. C. Montgomery (Cheviot). 4 at $320; A. S. Bell (Aylesbury). 6 at $354; D. O. Masefield and Sons (Goughs Bay), 5 at $320 to $344: T. J. Masefield (Goughs Bay). 2 at $320; Mrs J. E. Thompson (Clarkville). 1 at $454; A. J. Meikle (Cheviot). 4 at $350 to $430; L. L. Craw and Son (Duvauchelle), 1 at $382; G. and A. M. Ede (Killinchy), 4 at $292; G. W. Chapman (Brookside), 13 at $214 to $238; Miller Brothers (Motukarara), 3 at $2BO. Cows: G. and A. M. Ede (Killinchy), 1 at $300; Spencerville Partnership (Spencerville). 8 at $196 to $344: R. B. Manson (McQueens Valley). 1 at $314; L. L. Craw and Son (Duvauchelle). 4 at $304; G. A. Bunz (Lincoln); 1 at $320. Vealers Values eased in the veal section compared with last week. Good ,15-month heifers made from $l9O to $220 and medium from $l7O to $l9O. A top rising two-year heifer sold to $270. A total of 67 vealers was yarded compared with 53 last week. The overall quality was down. Store Sheep Interest dwindled in the store sheep section when the ewe hoggets were offered. Although fewer than 10 pens of ewe' hoggets were yarded, auctioneers struggled to made sales and several lines were passed, including a pen of Corriedales at $lB.BO. Woolly Border-Corriedales sold to $16,101 Ewes with lambs at foot sold to $13.70 (all counted), although most sales were made between $9 and $ll.

Spring lambs sold between $9.80 and $13.40 and medium wether hoggets made $l2 to $l6. with small hoggets round $lO.

Sales included — R. P. Yates (Rolleston). 52 ewes and 52 lambs at $ll.lO (all counted); G. P. Griffiths (Tai Tapu). 81 ewes and 83 lambs at $l3 to $13.70; O. J. and R. J. Scott (Southburn). 66 Down-cros lambs at $13.40. 177 Corriedale lambs at $12.60 to $l3. and 76 BorderCorriedale lambs at $13.30. Fat Pigs A bigger yarding of fat pigs was offered yesterday and quality slipped back to that ruling two months ago. Retail buyers operated only on the better type of pig which maintained recent values. Overfat and plain pigs were hard to sell and manv sold for less than $9O. A small yarding of choppers had a good sale. ■ with good choppers selling to $175. Values were:— Light pork. $BB to $95. Medium to heavv pork. $97 to $lOB. Light to medium bacon. $ll2

to $l2O. Heavy bacon. $125 to $l4O. Heavy choppers. $l5O to $175. Light’choppers, $llO to $135. Store Pigs Although the total number of store pigs yarded was down compared with last week's sale, the market lacked the buoyancy of recent weeks. Large stores and better quality slips and weaners were slightly easier but small weaners were very hard to sell. Many small pigs sold round $3O. Values were:— Small weaners. $26 to $33. Good weaners. $39 to $43. Slips and small stores. $5O to $62. Large stores. $65 to $BO. Unfinished pork, to $9O.