Encouraging rises in beef, lamb prices

Press, 13 May 1987, Page 36

Encouraging rises in beef, lamb prices

Small rises in beef and prime lamb prices at the Addington market yesterday were encouraging signs for farmers. The strengthening in the beef market, although only marginal, was helped by a drop in the number of cattle yarded. The lamb yarding, however, was of a similar size to last week’s big total and the rise in price was caused by increased demand. Woolly old ewes sold very well, but in the prime pig section only top quality bacon attracted more than a passing interest Prime lambs Strong outside competition helped the prime lamb market recover some of the ground lost last week when prices eased about $1.50 a head. The bulk of the yarding comprised light or medium lambs which sold steadily between $22 and $25. Odd sales of heavy ram lambs made $36 to $4O while a small offering of good quality heavy butchers’ types made from $2B to $32. The sound inquiry for lighter lambs saw very few pens make less than $2l.

The total yarding was 2354 compared with 2450 last week. Values were:— Heavy ram lambs, to $4O. Heavy lambs, $26 to $3l. Medium lambs, $22 to $24. Light lambs, $l9 to $22.

Sales included:— R. E. and J. Y. Winterburn

(Chorlton), 57 at $l9 to $32.80; L. R. and G. L. Kingsbury (Ashburton), 51 at $23.40 to $24.40; D. W. McKinnon (Ashburton), 33 at $24 to $34; J. F. Ridge and Sons (Methven), 105 at $24.20 to $25.40; A. J. and F. D. Phillips (Broadfield), 16 at $3B to $4O; Molesworth Farm (Hanmer Springs), 48 at $28.60 to $31.40; W. J. Bell (Springston), 32 at $26.60 to $29.80; R. J. Wright (Dunsandel), 71 at $25.60 to $3l; R. J. Watson (Halkett), 67 at $25 to $26.20; J. O’Malley (Broadfield), 35 at $26.60 to $32.20; N. D. and P. D. Thomas (Yaldhurst), 96 at $26.80 to $30.40; H. W. Williams (Ladbrooks), 87 at $27.40 to $3l; W. Harris (Hororata), 100 at $23.60 to $25; B. W. and P. A. Shaw (Oxford), 67 at $23 to $24.80; A. W. Taylor (Rolleston), 38 at $34.40 to $3B; V. B. Jensen (Waikari), 25 at $32.60 to $34.80; Claremont Farming Company (Amberley), 28 at $22.20 to $25; J. K. Fitzpatrick (Cheviot), 36 at $24.60 to $30.20; T. J. D. Weaver (Rangiora), 24 at $22.60 to $22.80; Bonnicroft Farm (Oxford), 40 at $22.80 to $28.60; A. T. Metherall (Loburn), 55 at $25.60 to $28.20. Prime sheep Woolly ewes attracted considerable interest from farmer-buyers in the prime sheep section and several pens of ewes with good pelts ranged from $l9 to $23. The price of heavy shorn

ewes, eased back by up to $1.50 a head, but medium and light condition ewes had a stronger sale. Many pens of medium ewes in good order ranged from $l3 to $l5 while heavy butchers’ ewes were $l6 to $lB. A small yarding of hoggets underwent a slight firming in price, most medium to good stock making $2O to $24. Good four-tooths made $l6 to $lB. The total yarding was 1960 compared with 1868 last week. Values were:— Best old ewes, to $17.60, with woolly ewes to $23. Medium old ewes, $l3 to $l5. Light old ewes, $ll to $12.60. Best hoggets, to $25. Medium hoggets, $2O to $22. Sales included:— Old ewes: Coleridge Downs (Rakaia Gorge), 188 at $14.80 to $16.80; P. J. Gallagher (Culverden), 37 at $2O to $22.40; G. C. Parfitt (Rangiora), 53 at $l5 to $20.40; J. Le Compte and Son (Aylesbury), 96 at $16.60 to $l7; Hindmarsh Farm (Tai Tapu), 51 wethers at $16.80; Mrs B. Rutherford (Hawarden), 17 at $l2 to $16.80; J. F. Ridge and Son (Methven), 31 at $13.40 to $17.80; P. J. McKay (Le Bons Bay), 30 at $13.80 to $18.80; J. O’Malley (Broadfield), 29 at $l6 to $20.80; B. A. Bremner (Akaroa), 36 at $13.60 to $l6; A. L. Wolfe

