Beef prices settle in quiet sale

Press, 17 December 1986, Page 37

Beef prices settle in quiet sale

Beef prices settled about 200 c a kilogram during a quiet sale of prime cattle at the Addington market yesterday. The cattle market attracted limited interest from butchers and freezing companies and the reduced yarding of 360 head provided buyers with ample stock to fill their orders.

In other classes of prime stock, iamb prices firmed, old ewes sold steadily, and prime pigs were in strong demand. The next sale of prime stock at Addington will be in early January. Prime lambs

Prices finned for all types of prime lambs, particularly heavy lambs suitable for the butchery trade. Late in the sale, the demand for butchers' lambs strengthened considerably and most fetched between $22 and $25. Heavy ram lambs at $24 to $2B still attracted a worthwhile premium over ewe lambs. The yarding was 1982 compared with 1013 last week. Values were:— Heavy ram lambs, to $29. Medium lambs, $l9 to $23. Light lambs, $l7 to $l9. Sales included.— H. B. Smith (Prebbleton), 22 at $19.40 to $24.40; Marble Point Station (Hanmer Springs), 57 at $18.40 to $21.20; D. Anderson (Waiau), 67 at $lB.BO to $2O; G. J. Phillips (Ikamatua), 103 at $lB to $25.40; A. J. Phillips (Christchurch), 24 at $19.20 to $27.40; E. T. Bray (Christchurch), 22 at $22 to $27.40; P. J. Robertson (West Melton), 59 at $19.40 to $25; B. L. E. Taylor (Oxford), 192 at $16.80 to $21.40; R. J. Wright (Dunsandel), 70 at $2l to $27.60; H. W. Williams (Halswell), 35 at $23 to $24.60; R. and J. M. Hill (Cust), 33 at $19.20 to $24.20; Estate G. W. Hurley (Oxford), 37 at $18.20 to $22; M. Robertson (Leeston), 97 at $16.80 to $20.80; Barrys Bay Partnership (Barrys Bay), 54 at $19.20 to $21.20; D. Cadman (Little River), 36 at $18.60 to $2O; Blank Brothers (Yaldhurst), 8 ram lambs at $32.80; K. G. Gillanders (Kaituna), 107 at $19.20 to $24.40; P. D. and J. C. Helps (Port Levy), 29 at $20.80 to $22.80; A. W. and S. S. Hulston (Weedons), 35 at $24 to $26.80; A. M. Edwards (West Melton), 69 at $lB.BO to $24.20; G. Muir (Leeston), 14 at $21.20 to $29.20. Prime sheep

The market for old ewes started at a level 50c to $1 a head below last week’s rates, but as the sale progressed prices finned. By the last raceway, prices had recovered fully and in places were slightly stronger than last week’s.

Most good quality shorn old ewes ranged from $10.50 to $12.50, with top woollies reaching $2O. Very few hoggets were yarded. The total yarding of prime sheep was 2583 compared with 2649 last week. Values were:—

Best old ewes, to $l2, with woolly ewes to $20.20. Medium old ewes, $9 to $lO.

Light old ewes, $6 to $8.50. Best hoggets, to $26. Medium hoggets, $lB to $2O. Sales included.—

Old ewes: Woodgrove Farm (Hawarden), 68 at $7.20 to $9; Inniskillen Partnership (Culverden), 67 at $8.20 to $11.80; Achray Partnership (Culverden), 34 at $8.60 to $10.60; D. J. Edgar (Kaiapoi), 48 at $10.40 to $l3; P. R. Kidd (Rolleston), 63 at $8 to $11; B. F. Hawkins (Sheffield), 51 at $8 to $10.80; Cathedral Farm (Halswell), 42 at $lO to $20.20; B. J. Cowens (Cust), 48 at $8 to $11.40; H. R. Hamilton (Omihi), 50 at $6.40 to $11; Miss L. Dalzell (Culverden), 85 at $7.40 to $11.60; Estate W. A. Goodman (Rangiora), 49 at $6.60 to $10.20; Achray Partnership (Rotherham), 128 at $7.40 to $10.20; G. J. Mason (Springston), 85 at $6.80 to $11.20; N. D. and P. D. Thomas (Harewood), 28 at $9 to $14.40; W. R. Ensor (Bullock Creek), 39 at $15.80 to $16.80; H. E. F. Calder (Halkett), 43 at $9.20 to $10.20; D. G. Middleton (West Melton), 147 at $B.BO to $11.60; S. A. Payne (Yaldhurst), 121 at $9.80 to $10.20; D. W. G. Scott (Burnham), 100 at $10.20 to $l2; Mcßean Estate (Springston), 67 at $11.40 to $16.20; K. A. Rutherford (Ohoka), 35 at $7.20 to $12.40.

Hoggets: W. R. Ensor (Okuku), 34 at $lB.BO to $26; H. W. Williams (Halswell), 35 at $lB to $21.80; L. A. Bread-

ing (Rakaia), 21 at $16.20 to $20.60.

