Prime lambs meet strong demand

Press, 9 July 1986, Page 32

Prime lambs meet strong demand

Higher prices for prime lambs were offset by a drop in the value of prime old ewes at a variable sale of prime stock at the Addington market yesterday. Lambs were in strong demand from Christchurch butchers and processors, but the old ewe and hogget sale was quiet The prime and store pig markets continued to strengthen. Most porkers and baconers sold between $9O and $l5O, while choppers reached $220. Prime lambs The general lift in lamb prices was felt by all grades, from overfats to heavy, lean ram lambs. The over-all improvement was $1.50 a head, but some types were a full $2 dearer than at last week’s sale.

Good quality, heavy ram lambs ranged from $lB to $23 and prime ewe lambs generally made $ll to $l5. Very few lambs sold for less than $10.60.

The yarding was 1985 compared with 2316 last week.

Values were:Heavy ram lambs, to $23.60.

Medium lambs, $13.60 to $l5.

Light lambs, $10.40 to $12.60. Sales included:B. R. Hyde (Christchurch), 43 at $l2 to $13.80; R. W. and S. M. Le Pine (Parnassus), 33 at $lO to $13.40; C. Cowan (Greymouth), 32 at $lO.BO to $12.60; I. H. Beattie (Rakaia), 104 at $lO to $14.40; C. L. Derrett (Christchurch), 21 at $17.60 to $19.60; Kapuranga Farm Partnership (Springston), 51 at $15.20 to $18; P. J. Robertson (Weedons), 54 at $l6 to $18.60; G. Buck (Mawheraiti), 39 at $11.40 to $12.20; Christchurch Airport Farm (Harewood), 60 at $ll.BO to $22; D. A. Hamilton (Darfield), 74 at $12.80 to $23.20; C. Egan (Kopara), 86 at $12.80 to $l4; R. F. Parkin (Southbridge), 13 at $22 to $23.60; Setra Park Farm (Woodend), 48 at $l3 to $22.20; G. J. Mangin (Methven), 126 at $12.80 to $14.80; R. E. Copeland 37 at $l3 to $l5; E. J. and A. F. C. Mowat (Kaikoura), 31 at $ll to $l2; Cons Hill Partnership (Hawarden), 25 at $12.20 to $12.40; R. W. Palmer, Ltd (Hawarden), 24 at $11.60 to $13.20; J. Gorman (Rakaia), 102 at $l5 to $22.80; Balhamad Farm (Waipara), 141 at $ll to $l7; W. J. Brooks (Irwell), 50 at $12.40 to $l4. Prime sheep Woolly old ewe prices eased about $1.50 a head, losing most of the ground gained at last week’s strong sale. Bidding was much more restrained, probably because yesterday’s yarding of sheep was more than double last week’s. . Most good ewes sold between $4 and $6, with woolly ewes fetching $6 to $8 and odd sales to $ll.BO. Hoggets were in limited demand also. The yarding was 1252 compared with 520 last week. Values were:Best old ewes, to $6.40, with woolly ewes to $ll.BO. Medium old ewes, $4.80 to $5.40. Light old ewes, $3 to $4. Best hoggets, to $l4. Sales included:Old ewes: R. L. A. McMillan (Hawarden), 34 at $6.20 to $7; S. G. Holland, Ltd (Cheviot), 84 at $5.20 to $8; D. J. Petrie (Rangiora), 33 at $3.80 to $4.80; Mrs G. E. Molineaux (Waikari), 49 at

$5.40 to $7.80; F. D. C. Brown {Coalgate). 60 at $5.20 to $5.60; T. E. Elliot (Cheviot), 48 at $11.20 to $11.80; J. Madeley (East Eyreton), 45 at $4.40; B. J. Fisher (Greenpark), 99 at $3.80 to $4.40; P. Bilbrough (Dunsandel), 97 at $3.80 to $4.40; R. J. Turpin (Little River), 26 at $6.20 to $6.40; R. C. and L. F. Adams (Greendale), 75 at $3.40 to $4.20; S. A. and J. M. Adams (Greendale), 25 at $3.80 to $4.20. Hoggets: H. Wauchop (WhitecliffS), 19 at $10.40 to $l2; M. Brown (East Eyreton), 20 at $12.20 to $l4. Prime cattle

Bidding lacked strength during the early stages of the beef sale because of reduced buying power, but the market quickly recovered. Most prices remained on a par with recent rates, at 155 c to 170 c a kilogram for steers and heifers. Lightweight stock attracted a much stronger bidding tone than heavyweight steers. The over-all quality of the stock compared favourably with that offered during the autumn. The yarding of 303 cattle was 17 fewer than last week’s.

