Quality shortage pushes prime prices up

Press, 15 February 1989, Page 30

Quality shortage pushes prime prices up

A shortage of good-quality stock in North Canterbury and a good demand from butchers, helped push up prices for prime stock at the Addington market again this week. Rises were recorded in the cattle, lamb and sheep markets with the biggest increases made by the heaviest stock in each section. Pigs were the only prime stock not to show an increase in price. Much of the largely poorer-quality yarding was not wanted by buyers. Prime lambs A rise in schedule rates, a good demand from buyers and a shortage of good-qual-ity stock helped lamb prices to increase $3 on last week’s sale. The rise was particularly noticeable with medium and heavy-weight animals.

Several sales were made at $3O or more, with $35.80 being paid for a pen from R. J. Middleton, of Springston. Lighter lambs were not wanted and at first showed

no increase in price but later improved about $l. The yarding contained 1624 lambs, compared with 1198 last week.

Values were: Heavy lambs, $25 to $3O, with odd sales to $35.80. Medium lambs, $l9 to $24. Light lambs, $ll to $l7. Sales included.— Blank Brothers (Yaldhurst), 15 at $29.20 to $30.40; R. Walker (Fernside), 14 at $19.60 to $23.80; R. P. Creadon (Clarkville), 77 at $16.40 to $22.40; R. J. Middleton (Springston), 3 at $28.80 to $35.80; R. Misservy (Broomfield), 18 at $19.80 to $25.60; C. A. Burrows (Culverden), 15 at $14.60 to $25.40; Canterbury Timber Products, 76 at $16.60 to $19.40; J. D. R. White (Little River), 10 at $24.80 to $2B; D. C. Gilbert (Leeston), 7 at $18.20 to $25.80; S. Piper (Tuahiwi), 13 at $22.60 to $26.60; J. M. Rutherford (Redcliffs), 58 at $l6 to $24.60; J. E. Sunbeam

(Rolleston), 138 at $12.60 to $16.80; Mrs A. E. Parkinson (Taitapu), 40 at $20.80 to $22.40; G. B. Bedford (Prebbleton), 49 at $19.40 to $21.40; D. E. Patten (Little River), 94 at $19.60 to $21.20; N. Coatson (Weedons), 52 at $23.20 to $31.80; Mrs E. Bedford (Rakaia), $28.20 to $32; Lincoln College Research Farm, 23 at $l7 to $25.40; B. D. and H. A. Marshall (Rangiora), 8 at $23.40 to $2B; N. J. Moorehead (Southbridge), 12 at $l9 to $26.60; F. A. Moore (Kaiapoi), 38 at $18.60 to $26.60; E. M. Barnes, 20 at $20.40 to $25.20; Auchenflower Farm (Darfield), 101 at $16.20 to $20.60. Prime sheep

A shortage of heavy butchers ewes helped prices to improve again this week. The sale started on a similar level to last week but strengthened half-way through to add $1 or $1.50 to the values. Prices eased again as the sale neared the end.

A small number of hoggets was offered, with the best stock making $2O to $24 and medium hoggets at $l7 to $l9. The yarding was 2693, compared with 2230 last wppk Values were: Heavy shorn old ewes, $lO to $l4, with woolly ewes to $l7. Medium old ewes, $9 to $lO. Light old ewes, $6 to $B. Sales included.— Old ewes: Glenstrae Parntership (Oaro), 102 at $7.40 to $10.20; M. G. Craw (Port Levy), 36 at $10.40 to $12.20; T. L. and M. G. Clucas (Hororata), 88 at $8.60 to $2O; Mrs M. M. Turner (Greendale), 52 at $7.60 to $9; N. N. Morris (West Melton), 42 at $4 to $8.20; L. Hastie (Templeton), 26 at $5.80 to $11; J. S. Rutherford (Waiau), 61 at $7.40 to $8.80; Inniskillen Farm Partnership (Culverden), 54 at $8 to 10.60; D.

R. Shipley (Harewood), 66 at $9.20 to $13.80; G. Lucas (Aylesbury), 98 at $8 to $10.80; Morchard Account (Darfield), 70 at $8.20 to $11.60; A. J. Watkins (Springston), 23 at $l2 to $12.60; D. J. Innes (Pigeon Bay), 20 at $9.80 to $11; A. H. Rowe (Sefton), 158 at $7.80 to $9.40; S. A. McCartin (Southbridge), 24 at $lO to $14.20. Two-tooths: Mt Benger Partnership (Hurunui), 47 at $17.60 to $l9; D. Myers (Loburn), 44 wethers at $lB to $18.80; D. J. Turner (Hawarden), 30 at $18.40 to $2O. Prime cattle Good beef export prices for heavyweight cattle and a strong demand from local buyers pushed up cattle prices. The over-all quality of the yarding was good, which also helped prices. The market was topped by a steer from S. P. Hastings, Irwell, which sold at $922. Another feature was heifers from Mrs A. E. Parkinson, of Taitapu, which sold to $684, and two heifers from S. Bradshaw, Rangiora, which made $650. A strong market for cows produced sales at $548 for Mrs Parkinson and the Moore Brothers, of Ohoka. Most heavyweight steers sold at 220 c to 225 c, with some exceptional sales making as much as 230 c. Goodquality steers and heifers

