Sheep prices ease after recent steady increases

Press, 24 August 1988, Page 32

Sheep prices ease after recent steady increases

Adult sheep were the only prime stock to fall in price at the Addington sale yards yesterday. A large yarding of mixed-quality saw sheep prices ease by $3, after steady increases in recent weeks. Lambs and cattle both continued to make improvements in price, with all cattle making $2 a kilogram or better. Prime pigs also improved in price, with some values increasing as much as $2O. Prime lambs Lambs had another good sale over all, with heavier animals still attracting prices of up to $3O and more. Medium lambs improved $1 to $2 on last week. Smaller lambs also showed a slight but steady improvement. Another small line of spring-born lambs was offered, this week from D. F. Adams, of Southbridge. These sold very well, and prices reached $24.40 for rams and $24 for ewes. A total of 1015 lambs was yarded, compared with 1215 last week. Values were: Heavy lambs, $23 to $3O with odd sales to $32.20. Medium lambs, $l7 to $22. Small lambs, $l2 to $l6. Sales included.— Mrs D. E. Pavelka (Oxford), 19 at $l9 to $26.80; Estate G. Johnson (Irwell), 25 at $l4 to $15.80; P. Nairn (Leeston), 24 at $2B to $28.80; A. G. Winter (Irwell), 27 at $18.20 to $22; N. M. and M. B. Watson (Weedons), 27 at $19.20 to $22.80; P. L. Pascoe (Charing Cross), 32 at $18.40 to $20.40; M. J. Hurford (Irwell), 75 at $14.20 to $17.20; M. E. Carter (Hanmer Springs), 24 at $2O to $22.20; J. S. L. Chambers (Southbridge), 10 at $30.80; R. E. Oakley and Son (Darfield), 39 at $l9 to $27.40; J. Creamer (Darfield), 23 at $19.20 to $24.20; B. H. and J. H. Whitmore (Rotomanu), 28 at $21.60 to $27.40; C. H. Beaton (Amberley), 27 at $15.20 to $19.40; D. F. Hanna (Sefton), 11 at $19.40 to $32.20; J. R. and H. M. Inch (Hororata), 30 at $14.40 to $15.60; F. A. Moore (Kaiapoi), 19 at $14.20 to $25.20; H. A. Patterson (Lakeside), 45 at $15.40 to $21.20; P. J. Gallagher (Culverden), 70 at $15.80 to $18.40; C. A. Maw and Sons (Rakaia), .21 at $lB.BO to $24.20; D. F. Adams (Southbridge), 8 spring ram lambs

at $lB.BO to $24.40, 16 spring ewe lambs at $19.20 to $24. Prime sheep Prices for sheep dropped $3 on last week, although the sale started well with some well-bred stock reaching $25. The fall in values was largely because of the much bigger yarding than last week and the mixed quality of animals offered. Few buyers were able to operate on the yarding of 2275. A total of 1534 was yarded last week. Values were: Heavy ewes: to $l9 with a few sales to $25. Medium ewes, $ll to $l3. Light ewes, $3 to $lO. Sales included. — Ewes: S. G. and M. R. Walker (Dunsandel), 20 at $13.80 to $15.20; P. R. and M. S. Aitken (Hawarden), 70 at $16.60 to $18.40; J. K. Morrish (Broadfields), 29 at $l2 to $18.60; E. J.’ Millar (Hawarden), 50 at $l4 to $14.80; R. E. Oakley and Sons (Hororata), 66 at $14.60 to $18.20; Concorde Farm (Yaldhurst), 45 at $14.60 to $17.40; Belmain Partnership (Dunsandel), 22 at $12.40 to $l5; D. K. and L. A. Redmond (Darfield), 55 old wethers at $l2 to $14.20; B. F. Smith (Broadfields), 44 at $ll to $l9; R. H. Foster (Rakaia), 21 at $15.60 to $16.80; A. and H. F. Don (Omihi), 92 at $lO to $17.40; Glens of Tekoa (Culverden), 96 old wethers at $7.40 to $15.20, 60 old ewes at $B.BO to $14.40; A. D. F. Neil (Ohoka), 40 second-shear wethers at $16.80; D. J. J. Stewart (Rakaia), 83 old ewes at $10.20 to $19.40; J. E. Austin (View Hill), 44 at $12.80 to $16.80, 20 four-tooths at $l5 to $l6; Estate R. W. Fleming (Scargill), 39 four-tooths at $15.80 to $17.20; A. K. Shadbolt (Springston), 11 twotooths at $18.60. Prime cattle All cattle sold at $2 a kilogram or more, with higher prices being paid for lighter stock and animals of very good quality. The over-all quality was mixed with a small number of good butchers-quality cattle, which were consequently highly sought by buyers. Occasional sales were made as high as 210 c and 215 c a kilogram, but most prime steers and heifers to 220 kg sold between 200 c and 205 c a kilogram; from 220 kg to 270 kg, 200 c to 205 c; and over 270 kg, 200 c to 205 c.

