Lamb prices stay relatively firm

Press, 28 September 1988, Page 28

Lamb prices stay relatively firm

Lamb prices remained relatively firm in spite of the largest lamb yarding of the season at the Addington market yesterday. Some medium-weight animals dropped about $1 in value, but the sale achieved a good clearance rate and heavy stock sold well. The large yarding was because of farmers quitting large numbers of end-of-season lambs. A large yarding in the adult-sheep section had a more marked effect, with prices slipping during the sale and closing $2 behind last week. Chopper prices were also hit by a large yarding in the pig section, with values tumbling $2O on last week. The opposite was the case in the cattle section, where a small yarding saw "prices firm by $25 to $3O a head for good-quality stock. Prime lambs The large yarding of lambs was made up of many heavy ram lambs and a large percentage of end-of-season lambs, some of which were breaking their two-teeth. In spite of the large number offered for sale (2659 compared with 1164 last week), the sale was strong, slipping only $1 for mediumweight animals. Large ram lambs, wethers and cryptorchids all sold well. Exceptional sales reached as much as $35.50 for lines of woolly Romney cross rams from Willowdene Poultry Farm at Scargill, and woolly Corriedale rams from W. H. Rutherford, of Culverden. Values were: Heavy lambs, $22 to $2B, with odd sales of $35.50. Medium lambs, $l7 to $2l. Light lambs, $l4 to $l7. Spring lambs, $16.40 to $23.40. Sales included.— W. H. Rutherford (Culverden), 33 at $33 to $35.50; N. P. Thomas (Kaikoura), 83 at $18.40 to $2O; K. M. Fowler (Halkett), 8 at $17.20; Cartwheel Enterprises (Springbank), 69 at $22.40 to $25; Coleridge Downs (Lake Coleridge), 109 at $16.60 to $19.80; Edale Partnership (Waiau), 70 at $l4 to $16.80; P. J. Gallagher (Culverden), 55 at $15.60 to $17.80; F. F. and J. M. Wilding (Parnassus), 71 at $22 to $27.40; S. H. Holland, Ltd (Cheviot), 52 at $18.40 to $21.40; L. R. Wilkinson (Cheviot), 48 at $17.80 to $21.60; Jamison Brothers (Cheviot), 22 at $l7 to $24.40; The Willows Partnership (Culverden), 60 at $15.60 to $19.20; P. R. and E. C. Page (Springbank), 60 at $16.20 to $23.40; D. McKay (Halkett), 98 at $14.20 to $2O; Rossendale Holdings (Halswell), 75 at $16.80 to $18.80; Blandville Farm (Springston), 101 at $25.40 to $28.20; J. Rutherford (Sumner), 115 at $15.80 to $20.20; F. A. Bull (Sheffield), 22 at $16.60 to $21.60; E. R. Ashby (Darfield), 39 at $l4 to $l6; Miss L. Dalzell (Culverden), 47 at $l7 to $24.80; Evesham Partnership (Motunau), 29 at $lB to $25.60; Willowdene Poultry Farm (Scargill), 9 at $3O to $35.50; L. Burney (Motukarara), 45 at $21.80 to $24.60; G. Chamberlain (Irwell), 20 at $14.40 to $15.40; A. E. Elliot (Cheviot),

