Beef prices show marked rise

Press, 25 July 1984, Page 27

Beef prices show marked rise

Beef prices at the Addington market yesterday felt the effects of the recent devaluation of the New Zealand dollar. Cattle mostly fetched an extra $6O to $BO a head. Prices were generally in line with the export meat schedule which rose earlier this week as a result of the devaluation. Most prime beef sold yesterday between 210 c and 225 c a kilogram. All other types of prime stock were in steady demand. A feature of the store sheep section was a price of $14.60 (all counted) for shorn ewes with lambs at foot. Prime lambs Competition throughout the prime lamb sale remained steady. Keen demand from export companies contributed to a slight increase in price for works type lambs, and heavy butchers’ lambs remained firm. The yarding included several lines of woolly lambs, which were sought by outside buyers. The yarding was 2081, compared with 1791 last week. Values were:— Heavy lambs, to $3O. Medium lambs, $23.80 to $25. Light lambs, $2O to $23.60. Sales included:— Estate G. and R. G. Dickson (Ashburton), 45 at $27.60 to $29.60; P. J. Hoban (Culverden), 60 at $26.20 to $27.80; Mendip Hills (Parnassus), 111 at $25.80 to $26.20; G. P. Griffiths (Tai Tapu), 44 at $25.60; R. P. Winchester (Leeston), 27 at $26 to $26.60; B. J. Keenan (Diamond Harbour), 61 at $25.60 to $26.60; E. F. Burgess (Cheviot), 75 at $23.20 to $27; G. J. Mangin (Methven), 120 at $26.60 to $29.60; P. A. Sloan (Brookside), 43 at $24.60 to $26.40; W. J. Small (Ashburton), 42 at $26.20 to $26.60; H. P. Fitzsimmons (Cheviot), 73 at $24.80 to $27.60; N. A. and C. B. Riddle (Rakaia), 54 at $23.20 to $29; Mrs F. Dalgety (West Melton), 36 at $25.60 to $26.20; L. Ciucas (Hororata), 20 at $23.20 to $26; Essendon Partnership (Darfield), 90 shorn at $24.80 to $25.40; Mrs L. K. Odering (Weedons), 34 shorn at $21.80 to $23; T. J. Clapshaw (Broadfields), 104 shorn at $21.40 to $27.80; G. A. McVicar (Cashmere), 18 at $25.60 to $27.40; I. D. McLeod (Springston), 29 shorn at $24.80; R. J. Turpin (Little River), 39 at $24.60 to $27.20; Brendean Farm (Weedons), 98 shorn at $25.60 to $28.80; C. A. Jamieson (Ladbrooks), 25 shorn at $26.20 to $2B; L. Couper (Amberley), 165 shorn at $24.80 to $25.40; A. Mowat (Cheviot), 57 shorn at $25 to $25.60; M.S. and A.R. Brown (Omihi), 20 at $25.60 to $27; H. J. and T. M. Gardiner (Lakeside), 24 shorn at $26 to $26.20; N. D. Penny (Te Pirita), 50 shorn at $25.60 to $26.60; A. B. George (Greenpark), 13 at $25.60 to $29. Prime sheep Good quality shorn ewes sold to about $l7 and woolly

