Prices pick up for better quality prime and store pigs

Press, 3 July 1985, Page 32

Prices pick up for better quality prime and store pigs

Prices for good quality prime and store pigs maintained last week’s improvement at the Addington market yesterday. The pig industry in recent weeks has suffered depressing prices, but the demand yesterday for top prime pigs, choppers and large stores was encouraging. In other prime stock sales, beef cattle and lamb prices were generally steady. Prime lambs . Prices for lambs remained at a satisfactory level although the market contained few highlights. Most values were on a par with last week’s except for light lambs which tended to be slightly easier. The market could probably

have handled a few more good quality butchers’ lambs which were in steady demand. The bulk of the yarding comprised light to medium works lambs, many fetching $22 to $25. Better quality lambs generally sold between $2B and $34. The yarding was 1740 compared with 1068 last week. Values were:Heavy lambs to $35. Medium lambs, $26.60 to $2B. Light lambs, $22 to $26. Sales included:W. W. and E. M. Thornton (Harewood), 140 at $24 to $26.60; W. S. Gardner (Waiau), 39 at $26 to $28.80; I. C. Mackintosh and Son (Waipara),

19 at $24 to $26.80; M. P. Ermerins (Amberley), 29 at $22.60 to $25; Brendean Farm (Weedons), 56 at $2B to $3l; W. E. Tilley (Windwhistle), 18 at $28.60 to $33.40; L. R. Forrester (Hawarden), 37 at $24.60 to $25; W. Bell (Springston), 21 at $32.80 to $35; D. A. Mclntosh (Loburn), 49 at $20.80 to $26; P. S. and J. W. Roberts (Waikari), 58 at $22 to $23.40; J. N. Guthrey (Amberley), 13 at $24.60 to $27.80; G. J. Mangin (Methven), 108 at $29.80 to $33.80; Lyndale Farm (Methven), 91 at $30.60 to $33.40; R. A. and J. A. Bolton (Burnham), 60 shorn at $25.60 to $26.80; W. B. Clarkson (Kaikoura), 63 at $24 to $26; J. A. Youngman (Darfield), 50 shorn at $24.20 to $24.60; H. and H. Paterson

(Rangiora), 26 shorn at $23.40 to $26.40. Prime sheep After two successive weeks of easing prices, the old ewe market improved slightly, particularly near the end of the sale. Demand for hoggets was very firm. Several good quality sheep sold between $26 and $29, top stock again exceeding $32. Another small yarding of almost 1100 prime sheep (compared with 1000 last week) contributed to the steady demand. Values were:Best old ewes to $l9, with heavily woolled ewes to $25. Medium old ewes, $l6 to $lB. Best hoggets to $35.

Medium hoggets, $24.20 to $26. Sales included:Old ewes; D. Handyside (Parnassus), 23 at $17.40 to $25; H. J. McCartney (Tai Tapu), 26 at $13.80 to $l6; Davaar, Ltd (Greta Valley), 58 wethers at $15.20 to $21.20; Nukiwai Partnership (Culverden), 79 at $l5 to $17.80; T. J. Carson (Waipara), 44 at $lB to $19.80; Coop Bros (Weka Pass), 21 at $17.20 to $lB.BO. Hoggets: J. E. Chisnall (Motuniu), 39 at $25.20 to $31.60; Department of Lands and Survey (Raft Creek), 28 at $26.20 to $33; D. Handyside (Parnassus), 17 at $25.20 to $3O; W. E. Tulley (Windwhistle), 6 at $35; S. L. and B. E. Chambers (Southbridge), 12 at $30.40

to $33.20; I. S. Douglas and Son (Ethelton), 22 four-tooths at $17.80 to $24. Prime cattle Prime beef prices were stable in spite of a big yarding of 446 cattle, about 160 more than last week’s. Bidding was not as keen as it had been in recent weeks, probably because of the increased number of cattle. Demand fell away slightly in the middle stages of the sale but soon picked up. Local trade buyers bought most prime steers and heifers, and some interest came from freezing companies. The market for boner cows started on an easier note than last week’s because of the recent drop in the export

schedule. Prices for heavy and mediumweight cows improved as the sale progressed. Top price was $B9B for a Charolais steer sold by Henderson Brothers, Rotherham. A Simmental cross heifer from T. M. Banks and Son, Coutts Island, made $762, and a Simmental cow from O. J. Osborne, Doyleston, sqld at $720. Prime steers and heifers to 220 kg sold between 245 c and 255 c a kilogram; from 220 kg to 270 kg, 245 c and 255 c; and over 270 kg, to 255 c. Values were:Prime heavy steers to $B9B. Prime medium steers, $630 to $7OO. Prime light steers, $534 to $620. Prime heavy heifers to $762.

Prime medium heifers, $512 to $5BO. Prime light heifers, $450 to $5OO. Prime heavy cows to $720. Prime medium cows, $466 to $542. Prime light cows, $3BO to $460. Sales included:Steers; B. D. and T. Childs (Cheviot), 12 at $760 to $854; T. J. Masefield (Goughs Bay), 4 at $742 to $792; D. O. Masefield (Goughs Bay), 5 at $7OO to $740; D. R. Fraser (Mt Benger), 14 at $660 to $772; John Childs (Cheviot), 8 at $620 to $720; James Deans (Darfield), 3 at $602; R. R. Anderson (Cheviot), 5 at $778; Fear and Chilchrist (Rangiora), 4 at $640 to $742; R. W. and G. E. Burnett