(Dunsandel), 130 at $13.20 to $l6; T. J. Calder (West Melton), 106 at $17.40 to $21.60; H. A. Hartley (Okains Bay), 31 at $ll to $l7; F. X. BuU (Sheffield). 51 at $l2 to $17.80; R. J. Boleyn (Okains Bay), 41 at $15.20 to $23; S. L. and B. E. Chambers (Southbridge), 30 at $17.80 to $20.40; A. N. Chamberlain (Springston), 31 at $l3 to $l7; A. J. Duncan (Russells Flat), 84 at $l4 to $17.60. Hoggets: A. G. Lawrence (Hawarden), 19 at $22.80 to $23.60; A. N. Chamberlain (Springston), 22 at $20.60 to $25.20, and 22 four-tooths at $14.80 to $18; D. Barrer (Gebbies Pass), 23 at $22.60 to $24.20. Prime cattle A little more interest in beef was shown by butchers and processing company buyers and this resulted in a ’, much brighter sale of prime cattle. Because of this renewed enthusiasm, the market looked more solid than it has in recent weeks, although there were no major changes in price. Good quality heifers had an improved sale as did heavy steers. The bulk of the yarding of steers and heifers was in good order and this contributed to the soundness of the sale. Boner cows which have sold particularly well recently maintained recent rates.

The top price was $B5O for a steer from Grays Hills

station, of Fairlie. A Sinunental cross heifer, from B. Brown, Tai Tapu, made $496 and a line of cows from Grays Hills reached $540. The yarding was 267 compared with 397 last week. Prime steer and heifer beef to 220 kg sold between 200 c and 210 c a kilogram; from 220 kg to 270 kg, 200 c and 210 c; and over 270 kg, to 215 c. : Values were:— Prime heavy steers, to $B5O. Prime medium steers, $550 to $620. • Prime light steers, $420 to $530. Prime heavy heifers, to $5OO. Prime medium heifers, $440 to $4BO. Prime light heifers, $350 to $420. ! Prime heavy cows, to $540. Prime medium cows, $4OO to $450. Prime light cows, $260 to $3BO. Sales included:— Steers: Grays Hill station (Fairlie), 5 at $732 to $850; A. W. Taylor (Rolleston), 13 at $5lO to $644; P. T. Welsh (Halswell), 12 at $612 to $662; J. Woolfield (Rangiora), 6 at $440 to $572; W. A. and F. R. Partridge (Killinchy), 16 at $484 to $666; D. L. Mason (Little River), 6 at $700; L. R. Rhodes (Tikao Bay), 7 at $522; G. and L. Anderson (Kaikoura), 2 at $500; Mrs R. G. Pearce (Hoon Hay Valley), 3 at $588; I. C. Stanbury

(Little River), 5 at $648; Mrs S. and Miss H. Francis (Springston), 4 at $676 to $748; M. Earnshaw (Ladbrooks), 4 at $550 to $6OB. Heifers: L. R. Rhodes (Tikao Bay), 3 at $4lB to $482; B. Brown (Tai Tapu), 6 at $414 to $496; B. Whitty (Duvauchelle), 5 at $418; P. G. Shaw (Coalgate), 1 at $418; A. R. Craw and Sons (Duvauchelle), 4 at $480; R. F. Sloss (Omihi), 8 at $430 to $450; G. L. and G. E. Orr (Christchurch), 14 at $360 to $438; K. A. Gilbert (IrweU), 4 at $398 to $438. Cows: A. F. and M. J. Croft (Omihi), 8 at $4lB to $450; Grays Hills station (Fairlie), 11 at $390 to $540; F. A. Moore (Kaiapoi), 6 at $284 to $418; G. Mugford (Springston), 6 at $396 to $446; Armstrong Brothers (Ohoka), 1 at $420.

Bobby calves In a yarding of 105 bobby calves, most Friesian bulls sold between $B2 and $ll6, Friesian heifers $5O and $BB, beef cross bulls $B4 and $142, and beef cross heifers $44 and $lO6.

Dairy cows A pedigree Friesian in-calf heifer topped the dairy cow sale at $570. Two Friesian heifers with calves at foot sold at $550 and $5lO, a Friesian cow and calf made $4lO, and a third-calving, springing Friesian sold at $5OO.

Prime pigs Prices showed little change

from last week’s in a small yarding of prime pigs. Most pigs had a slow sale and only the very best quality bacon created any interest The overall quality of top yarding was mixed. A medium-sized yarding of choppers sold soundly at prices slightly back on recent sales. Late in the sale, however, good-cutting choppers reached $220. Values were:— Light pork, $B5 to $95. Medium to heavy pork, $lOO to $llO. Light to medium bacon, $ll2 to $125. Heavy bacon, to $l5O. Light Choppers, $l2O to $l6O. Heavy choppers, $l7O to $220. Heavy boars, to $285. Store pigs A. big yarding of store pigs sold reasonably well. The quality of the yarding was generally good and there was a fair selection of all types. Prices at the start of the sale showed little change from last week’s rates, but by the end of the day values had dropped $5 to $6 a head and the number of buyers declined sharply. Breeding stock sold solidly, with in-pig sows reaching $3OO. Values were:— Small weaners, $35 to $42. Good weaners, $44 to $52. Slips and small stores, $55 to $65. Large stores, to $75.