ewes made to $2l in a strong prime sheep market. The value of top ewes was about $1 ahead of last week’s sale and medium to light ewes were firm. Hoggets had a patchy sale. Good quality sheep tended to be slightly dearer than last week. The yarding of 800 prime agave buyers only a selection to choose from. Last week’s total was 1023. Values were:— Best hoggets, to $2B. Medium hoggets, $22.40 to $24. Light hoggets, $l9 to $22. Best old ewes, to $l7 with woolly ewes to $2l. Medium old ewes, $l3 to $14.40. Light old ewes, $9 to $l2. Sales included:— Hoggets: A. D. and S. C. McLean (Omihi), 9 at $23 to $23.20; G. A. Pearce (Coutts Island), 10 at $20.40 to $24; W. D. Blackadder (Springs Junction), 72 at $23 to $24.40; J. M. Inch (Hawarden), 59 wethers at $22.80 to $23.80; Ashley Pascoe (Kirwee), 42 at $22.20 to $25.20. Old ewes: I. D. McLeod (Springston), 19 at $16.20 to $16.80; D. S. Taylor (View Hill), 49 at $16.20 to $l9; D. J. Potts (Greenpark), 98 at $14.40 to $18.20; R. J. Turpin (Little River), 25 at $1620 to $17.80; D. K. Rutherford (Hawarden), 36 wethers at $l7. to $2O. Prime cattle Although the devaluation of the New Zealand dollar forced buyers to pay more for cattle, the higher prices appeared to have little effect on buying Cower. Competition from utchers and freezing companies remained steady throughout the sale. The devaluation and resulting rise in the export schedule, led to increased prices for all types of cattle, including cows. Because of their heavier weight, big steers had the greatest rise, some by about $lOO. Good quality medium and lightweight steers and heifers, which have recently been selling above schedule rates, did not experience the same jump in price. Lightweight cattle were about $4O dearer and the over-all increase was $6O to $BO. The yarding of 343 was 30 more than last week’s total. The top price was $lOOO for an Angus steer sold by A. Idiens, Templeton. Pahau Pastures which has been selling

steers at slightly over $BOO in recent weeks, yesterday received $950. A HerefordAngus heifer from J. R. Stackhouse, Springbum, made $628 and a Shorthorn Hereford cross cow from D. A Dalton Methven, sold at $542. Prime steers and heifers to 220 kg sold between 210 c and 220 c a kilogram; from 220 kg to 270 kg, between 210 c and 225 c; and over 270 kg, to 225 c. Values were:— Prime heavy steers, to $lOOO. Prime medium steers, $530 to $6lO. Prime light steers, $460 to $520. Prime heavy heifers, to $628. Prime medium heifers, $426 to $496. Prime light heifers, $370 to $420. Prime heavy cows, to $542. Prime medium cows, $340 to $4lO. Prime light cows, $2BO to $330. Sales included:— Steers: H. J. Maw (Methven), 2 at $6BB to $720; Blackford station (Methven), 7 at $596 to $758; T. J. Masefield (Goughs Bay), 5 at $6lB to $700; Miss K. Rutherford (Parnassus), 7 at $574 to $650; T. J. Lochhead (Omihi), 7 at $6BO to $718; J. R. Stackhouse (Springburn), 5 at $628 to $698; Miss L. Winter (Spencerville), 1 at $742; R. G. Humm (Tai Tapu), 4 at $582 to $682; I. C. Macintosh and Son (Amberley), 3 at $536; L. S. and V. R. O’Neill (Wainui), 12 at $474 to $480; B. D. and T. Childs (Cheviot), 8 at $676 to $798; Alex McLean (Amberley), 9 at $560 to $650; Pahau Pastures (Culverden), 14 at $640 to $950; Reed Brothers (Culverden), 6 at $610; E. J. C. Aitken (Little River), 9 at $652; Miss J. C. Swarbrick (Kaikoura), 2 at $600; R. S. Thornley (Greenpark), 3 at $572 to $690; Crystal Brook Farm (Cheviot), 8 at $585; A. Idiens (Templeton), 1 at $lOOO. Heifers: Blackford station (Methven), 1 at $530; T. J. Masefield (Goughs Bay), 6 at $428; B. J. Fraser (Maruia), 1 at $572; A. C. Petrie (Waikuku), 9 at $4OO to $462; I. R. Hamilton (Omihi), 13 at $412 to $422; Cloudy Range station (Waiau), 4 at $460 to $494; A. B. Byrch (Motunau), 6 at $468 to $472; A. D. and S. C. McLean (Omihi), 1 at $502; J. R. Stackhouse (Springburn), 1 at $628; E. G. O. Rutherford (Hanmer Springs), 2 at $5OO to $506; Miss J. C. Swarbrick (Kaikoura), 8 at $472