The yarding was 244 compared with 288 last week. Values were.— Heavy steers, to $B2B. Medium steers, $570 to $6BO. Light steers, $440 to $550. Heavy heifers, to $570 with odd sales to $6lO. Medium heifers, $430 to $490. Light heifers, $4OO to $420. Heavy cows, to $570. Medium cows, $3BO to $430. Light cows, $2OO to $360. Sales included.— Steers: J. J. Lochhead (Omihi), 11 at $624 to $828; C. T. and B. A. Twose (Waikari), 2 at $682 and $798; T. J. Masefield (Goughs Bay), 3 at $680; Miss Jean Anderson (Charteris Bay), 9 at $614 to $684; C. F. and M. C. Stokes (Waikuku), 3 at $442 to $722; B. G. and H. L. Lang (Waipara), 2 at $520 and $600; R. E. and G. V. Topp (Rotherham), 3 at $532 to $636; Mt Benger Partnership (Hurunui), 9 at $572 to $576; D. A.'Miller (Culverden), 3 at $614. Heifers: Alec McLean (Omihi), 4 at $412; T. J. Brocherie (French Farm), 10 at $438 to $460; T. J. Masefield (Goughs Bay), 11 at $432 to $484; D. W. and F. J. Smith (Sheffield), 9 at $450 to $492; P. H. Letham and Son (Ashburton), 4 at $572 to $610; W. Richards (Motukarara), 5 at $520. Cows: Doone Partnership (Waiau), 20 at $l9B to $224; W. R. Hardwick (Greenpark), 3 at $426; Moore Brothers (Grimseys Road), 2 at $3BO and $490; J.. A. Carmichael (Templeton), 1 at $570. Stores: Scarborough Hill Farm (Christchurch), 10 Simmental cows at $4lO. Dairy cows Springing Friesian heifers and those with calves at foot made $225 to $250 in the dairy section. Cows made up to $330, with an A. I. bred cow due to a Murray Grey selling at $345. * Two Ayreshires sold at $240 and $250 and two Jerseys made $240 and $252. A milking Shorthorn with calf sold at $265. All 17 entries were sold. Bobby calves Most Friesian bulls made $6O to $BO, with heifers selling at $3O to $54. Beef cross bulls made $4O to $6O and beef cross heifers sold at $3O to $5O. The quality of the 270 calves yarded was better than last week. Last week’s yarding was 254. Store sheep Much of the yarding of

adult sheep was of average quality with very few pens of top-quality stock.

Prices for heavier animals were firm on last week, but light fattening ewes dropped about $3 and were much harder to sell. The better in-lamb ewes sold between $16.25 and $18.50, and the best woolly ewes and lambs sold to $12.50. Small-to-medium Romney and Romney cross ewe lambs sold at $ll to $12.75. Mixed-sex lambs made up to $l4, with medium lambs selling at $8 to $lO and very small animals at' $5; A large number of poorerquality lambs, which had been wintered for too long, was offered for sale. The yarding comprised about 1350 adult sheep (2542 last week) and 1200 lambs (2672). Sales included:— Two-tooths: A. K. Shadbolt (Greenpark), 56 shorn mated Romneys at $18; C. Tuck (Oxford), 160 mated woolly Romney cross at $17.25 to $2l Adults: C. Tuck (Oxford), 292 mixed-aged mated woolly Romney cross at $16.25. to $17.25. Prime pigs ■ A small yarding of goodquality pigs showed a $l5 to $2O increase in prices on last week’s sale. Top baconers sold to $175. A small yarding of choppers also sold well with good-quality pigs about $lO ahead of last week. Top choppers made to $195. Values were.— Light pork, $95 to $lO5. Medium to heavy pork, $llO to $125. Light to medium bacon, $l3O to $145. Heavy bacon, to $l6O, with odd sales to $175. Store pigs The quality of the mediumsized yarding of store pigs was generally excellent, although too many small weaners were offered. Prices eased about $5 for these on last week’s excellent sale. Good slips and small stores met keen demand from buyers and improved $8 to $lO in prices in a buoyant sale. Best stores sold to $BO and top slips made $7O. . Values were: Small weaners, $3O to $37. Good weaners, $4O to $5O. Slips and small stores, $55 to $7O. . Large stores, $7O to $BO.