A Charolais steer from Miss Joan Fisher, Lincoln, topped the market at $742. A Hereford-Friesian cross heifer from S. J. and M; P. Foster, Omihi, made $454, and a Hereford cow from R. F. and R. A. Parker, Kaikoura, sold at $4OO. Prime steers and heifers to 220 kg sold between 160 c and 170 c a kilogram; from 220 kg to 270 kg, 155 c to 170 c; and over 270 kg, to 165 c. Values were:Prime heavy steers, to $742. Prime medium steers, $470 to $540. Prime light steers, $370 to $460. Prime heavy heifers, to $454. Prime medium heifers, $340 to $3BO. Prime light heifers, $3OO to $340. Prime heavy cows, to $4OO. Prime medium cows, $3OO to $340. Prime light cows, $250 to $290. Sales included:Steers: Miss Joan Fisher (Lincoln), 1 at $742; P. F. and H. A. Le Lievre (Takamatua), 7 at $474 to $640; Miss J. Anderson (Charteris Bay), 6 at $4BB to $548; C. Winter (Spencerville), 6 at $458 to $632; A. F. S. and W. H. Rutherford (Culverden), 10 at $552 to $560; Inkson and Hardaker (Amberley), 4 at $568; T. J. Masefield (Goughs Bay), 4 at $542 to $568; D. Or Masefield (Goughs Bay), 4 at $520; B. D. Childs (Cheviot), 3 at $522 to $564; N. D. Shipley (Harewood), 6 at $486; H. R. Rutherford (Hawarden), 9 at $460; K. M. Lassen (Greenpark), 2 at $450; S. J. Anderson (Cheviot), 2 at $642 and $730; Manhka Bay Farm (Cheviot), 3 at $4BO to $482; Gray Brothers (Motukarara), 8 at $520 to $610; B. K. McFarlane (Parnassus), 5 at $545; S. Harris (Duvauchelle), 1 at $612; L. W. Matthews (West Eyreton), 7 at $642 to $685; Gawlor Downs (Ashburton), 6 at $550 to $590; W. Richards (Motukarara), 1 at $640.

Heifers: W. M. and N. B. Watson (Weedons), 9 at $326 to $376; Spurtleton Downs (Omihi), 6 at $360; W. H. and S. J. Foster (Omihi), 3 at $362 to $380; S. J. and M. P. Foster (Omihi), 1 at $454; P. F. and H. A. Le Lievre (Takamatua),

2 at $386; T. J. Masefield (Goughs Bay), 6 at $340 to $362; R. I. R. and J. H. Little (Amberley), 7 at $306; S. K. Skurr. (Sheffield), 3 at $330; S. J. Anderson (Cheviot), 10 at $340 to $360; D. A. Anderson (Cheviot), 3 at $348 to $362. Cows: J. and J. R. Baird (Ladbrooks), 1 at $286; Richards Brothers (Belfast), 1 at $302; G Winter (Spencerville), 1 at $344; G. W. Ryder (Waiau), 3 at $332 to $392; D. A. Anderson (Cheviot), 6 at $286 to $344; M. E. WinskiU (Cheviot), 6 at $272; F. D. C Brown (Whitecliffs), 3 at $268 to $372; R. F. and R. A. Parker (Kaikoura), 1 at $4OO. Bobby calves Prices eased slightly for a yarding of about 70 bobby calves, about the same size as last week’s offering. Southern buyers provided much of the buying power. Most Friesian bull calves sold between $3B and $72, Friesian heifers $4O to $52, beef cross bulls $6B to $B2, and beef cross heifers $44 to $6O. Dairy cow The sole entry in the dairy cow section, a springing third-calving Friesian, sold at $485. Store cattle A line of 55 rising two-year-old Hereford heifers from R. G. Kay, Duvauchelle, sold at $240 to $266 in the store, cattle section. . Twenty-one 2 Angus-Hereford cross steers from H. R. Rutherford, Hawarden, made $412 to $478, and seven bull calves from N. S. and J. L. Youngman, Halkett, sold at $2lO. Store sheep A very small yarding of store sheep was made up mainly of lambs, , which sold strongly. Most good lambs made $9 to $l3. A special sale of in-lamb ewes will be held at Addington today. Sales included:J. Egan and Son (Greymouth), 502 at $9.50 to $11.90; T. R. Bourke (Greymouth), 58 at $B.BO to $11; P. L. Stewart (Kumara), 26 at $9 to $11.20; M. L. Crampton (Cheviot), 223 Corriedale ewe lambs at $12.60 to $13.80; D. L. Meadows (Leeston), 77 Corriedales at $12.20 to $l3. < Prime pigs Buying power was exceptionally strong for a mediumsized yarding of prime pigs and all types had an excellent sale. Baconers sold consistently between $l3O and $l5O and porkers reached $lOO. Top quality choppers sold to $220 and most idither choppers exceeded $l5O. ’ * Values were:- - . Light pork, $9O to $lOO. , Medium to heavy pork, $lO5 to $ll5. Light to medium bacon, $l2O to $135. Heavy bacon, to $155. Light choppers, $l4O to $l7O. Heavy choppers, $lBO to $220. Store pigs Prices of store pigs were unchanged from the recent strong levels. The yarding was small and, buying power keen. ■ ; Breeding stock sold well, with in-pig sows reaching $265. Values were:Small weaners, $4O to $5O. Good weaners, $53 to $55. Slips and small stores, $57 to $7O.