to $502; S. G. Holland, Ltd (Cheviot), 12 at $450 to $490; Crystal Brook Farm (Cheviot), 1 at $576; C. J. Grimsey (Cheviot), 1 at $612; T. C. Jenkins (Sheffield), 5 at $5lO to $550. Cows: D. A Dalton (Methven), 5 at $344 to $542; M. G. Hurley (Springston), 1 at $470; L D. Watts (Clarkville), 2 at $446; J. W. Collins (Springston), 2 at $488; W. R. and L. A Hardwick (Greenpark), 1 at $498; D. H. and A Leslie (Ohoka), 1 at $486; Cloudy Range station (Waiau), 4 at $374 to $460; E. G. O. Rutherford (Hanmer Springs), 10 at $412 to $452; S. E. McLean (Waiau), 15 at $394 to $402; T. H. Evans and Son (Hororata), 4 at $3BO to $410; D. K. Rutherford (Hawarden), 2 at $455 to $502. Vealers Buying power was strong for a yarding of five bulls in the veal section. Three bulls sold at $360, one made $374 and the fifth sold at $320.

Bobby calves Prices for Friesian bobby calves eased slightly after last ■week’s strong sale. Most Friesian bull calves sold between $3O and $6B, and Friesian heifers were $3O to $7O. However beef cross calves sold strongly at $62 to $96. Dairy cows Three first calving Friesian cows and calves sold at $5BO, $555, and $475 in the dairy cow section. Other sales included a third calving Friesian cow and calf at $5OO and an in-milk heifer at $455. Store sbeep The market for store lambs continues to strengthen. Very few lambs sold for less than $l7 and most sales were between $l9 and $22, with woolly Down cross lambs selling to $26. Corriedale ewe lambs sold to $26.40. A feature of the store sheep section was three pens of ewes and lambs. A line of shorn ewes and lambs sold at $14.60 (all counted), and the other two lots made $l4 and $10.40.

Interest was lacking in the in-lamb ewe sale and some lines were passed. Prices Included $23.40 for Corriedale two-tooths, aged Corriedales at $l5 to $24.30, and Romneys at $22.40. Sales included:M. Rutherford (Leeston), 142 store lambs at $17.20 to $2120; A Collie (Courtney), 87 store lambs at $18.40 to $20.40; M. S. and A R, Brown (Omihi), 100 Corriedale ewe lambs at $26.40. Store cattle Sales included:— F. J. Ward, (Ohoka), 21 3-year-old Maine Anjou cross steers at $5lB to $536; Devar, Ltd (Greta Valley), 10 in-calf Hereford cows at $428; O. W. and S. M. Evans (Hawarden), 8 cows at $3OO and 14 heifer calves at $202 to $240. Fat pigs Prices for a small yarding of fat pigs were fully firm with last week’s rates. Retailers and farmers provided good competition. Choppers had a poor sale

and values were $l5 to $2O back on recent sales. Most pigs sold between $ll5 and $l4O. Values were:— Light pork, $9O to $lOO. Medium to heavy pork, $lO5 to $ll2. Light to medium bacon, $ll5 to $125. Heavy bacon, to $l4O. Light choppers $9O to $llO. Heavy choppers, $ll5 to $l4O, with odd sales to $l7O. Store pigs A big yarding of store pigs had another good sale All classes of pigs sold well, particularly small weaners. Few pigs sold for less than $45 and big stores were in keen demand. A good quality yarding of breeding stock met strong inquiry from farmers. Good boars made to $420 and Duroc gilts made to $320. Values were:— Small weaners, $4O to $4B. Good weaners, $5O to $56. Slips and small stores, $5B to $69. Large stores, to $76.