Prime cattle Subdued interest from local butchers and freezing companies resulted in a very quiet sale of beef cattle. The demand for all types of cattle from heavy steers to boner cows lacked strength and very few heifers reached 200 c a kilogram.

A line of well-finished Angus steers from J. Plaskett, Rangiora, led the market with a top price of $792. Four Angus heifers from E. J. C. Aitken, Pigeon Bay, made $5lB and two Friesian cows from Armstrong Brothers, Ohoka, sold at $540. The yarding of 360 cattle was well down on last week’s big total of 633.

Prime steers and heifers to 220 kg sold between 190 c and 200 c a kilogram; from 220 kg to 270 kg, 195 c to 210 c; and over 270 kg, to 210 c. Values were:—

Prime heavy steers, to $792.

Prime medium steers, $540 to $6lO. Prime light steers, $420 to $5OO.

Prime heavy heifers, to $5lB.

Prime medium heifers, $420 to $470. Prime light heifers, $360 to $4lO.

Prime heavy cows, to $540. Prime medium cows, $430 to $470.

Prime light cows, $320 to $4OO.

Sales included.— Steers: Mossman Farm (Culverden), 4 at $4BO to $582; Mrs P. Hales (Hanmer

Springs), 10 at $420 to $490; R. J. Brown (Glenthome station), 7 at $522 to $778; Fletcher Farm (Waikari), 1 at $486; J. D. Ballantyne (Ashburton Gorge), 7 at $582 to $632; B. J. Keenan (Diamond Harbour), 10 at $570 to $720; A. B. Byrch (Motunau), 8 at $490 to $528; J. Plaskett (Rangiora), 14 at $6BB to $792; B. McCusker (Hawarden), 2 at $590; R. J. Turpin (Little River), 3 at $615; J. E. Chisnail (Motunau), 9 at $496 to $558; Gray Brothers (Motukarara), 5 at $440 to $742; J. E. Howden (Port Levy), 1 at $778; A. W. R. Trolove (Sheffield), 10 at $540 to $622; Miss H. Parish (Omihi), 1 at $642. Heifers: Willowbank Partnership (Waikari), 9 at $358; Mrs P. Hales (Hanmer Springs), 3 at $370; Roger Hales (Hanmer Springs), 1 at $400; Fletcher Farms (Waikari), 11 at $432 to $488; R. J. and M. A. Burrows (Culverden), 4 at $396 to $450; R. D. G. Lawrence (Hawarden), 1 at $478; W. H. and S. J. Foster (Omihi), 7 at $348 to $432; G. Taylor (Hawarden), 10 at $382 to $388; J. G. Cameron (Ohoka), 1 at $392; O. J. Osborne (Leeston), 1 at $476; Mani Morell (Omihi), 2 at $380; E. J. C. Aitken (Pigeon Bay), 10 at $4lB to $518; J. and M. Bell (Wainui), 4 at $410; B. S. Whitty (Duvauchelle), 23 at $402 to $450. Cows: M., E. and C. Boyd (Kaikoura), 3 at $450 to $518; T. W. Inch (Rangiora), 2 at $5lO to $520; Lincoln College (Lincoln), 4 at $430 to $508; John Knapp (Leeston), 3 at

$3lB to $400; W. H. and S. J. Foster (Omihi), 2 at $434; J. G. Cameron (Ohoka), 2 at $356; Armstrong Brothers (Ohoka), 8 at $402 to $540; W. G; Cameron (Leeston), 1 at $512; Estate J. S. Scott (Heathcote), 5 at $517; Wenburn Farm (Southbridge), 3 at $4OO. Dairy cows A yarding of six dairy cows had a full clearance with prices reaching $405 for a springing Friesian cow. Two Friesian heifers with calves at foot made $385 and $330 and three springing Friesian heifers sold at $390 and $332 (two). Bobby calves Bobby calves continued to meet a very strong market and most Friesian bulls sold between $9O to $l5O. Most Friesian heifers were $B4 to $96, beef-cross bulls $l2O to $162 and beef-cross heifers $94 to $ll6. The yarding was 80. Prime pigs A small yarding of prime pigs had another excellent sale. Competition was strong throughout as top pigs reached $212. Choppers were in good demand also and sold to $220,. Values' were:— Light pork, $l2O to $145. Medium to heavy pork, $l5O to $l7O.

Light to medium bacon, $lBO to $202. Heavy bacon, to $212. Light choppers, $l4O to $l6O. Heavy choppers, $lBO to $220. Store choppers, $7O to $9O.

Store pigs Competition was widespread for a big yarding of store pigs. All types of pigs were keenly sought and the best pigs reached $lOO. Most weaners sold between $57 and $65. Values were.— Small weaners, $45 to $53. Good weaners, $57 to $65.. Slips and small stores, $6B to $BO. Large stores, to $lOO.