Overfat lambs not wanted

Press, 29 February 1984, Page 33

Overfat lambs not wanted

The prime lamb pens at the Addington market yesterday were bulging with overfat lambs. Several regular buyers said the lamb yarding contained the biggest proportion of overfat lambs to good quality stock they had seen at Addington. Some lambs were grossly overfat and were unwanted, and others sold at severely discounted prices. Overfat lambs appear to be more common this season compared with recent years because of the ample supply of feed on farms. Many farmers have retained their lambs longer this season in an attempt to finish them at heavier weights. In many cases this has resulted in lambs being fed too well and being classed as overfat. Buyers at Addington yesterday were prepared to bypass badly overfat lambs and some were unsold. In other sales of prime stock, hogget prices improved and old ewes remained steady. Beef values were unchanged. Prime iambs Although overfat lambs sold at discounted prices, good quality butchers’ and workstype lambs had a firm sale. Export companies provided keen competition for medium lambs. A line of shorn lambs sold to $27.60 and good woolly lambs made to $29. The yarding was 1694 compared with 1534 last week. Values were:— Heavy lambs, to $29. Medium lambs, $23 to $26. Light lambs, $lB to $22. Sales included:— Yaldhurst Farm (Templeton), 21 shorn at $21.80 to $24.60; K. M. Eaves (Hawarden), 36 at $24.80 to $26; Molesworth Farm (Hanmer Springs), 124 shorn at $24.20 to $27.60, 10 woolly at $29; J. and E. Ross (Cheviot), 66 at $21.20 to $23.20; Newton Brothers (Little River), 45 at $24.80 to $25.80; O. E. Bothwell (Halswell), 34 at $23.80 to $25.80; Crafton Farm (Oxford), 77 shorn at $21.60 to $24, 79 woolly at $25 to $25.80; C. A. McDonald (West Eyreton), 20 at $24 to $24.60; A. J. Debenham (Springbank), 34 at $25 to $27; F. A. Moore (Kaiapoi), 39 at $25 to $27; N. B. O’Loughlin (Oxford), 25 at $24 to $26; R. Terras (Prebbleton), 20 at $27 to $27.60; P. L. Winter (Oxford), 20 at $24 to $25; E. S. E. Honeybone (Hawarden), 37 at $23.40 to $25; Watson Brothers (Halkett), 60 at $24.60 to $25.40; Fechney and Harrison (Christchurch), 21 at $2l to $25.20; C. M. Bonner (Rangiora), 36 at $24.20 to $25.40; Midway Farm (Darfield), 28 at $25.40 to $25.80; Willowlea Farm (Rakaia), 135 at $lB to $26; W. D. Craydon (Oxford), 35 at $23 to $24.80; M. C. Ryan (West Melton), 28 at $26 to $2B; F. B. MacKenzie (Springston), 25 at $23.80 to $25.40; Gray Brothers (Motukarara), 66 at $23.20 to $25.20; L. A. Breading (Mead), 55 at $23 to $25.40. Prime sheep The hogget market regained the ground lost last week when prices had dropped by up to $3 a head. Hoggets and old ewes sold strongly, partly because the yarding of 1675 was just over 1000 fewer than last week. The quality of the stock was good and this contributed to the keen sale. Prices for old ewes remained fully firm, although some types increased by 50c a head. Several pens of aged wethers were offered and these sold to $20.40. Values were:— Best hoggets, to $27. Medium hoggets, $21.20 to $23.40. Light hoggets, $lB to $2l. Best old ewes, to $l6, with woolly ewes to $lB. Medium old ewes, $12.60 to $13.80.

Light old ewes, $8 to $l2. Sales included:— Adult sheep: R. and A. Blair (Cheviot), 23 at $l5 to $15.60; Fingest Farm (Tai Tapu), 243 at $11.60 to $14.80; A. J. Black (Culverden), 56 at $10.60 to $14.20; W. B. O’Loughlin (Oxford), 68 at $lO to $l6; J. Valpy (Greendale), 26 at $12.20 to $14.40; G. Steel (Port Levy), 36 at $13.80 to $15.80; A. J. Duncan (Russells Flat), 16 wethers at $17.80 to $19.60; Murchison Brothers (Lake Coleridge), 190 wethers at $17.40 to $20.40; J. D. P. Hall (Tai Tapu), 100 at $ll. to $14.20; A. H. Rowe (Sefton), 31 at $l3 to $l4; A. E. Birdling (Kaituna), 47 at $l5 to $l6. Hoggets: Estate G. O. Arres (Waikari), 24 at $20.40 to $25.80; G. A. Pearce and Company (Coutts Island), 20 at $2l to $26.80; D. W. and I. M. Stott (Aylesbury), 24 at $24 to $26; R. B. Allison (Fernside), 25 at $22 to $26.80; M. E. Winskill (Cheviot), 14 at $24 to $25.20; Glenmount Farm (Cheviot), 12 at $23.20 to $27; R. D. G. Lawrence (Hawarden), 12 fourtooths at $lB to $l9; O. M. Prattley (Swannanoa), 30 wethers at $24 to $26. Prime cattle

The beef market was notable for its quiet tone. However, prices remained steady, helped by a reduction in cattle numbers. The yarding was 332 which was 107 fewer than last week’s total.