made 212 c to 215 c with an occasional sale to 220 c. A total of 309 cattle was yarded, compared with 189 last week. Values were: Heavy steers, $750 to $B3O, with exceptional sales to $922. Medium steers, $6OO to $750. Light steers, $5OO to $5BO. Heavy heifers, $550 to $620, with exceptional sales to $684. Medium heifers, $5OO to $560. Light heifers, $3BO to $470. Heavy cows, $4OO to $5OO, with exceptional sales to $548. Medium cows, $340 to $3BO. Ligt)t cows, $2BO to $320. Sales included.— Steers: D. R. Shipley (Harewood), 144 at $604 to $750; N. D. Shipley (Harewood), 10 at $536 to $580; S. P. Hastings (Irwell), 4 at $BBO to $922; W. A. and F. R. Partridge (Killinchy), 7 at $7OB to $856; Mt Benger Partnership (Hurunui), 3 at $634; Mrs E. A. Frazier (Rangiora), 1 at $634; W. R. Hamilton (Lakeside), 9 at $576 to $624; Mrs P. J. Masefield (Akaroa), 8 at $BO6 to $830; McVicker Farm (Kaiapoi), 1 at $768; K. Bailey (Chorlton), 10 at $664 to $778; P. T. Welsh (Taitapu), 10 at $548 to $662; Snowdale Parthership (Oxford), 12 at $512 to $534; R. E. and J. Y. Winterslow (Chorlton), $4BO to $518; A. R.

Dalglish (Le Bons Bay), 15 at $622 to $714; J. D. R. White (Little River), 9 at $6BB to $702; R. W. Watson (Prices Valley), 7 at $670 to $730; S. Bradshaw (Rangiora), 2 at $662; R. P. and Mrs L. A. M. Wright (Little River), 1 at $6BB. Heifers: D. A. and N. J. Adams (Lincoln), 9 at $448 to $522; Mrs A. E. Parkinson (Taitapu), 7 at $492 to $684; Goughs Bay Partnership (Goughs Bay), 3 at $492; W. R. Ensor (Bullock Creek), 2 at $560; M. Terras (Leeston), 8 at $330 to $492; Moore Brothers (Ohoka), 1 at $748; I. R. and A. S. Craw (Chorlton), 3 at $452 to $500; S. Bradshaw (Rangiora), 2 at $650; R. P. and Mrs L. A. M. Wright (Little River), 1 at $596; D. Rowell (Amberley), 2 at $522; W. A. Madden (Doyleston), 1 at $498; M. R. and M. E. Fletcher (Prebbleton), 2 at $490; R. W. Watson (Prices Valley), 4 at $452. Cows: Goughs Bay Partnership (Goughs Bay), 8 at $432 to $518; Moore Brothers (Ohoka), 1 at $548; Mrs A. E. Parkinson (Taitapu), 1 at $548. Bobby calves Bobbies had a strong sale yesterday, with most Friesian bulls making $74 to $lOO and heifers at $72 to $lO4. Beef cross bulls sold at $7B to $lO6 and heifers made $7O to $BB. About 95 calves were yarded. Prime pigs

A surprisingly large entry

of mixed-quality stock in the prime-pig section had a disappointing sale. Only good-quality baconers met with any competition. Porkers and overfat pigs were virtually unwanted. Top baconers sold to $l5O, with most sales at $l2O to $l3O. Few porkers made $lOO. An exceptionally big yarding of choppers met with reasonable demand although prices were consistently $2O to $3O back on last week. Heavy boars were $5O back on last week.

Values were: Light pork, $7O to $BO. Heavy pork, $BO to $9O. Light and medium bacon, $lOO to $ll5. Heavy bacon, $l2O to $l4O. Light choppers, $llO to $l5O. Heavy choppers, $l6O to $lBO with odd sales of heavy boars to $250. Store pigs A large yarding of store pigs sold at rates similar to last week. The quality was generally good and, although there was no outside buying inquiry, local buyers were able to support the market. Breeding stock had a reasonable sale with in-pig sows to $220 and a sow and litter to $350.

Values were: Small weaners, $2O to $3O. Good weaners, $33 to $4O. Slips and small stores, $45 to $55.

Large stores, $6O to $65.