20 at $16.20 to $21.60; E. D. and V. M. Marshall (Duvauchelle), 12 at $17.40 to $26.20; G. Tate (Darfield), 42 at $16.20 to $17.20; Gibson Brothers (Lees Valley), 39 at $20.40 to $25.20; L. A. and S. A. Pamham (Lakeside), 9 spring lambs at $18.20 to $21.40. Prime sheep A large yarding of adult sheep brought prices for heavy and medium stock down as the sale progressed. Although the sale started at last week’s rates, it dropped by $1 midway through and was back as much as $2 at the close. Lighter animals were not affected by the drop. A good selection of lighter and heavier animals was offered to buyers. Few two-tooths were offered, but four-tooths also saw a drop of up to $2 on last week. The yarding totalled 2077 compared with 1838 last week. Values were: Heavy ewes, to $l3 with odd sales to $15.80. Medium ewes, $B, to $ll. Light ewes, $6 to $B. Sales included.— Old ewes: N. C. Greenwood (Southbridge), 29 at $l3 to $13.60; P. W. and K. J. Pearce (Rakaia), 43 at $11.20 to $11.40; J. P. Murphy (Lakeside), 84 at $6.80 to $9; G. L. Baily (Southbridge), 64 at $B.BO to $12.20; M. A. Christie (Greendale), 60 at $8 to $8.80; M.-J. and A. M. Sidey (Cheviot), 22 at $lO to $l3; Monowai Partnership (Rotherham), 32 at $lO to $11.40; M. S. and J. S. Williams (Eastern Bay), 40 at $10.60 to $l3; R. W. and M. A. Manson (Brookside), 31 at $9 to $10.80; M. R. and G. R. Bindley (McQueens Valley), 26 at $10.40 to $10.80; G. H. Boyle (Broadfields), 58 at $9.60 to $11.60;.E. D. Ridgen (Greendale), 34 at $12.60 to $15.80; John McLaughlin (Lakeside), 77 at $lO to $l2; C. J. and D. J. Wyllie (BanHill), 155 at $9.60 to $11.60; K. J. Harrison (Cashmere), 20 at $10.20 to $ll. Four-tooths: E. W. Coop and Son (Port Levy), 61 at $15.20 to $18; M. A. Christie (Greendale), 80 at $l2 to $l6; L. R. Wilkinson (Cheviot), 17 at $14.20 to $16.60; Monowai Partnership (Rotherham), 30 at $14.40 to $15.40. Prime cattle Competition from buyers on a small yarding of prime cattle pushed up prices by $25 to $3O a head for good quality stock. Some of the best stock offered made $2.20 a kilogram. Large steers sold particularly well, with good competition from freezing works. A total of 252 cattle was yarded, compared with 329 last week. Values were: Heavy steers, $7OO to $BOO, with odd sales to $9OO. Medium steers, $6OO to $700; Light steers, $5OO to $5BO. Heavy heifers, $530 to $5BO. Medium heifers, $470 to $520. Light heifers, $4OO to $450. Heavy cows, $450 to $5OO, with odd sales to $550. Medium cows, $3BO to $440.

Light cows, $3OO to $350. Sales included.— Steers: Mrs A. W. Rae (Waiau), 4 at $7BO to $898; Stewart and Rae (Waiau), 3 at $752 to $818; G. D. Stanbury (Little River), 9 at $656 to $798; J. L. Wright and Co. (Hawarden), 10 at $570 to $594; T. J. Brocherie and Son (Duvauchelle), 6 at $560 to $628; T. D. Costello (Hawarden), 5 at $482 to $536; Tim Deans (Amberley), 4 at $560 to $692; I. C. Stanbury (Little River), 8 at $696 to $760; H. Harris (French Farm), 12 at $660 to $680; J. E. and V. M. Howden (Port Levy), 8 at $650 to $668; H. Williams (Halswell), 1 at $712. Heifers: T. J. Masefield (Goughs Bay), 8 at $464 to $488; Goughs Bay Partnership (Goughs Bay), 13 at $4OB to $488; Inkson and Hardaker (Omihi), 10 at $432 to $470; Stewart and Rae (Waiau), 4 at $498; W. Richards (Motukarara), 5 at $530; H. Williams (Halswell), 5 at $434 to $470. Cows: A. M. and E. D. Johns (Kaikoura), 12 at $230 to $378; Mrs P. C. Masefield (Akaroa), 4 at $398 to $406; E. J. C. Aitken (Pigeon Bay), 7 at $450 to $5OO. Bobby calves A smaller yarding of bobby calves led to a lift in prices ■yesterday. Most Friesian bulls made $5O to $BO, with heifers at $3O to $45. Beef cross bulls made $4O to $BB and heifers sold at $35 to $5O. About 200 bobby calves were yarded this week, compared with 327 last week. Dairy cows Friesian heifers ranged in price yesterday from $3OO to $365 on five lots. A Jersey heifer and heifer calf sold for $230. Prime pigs Some excellent quality pigs were offered in an exceptionally large prime pig section. Much of the yarding was heavy bacon, which sold steady on last week’s rates. Good-quality pork was also keenly sought, but was $5 to $8 back on last week. Chopper prices slumped $2O with a very large yarding being offered. Only a few heavy animals made $lBO, with most at $l2O to $l4O. Light choppers were difficult to sell. Values were: Light pork, $lOO to $ll5. Heavy pork, $l2O to $l3O. Light to medium bacon, $145 to $l6O. Heavy bacon, $l7O to $lBO with odd sales to $lBB. Light choppers, $lOO to $l2O. Heavy choppers, $l3O to $l6O. Heavy boars, to $l9O. Store pigs A large yarding of store pigs sold much better than last week with the help of a widespread buying gallery. The yarding had two outstanding lines of small stores and most pig prices were $8 ahead of last week. Top store pigs made $lOO, and a good line of slips made $B4. Small weaners also met with good buyer inquiry. Values were: Small weaners, $3O to $37. Good weaners, $42 to $55. Slips and small stores, $6O to $75. Large stores, to $lOO.