Few good quality steers were offered and these had a particularly good sale.

A Shorthorn cross steer from D. A. Dalton, Methven, topped the market at $638, and

a Hereford cross heifer from K. A. Thelning. Le Bons Bay, made $568. An Angus cross cow from J. O. Arres, Summerhill. made $630. Prime steers and heifers to 220 kg sold from 205 c to 215 c a kilogram; between 220 kg and 270 kg, 205 c to 215 c; and over 270 kg, to 205 c. Values were:— Prime heavy steers, to $638. Prime medium steers, $450 to $506. Prime light steers, $3BO to $444. Prime heavy heifers, to $568. Prime medium heifers, $370 to $430. Prime light heifers, $3OO to $360. Prime heavy cows, to $630. Prime medium cows, $3lO to $360. Prime light cows, $230 to $3OO. Sales included:— Steers: Amuri Corriedale Breeders' Society (Amuri), 5 at $462 to $540; D. A. Dalton (Methven), 10 at $528 to $638; A. N. Davies (Rakaia), 2 at $538; Clayton Hill Company (Takamatua), 10 at $540 to $580; R. R. Anderson (Cheviot), 8 at $558 to $600; M. S. and J. Blue (Halswell), 11 at $528 to $536; J. P. Emms (Kaikoura), 8 at $490 to $544; B. Murphy (Halswell), 3 at $5OO to $552; J. S. and L. H. Scott (Oxford), 6 at $570; B. R. Barclay (Brookside), 2 at $540. Heifers: K. Brookfield (Amberley), 3 at $490 to $506; McDonald Downs (Hawarden), 5 at $492; C. A. Burrows and Son (Culverden), 7 at $382 to $430; Flaxdown Partnership (Culverden), 1 at $400; J. K. Fincham (Hawarden), 12 at

$356 to $442; K. Wakelin (Oxford), 1 at $492; D. J. Blakely Trust (Purau), 5 at $492 to $500; D. A. Dalton (Methven), 4 at $440 to $472; K. A. Thelning (Le Bons Bay), 4 at $4BO to $568: Mendip Hills station (Parnassus), 6 at $504; Chayter and Company (Blenheim), 4 at $332 to $402; Glenrock station (Methven), 10 at $472 to $510; J. S. and L. H. Scott (Oxford), 5 at $462; N. A. and M. K. Riddle (Omihi), 9 at $420; J. R. Stanbury (Little River). 15 at $4BO to $500; E. M. Ryan (Motukarara), 6 at $398 to $480; E. W. Coop and Son (Port Levy), 9 at $452; Shortlands Farm (Prebbleton), 8 at $460. Cows: D. J. Blakely Trust (Purau), 9 at $390 to $470; W. J. and P. Templeton (Ladbrooks) 2 at $384; McDonald Downs (Hawarden), 11 at $450; Mendip Hills station (Parnassus), 6 at $324 to $428; I. Watts (Clarkville), 2 at $328 and $500; R. Millar (Clarkville), 1 at $530; W. L. and B. J. Joyce (Springston), 3 at $486; G. E. Richards (Hororata), 2 at $540; J. R. Wigley (Amberley), 9 at $450; J. O. Arres (Summerhill), 3 at $440 to $630; L. N. Curry (Greenpark), 1 at $456; W. L. Hamilton (Lakeside), 1 at $402. Dairy cows Little interest was shown when four dairy cows were offered for sale at auction, but some sales were made later. A springing second calving Friesian cow made $550, and two second calving Friesian cows and calves sold for $430 and $4OO. Bobby calves

Beef cross bulls sold to $76 in the bobby calf section. Other prices included beef cross

heifers at $56, Friesian bulls at $3O to $4O, and Friesian heifers at $34 to $5O. Store cattle Only a handful of store cattle was offered. A leading vendor was Chayter and Company, of Blenheim, which sold eight 18-month-old Charolais cross steers at $512 and 10 at $496. Fat pigs The quality of a mediumsized yarding of fat pigs was a little better than recent sales, although several pigs were still unsuitable for the retail trade. Prices showed a worth-while lift, particularly for good grading heavy pigs, and several pens exceeded $125. Good quality pork also sold well. A big yarding of good quality choppers met a strong demand from retail buyers. Values were $lO to $l5 ahead of last week’s. Values were:— Light pork, $B5 to $lOO. Medium to heavy pork, $lO3 to $ll2. Light to medium bacon, $ll5 to $l2B. Heavy bacon, to $l4O. Store pigs Store pigs had another difficult sale and local buyers were faced with little competition from buyers with outside orders. Good quality pigs had the best of the market, particularly in the early stages, but values dropped away near the end. Values were:— Samll weaners, $25 to $32. Good weaners, $35 to $44. Slips and small stores, $46 to $55. Large stores, to $65. Unfinished pork, to $75.