(Cheviot), 4 at $752; I. C. Mackintosh and Son (Waipara). 5 at $5BO to $696; M. E. Winskill (Cheviot), 4 at $592; H. R. Rutherford (Hawarden), 1 at $570; Henderson Brothers (Rotherham), 2 at $BOO and $898; Newton Brothers (Puaha), 30 at $662 to $782; Golden Yolk Egg Farm (Ohoka), 12 at $7OO to $798; A. D. Coles (Irwell), 4 at $738 to $772; J. J. Lochhead (Omihi), 7 at $738 to $800; D. J. Blakely Trust (Purau), 2 at $812; I. C. Mackintosh and Son (Waipara), 2 at $6OO and $690; J. Johnson (Rakaia), 4 at $568 to $680; Mrs F. Dalgety (West Melton), 3 at $7lO to $778; Pahau Pastures (Culverden), 12 at $BOO to $872; D. L. Mason (Little River), 12 at $738 to $802; T. M. Banks and Son (Coutts Island), 2 at $770; B. K. McFarlane (Parnassus), 10 at $B2O to $866; E. W. Coop (Port Levy), 10 at $744 to $850; Misses D. E. and M. Aitken (Kaikoura), 10 at $642 to $796. Heifers; T. J. Masefield (Goughs Bay), 6 at $5lO to $542; B. D. and T. Childs (Cheviot), 1 at $722; D. A. Anderson (Cheviot), 1 at $550; H. R. Rutherford (Hawarden), 1 at $538; Benmore Graziers (Springfield), 2 at $538 and $668; D. J. Blakely Trust (Purau), 1 at $740; J. R. Andrew (Motunau), 6 at $442 to $490; Moore Brothers (Redwood), 1 at $538; Spencerville 'Partnership (Spencerville), 1 at $548; A. C. Petrie (Waikuku), 12 at $490 to $534; T. W. Gulliver (Sedgemere), 2 at $540; E. Luan (Hanmer Sprins), 4 at $456 to $560; R. J. Russell (Windwhistle), 3 at $578 to $650; J. E. Chisnall (Motunau), 1 at $492; T. M. Banks and Son (Coutts Island), 1 at $762; D. and H. Armstrong (Akaroa), 1 at $588: M. F. Vernon (Ohoka), 10 at $450; J. N. Buckland (Little River), 23 at $468 to $512; Bush Farm (Irwell), 3 at $5OO to $594. Cows: James Deans (Darfield), 3 at $328 to $450; B. D. and T. Childs (Cheviot), 4 at $4BO to $598; D. A. Anderson (Cheviot), 3 at $424 to $620; H. R. Rutherford (Hawarden), 6 at $4BO to $520; Spencerville Partnership (Spencerville), 3 at $460; Moore Brothers (Redwood), 3 at $420 to $600; Richard Brothers (Belfast), 2 at $442; M. A. McCarthy (Ladbrooks), 1 at $548; O. J. Osborne (Doyleston), 5 at $438 to $720; Benmore Graziers (Springfield), 1 at $538; R. D. Middleton (Clarence Bridge), 12 at $460 to $572; J. N. Buckland (Little River), 12 at $3OO to $660; E. W. Frost (Ohoka), 3 at $470 to $5OO. Bobby calves Good quality calves had another strong sale in the bobby calf pens, most Friesian bulls fetching $66 to $l3O. Friesian heifers were $4O to $B6, beef cross bulls $4B to $l4B, and beef cross heifers $74 to $94. The yarding was about 100. Dairy Cows A springing Friesian heifer sold at $655 in the dairy sale. An in-milk Friesian heifer made $4OO, an in-calf fourthcalving Friesian cow sold at

$515, and a Jersey cross heifer and calf made $4OO. Store sheep Good quality, shorn mated Corriedales sold to $18.40 in the store sheep section. Few other good mated ewes were offered. A special sale of mated ewes will be held at Addington on July 10. Prices for wether lambs were steady and ewe lambs sold strongly, a top drafting of Corriedales making $32.20. Sales included:P. C. Darby (Temuka), 259 Corriedale ewe lambs at $28.80 to $32.20; T. J. Carsons (Waipara), 150 shorn lambs at $15.30 to $19.20; I. C. Mackintosh and Son (Waipara), 52 Corriedale ewe lambs at $23.60; W. T. Copland (Barr Hill), 226 mated Corriedales at $lB to $18.40; N. A. Fraser (Akaroa), 103 shorn Perendale ewe lambs at $23.80. Store cattle A small selection of store cattle attracted keen competition although prices were not quite at the same level as last week's exceptionally strong sale. Sales included:J. F. and E. F. Brown (Greenpark). 7 Simmental cross steer calves at $364, and 6 heifers at $320; H. R. Rutherford (Hawarden), 16 Hereford, Angus and Angus cross cows at $390 to $420; Woodstock station (Oxford), 18 Angus cross cows at $294 to $348, and 25 mixedsex Angus cross calves at $l9O to $206; J. N. Buckland (Little River), 5 steer calves at $370. and 6 heifers at $304. Prime pigs Quality was mixed in a medium-sized yarding of prime pigs. A big proportion of the offering was overweight or overfat. Good quality pigs sold at rates similar to last week’s improved sale, but poor pigs were hard to quit and many pigs made $BO to $9O. A big yarding of choppers had a sound sale. Good quality, light choppers consistently sold between $9O and $lO5 and heavy pigs made to $l4O. Values were:Light pork, $75 to $B5. Medium to heavy pork, $BB to $9B. Light to medium bacon, $lOO to $ll5. Heavy bacon to $135. Light choppers, $9O to $lO5. Heavy choppers, $llO to $l4O. Store pigs Large store pigs again had a strong sale, the tops reaching $BO. Good quality weaners ano slips also maintained last week’s improved rates and few of the better quality weaners sold below $3O. Breeding stock had a disappointing sale, few sows making more than their killing values. Values were:Small weaners, $23 to $3O. Good weaners, $32 to $4O. Slips and small stores, $42 to $55. Large stores to $66. Unfinished pork to $BO.