Another strong demand for beef cattle

Press, 29 June 1983, Page 19

Another strong demand for beef cattle

Beef remained in strong demand, but sheep and lamb prices fluctuated at the Addington market yesterday. The present shortage of good quality prime beef ensured cattle had another excellent sale. However, lamb prices dropped under pressure of a big yarding and hogget values also eased slightly. Prime lambs An oversupply of lambs caused prices to drop to those ruling about two weeks ago. Last week values had increased by at least $3 a head. The yarding yesterday was 2242, almost double the total offered last week. Quality was described as mixed, with several overfat lambs and many in light condition. The lambs had come from a wide area, including Mid-Can-terbury, Marlborough and the West Coast. Values were:— Heavy lambs, to $3O. Medium lambs, $22 to $25. Light lambs: $l9 to $2l. Sales included: G. J. Mangin (Methven), 75 at $25 to $2B; J. H. Hemmingway (Kaikoura), 31 at $24 to $27.60; T. J. Latter (Kekerengu), 26 at $l7 to $24.20; A. S. Kyle (Templeton), 33 at $21.40 to $23.80; A. W. H. Donald (Lakeside), 110 at $l6 to $22.60; B. A. Callaghan (Rakaia), 33 at $22.40 to $23; A. G. McLachlan (Rangiora), 66 at $20.60 to $21.80; R. J. Whiting (Ashburton), 35 at $23.40 to $24; J. A. Baxter (Darfield), 44 at $25.20 to $3O; Mrs M. H. McLaughlin (Blenheim), 32 at $23.20 to $27.80; Seavale Farming Company (Amberley), 33 at $22.20 to $23.60; J. A. Francis (Darfield), 54 at $22 to $24.20; R. E. and T. J. Tarbottom (Rakaia), 99 at $22.80; A. E. George (Christchurch), 33 at $22.80 to $23; R. J. Steele (Darfield), 47 at $25 to $26.80; Maitland Partnership (Port Levy), 52 at $21.20 to $24.20; A. Garbett (Springston), 30 at $2l to $23.80; R. E. Oakley and Sons (Hororata), 103 at $22.60; to $2B; Spencerville Partnership (Spencerville), 60 at $2l to $24.60; Percival Farm (Hanmer Springs), 247 at $24 to $2B; W. Thornton (Harewood), 80 at $22.20 to $23; J. J. Allison (Sefton), 41 at $23.60 to $25; Burrows Bros (Halswell), 35 at $25 to $25.40; Estate D. K. McLaughlin (Omihi), 86 at $25; D. D. McArthur (Inchbonnie), 30 at $25; McCosker Bros (Wakanui), 53 at $22.20 to $24.40; P. J. Robertson (Weedons), 59 at $22.60. Prime sheep Too many hoggets were offered for the available buying power and prices slipped by about $1 compared with last week’s market. The quality of the hoggets was good, with several even lines yarded. Old ewe prices improved by about $1 because of outside competition, particularly for woolly ewes. The yarding of prime sheep was 1586 compared with 1249 last week.

Values were:— Best hoggets to $22. Medium hoggets, $l7 to $19.40. Light hoggets, $l4 to $l6. Best old ewes, to $2O. Medium old ewes, $l2 to $14.80. Light old ewes, $8 to $ll. Sales included: Hoggets: R. W. Burnett (Cheviot), 27 wethers at $l6 to $18; G. P. Griffiths (Tai Tapu), 23 at $l6; Eriskay Holdings (Halswell), 30 at $l9 to $19.20; L. Abbott (Windwhistle), 39 at $19.80 to $22; Golden Acre Farm (Dunsandel), 50 wethers at $17.20 to $17.80; B. A. Barnes (Cheviot), 31 wethers at $lB to $2l. Old ewes: R. J. Wright (Dunsandel), 10 at $16.80; to $17.20; I. J. Latter (Kaikoura), 36 at $9 to $15.20. Prime cattle Beef continued the fine run of sales of recent weeks. Top quality steers and heifers sold at rates slightly ahead of last week’s sale because of a shortage of choice stock. Prices over all were fully firm and showed a tendency to have levelled out after the buoyant sales of the last few weeks. The yarding totalled 301 compared with 338 last week. Top price for the day was $895 for a four-year-old Shorthorn steer sold on behalf of M. Mcßride (Whataroa). Cows from H. O. Haylock (Ladbrooks) sold to $534 and a

