Store cattle market variable

Press, 18 December 1986, Page 45

Store cattle market variable

The approach.of the Christmas break and an easing in the beef export schedule led to an uncertain market for store cattle at Addington yesterday. The price of most yearling cattle declined $l5 to $2O a head from the rates set at the last store cattle sale two weeks ago. The market, however, was variable and prices of some of the lighter, mixed sorts of yearlings looked fully firm when compared to wellgrown traditional breeds. Good yearling steers fetched round $4OO to $420, with occasional sales reaching $5OO. Medium yearlings were $360 to $3BO. A feature of the market was the annual consignment of 295 two-year-old Hereford steers in forward condition from Mendip Hills station, Parnassus. The Mendip Hills steers sold between $472 and $5BB compared with $554 to $676 for last year’s consignment. The cattle yarding contained 750 yearlings and 500 adults. Store sheep The price of store lambs fully recovered from last week’s drop of $2 a head. A big gallery of buyers followed the sale closely and many were unable, or unwilling, to pay the increased prices.

Small lambs showed the biggest improvement in price, many rising by $3 a head. Sales of healthy lambs under $l2 were uncommon and medium lambs ranged from $l6 to $l9, with top ram lambs exceeding $2l. The over-all quality of the stock was much better than the previous week and this contributed to the stronger tone of the market.

Several good quality lines of strong-woolled sheep — including Romneys off hill blocks — were included in the yarding of 11,000 lambs.

Fine-wool and down cross sheep comprised a smaller than usual-proportion of the yarding. Cryptorchids had an exceptionally strong sale, in many cases meeting a stronger demand than ram lambs.

Among adult sheep, a line of 346 two and three-shear Merino wethers (recently shorn) from P. M. B. and M. K. Whatman, Darfield, made $19.80 to $2l. Halfbred ewe hoggets sold

at $2O, one-year mediumwoolled Romney ewes made $l5 and most light ewes fetched $5 to $B. Sales included. —

Yearling cattle: P. J. Fitzsimmons (Cheviot), 23 Angus cross heifers at $284 to $304; F. W. and S. D. Helps (Akaroa), 7 Angus steers at $352; J. C. Hiatt (Cheviot), 24 Simmental cross steers at $444 to $502; J. A. and A. A. Calder (Culverden), 24 Hereford steers at $370 to $372; Palmside station (Culverden), 15 Hereford steers at $352; Estate J. Mangels (Motukarara), 10 Hereford-Friesian cross heifers at $322; R. M. Ensor (Hanmer Springs), 55 Angus steers at $340 to $390; P. S. Northcote (Waiau), 39 Hereford steers at $364 to $410; Inverloch Farm (Scargill), 24 Hereford steers at $354 to $388; Logan Shearer (Waiau), 15 Hereford steers at $304 to $318; W. P. Belton, Ltd (Waikari), 53 Angus cross steers at $358 to $424; Mrs M. J. Harris (Omihi), 7 Angus cross steers at 382; N. A. Macfarlane (Rotherham), 104 Angus steers at $305 to $372; Benmore Graziers (Springfield), 22 Limousin cross steers at $330 to $350, and 22 heifers at $285; J. A. Little (Omihi), 12 Angus cross heifers at $332; R. I. R. and J. H. Little (Omihi), 10 Angus cross heifers at $306.

Adult cattle: S. B. Gibb (Scargill), 26 2-year-old Hereford and Hereford-Angus cross steers at $502 to $544; Blythburn Partnership (Cheviot), 10 two year Angus steers at $534; Mendip Hills station (Parnassus), 295 two year Hereford steers at $472 to $5BB.

Lambs: Wakamoa Farm (Wainui), 1154 Romney rams at $ll.BO to $21.80; P. H. Stapylton-Smith (Camp Bay), 330 wethers at $14.70 to $20.10; J. E. Howden (Port Levy), 570 wethers at $l6 to $22.60; D. W. Palmer (Amberley), 530 Romney cryptorchids at $15.20 to $2O; Lynton Downs (Kaikoura), 990 longtailed Romney rams at $17.20 to $21.60, 330 at $15.80 to $17.60; M. H. Molloy (Te Oka), 630 mixed sex Down cross at $12.40 to $20.20; Lands and Survey (Cheddar Valley, Waiau), 650 Corriedale wethers at $l2 to $lB, 280 ewes at $10.40 to $l5; Lands and Survey (Okuku Pass), 260 fine wool wethers at $lO.BO to $18.20, 490 ewes at $13.40 to $lB.