heifer from R. O. Stewart and Son (Ashburton) made $448. Steers and heifers to 220 kg sold between 181 c and 187 c a kilogram; from 220 kg to 270 kg 189 c to 194 c, and over 270 kg to 200 c. Values were:— Prime heavy steers, to $750 with some sales to $895. Prime medium steers, $420 to $478. Prime light steers, $315 to $396. Prime heavy heifers, to $448. Prime medium heifers, $316 to $370. Prime light heifers, $2lO to $294. Prime heavy cows, to $534. Prime medium cows, $290 to $330. Prime light cows, $lBO to $2BO. Sales included: Steers: M. K. Johnson (Tuahiwi), 2 at $7OO and $785; Mrs J. E. Thompson (Clarkville), 2 at $524; R. D. Pammant, (Whataroa), 2 at $452; Estate R. F. and F. A. Pammant (Whataroa), 3 at $444 to $480; D. A. Quinn (Ashburton), 5 at $410; A. Christey (Oxford), 1 at $655; R. C. Denton (Cheviot), 8 at $372; A. R. Gossett (Leeston), 3 at $382; C. E. Grigg (Hickory Bay), 1 at $634; C. A. and G. ten Hove (Le Bons Bay), 10 at $466 to $608; O. Jenkins (Port Levy), 2 at $492; Pahau Pastures (Culverden), 21 at $676 to $760; M. Mcßride (Whataroa), 1 at $985; D. O. Masefield and Son (Goughs Bay), 8 at $570 to

$572; D. and J. Winchester (Lakeside), 4 at $5lO to $560; Cahen Feidh Partnership (Omihi), 3 at $722 to $778; D. L. Parkinson (Tai Tapu), 9 at $690 to $782; H. L. Cox (Halswell) 11 at $548 to $612; Idaburn, Ltd (Ashburton), 2 at $608; E. J. Barker (Christchurch), 15 at $460 to $702; E. Blomquist (Pigeon Bay), 15 at $468 to $5OO. Heifers: P. Christey (Oxford), 2 at $318; A. C. Evans (Hororata), 10 at $324; R. O. Stewart and Son (Ashburton), 2 at $430 and $448; Hadstock Park (Springston), 11 at $3OO to $366; Estate R. F. and F. A. Pammant (Whataroa), 2 at $414 and $422. Cows: W. L. Britmeyer (Little River), 1 at $508; J. Deans (Darfield), 2 at $320; J. D. R. White (Little River), 1 at $334; M. S. Dulieu (Greenpark), 1 at $312; H. O. Haylock (Ladbrooks), 5 at $446 to $534. Dairy cows Seven dairy cows were offered compared with one last week. The top price was $5OO for a an in-calf third-calver Friesian cow, followed closely by $492.50 for a Friesian heifer with calf. An in-calf Friesian cow made $3BO and four Friesian heifers due to calve in December sold from $355 to $375. Vealers Vealers had another good sale, although bidding was not quite as buoyant as last week’s market. The yarding was 44

compared with 35 at the previous sale. Good vealers sold from $240 to $260 with top stock making to $320. Several medium calves sold from $l5O to $lBO and top calvers were $2OO to $220. In the bobby calf section, most Friesian heifers sold from $33 to $44. Friesian bull calves made from $7 to $25 with most averaging about $2O. Hereford cross calves were $lO to $2O. Store cattle A big crowd attended the store cattle section where advertised stock in forward condition had an excellent sale at rates slightly ahead of last week’s. However, the yarding included many light condition cattle which were more difficult to sell. A line of attractive 2Vz-year Hereford steers sold to $448. Many 20-month medium heifers made from $2OO to $250. Sales included: Edgell Partnership (Wainui), 31 2%-year Hereford steersat $420 to $448, 16 Angus at $402; L. R. Forrester (Hawarden), 21 Angus cows (in calf) at $l9B to $2lO. Store sheep In the store sheep section, the top pens of mated twotooths sold to $21.80. Other sales included Perendales at $18.70 and Halfbreds at $20.20. Several sales of light condition sheep were made under $lO. Lambs sold freely with the

best lambs almost reaching $2O. Sales included: G. A. Heard and Son (Kaikoura), 152 Halfbred lambs at $12.20 to $13.80; R. N. G. Latter (Kaikoura), 405 Coopworth wether lambs at $l2 to $19.40; R. C. and M. C. Smith (Te Oka), 342 lambs at $ll to $16.20; G. J. Foley (Robinsons Bay), 185 Rom’nev wether lambs at $15.40 to $18; G. W. Ryder (Waiau), 280 Halfbred two-tooths at $19.40 to $20.20; and 51 Halfbred five-year ewes at $18.60; Mrs F. M. Dalgety (West Melton), 53 two-tooths a’t $21.80. Fat pigs A medium sized yarding of fat pigs was offered. The market was sound, particularly for the heavier pigs. Lighter stock did not meet with the same demand as in previous weeks although the quality was not up to that demanded by the retail trade. Choppers had another excel-

lent sale with most of the heavier pigs making more than $l5O. Lighter pigs attracted farmer interest. Values were:— Light pork $B3 to $92. Medium to heaw pork, $95 to $lOB. Light to medium bacon, $lll to $122. Heavy bacon, to $l5O. Heavy choppers. $l5O to $lB4. Light choppers, $BO to $125. Store pigs A very small yarding of good quality weaners and store pigs attracted interest from outside buyers. The market was fully firm on last week’s sale and all vendors should have been fully satisfied. Interested in breeding stock was very limited. Values were:— Small weaners. $37 to $45. Good weaners, $47 to $53. Slips and small stores. $55 to $65. Large stores, to $76.