Top lambs, cattle attract good prices

Press, 19 July 1989, Page 29

Top lambs, cattle attract good prices

Increasing lamb prices levelled off at last week’s high values with top lambs still attracting more than $4O at the Addington saleyards yesterday. Although better quality, heavy lambs showed little movement in prices with a $2 to $3 rise noticed among the lighter stock. Cattle prices also continued at recent high levels with best steers selling at $3 a kilogram or more as a shortage of quality stock forced buyers into strong competition. Lighter prime sheep dropped in price but heavy sheep recorded a $2 rise on last week’s sale. Prime lambs A larger number of buyers than usual responded well to a selection of good quality lambs. Prices for light to medium lambs improved by $2 to $3 while heavier lambs continued to attract last week’s good prices. Prices reached $44 for good heavy, woolly lambs with a surprising number selling for more than $3B. Only the very light, poor quality lambs made less than $22. The first spring lambs of the season to be sold at Addington made $23, 80 to $28.80. The yarding totalled 1107, compared with 1845 last week. Values were: Heavy lambs, $32 to $3B with occasional sales to $44. Medium iambs, $26 to $32. Light lambs, $22 to $26. Sales included: B. R. Hyde (Avonhead Road), 35 at $26.20 to $26.80; M. G. Stevens (Irwell), 11 at $528.20 to $29.40; I. J. and V. A. Man (Broadfields), 15 at $3O to $33.60; Morrish Farming Co. (Broadfields), 33 at $3O to $34.20; D. S. Taylor (Oxford) 40 at $24.20 to $26.80; Rutherford Farming Co. 22 at $27 to $43; A. W. Warren (Prebbleton), 42 at $37.50 to $4O; Robert Johnson (West Yaldhurst), 10 at $36.50 to $3B; G. Beaz (Kaiapoi), 8 at $37; B. Churchwood (Swannanoa), 8 at $27 to $29; B. H. Croft (Amberley), 31 at $27.40 to $30.60; G. J. and J. P. Marshall (Darfield), 49 at $29.20 to $35.60; Westhaven Partnership (Culverden), 48

at $25.60 to $33.40; M. R. and A. M. McDonald (Sheffield), 116 at $27.60 to $35.40; Thomas Holdings (Kaikoura), 25 at $27 to $29.60; W. J. Bamford (Hawarden), 27 at $19.20 to $27; J. A. Youngman (Darfield), 76 at $29 to $3O; H. S. Little (Methven), 13 at $28.80 to $29.20; D. K. Rutherford (Hawarden), 20 at $25.80 to $27.80; D. W. and I. D. Syme (Darfield), 20 at $29 to $39.60; D. W. Tyson (Springston), 20 at $28.40 to $30.40; L. A. Block (Southbridge), 12 spring lambs at $23 to $28.80; P. J. M. Coleman (Amberley), 15 at $27.20 to $27.80; Estate J. and Mrs J. Earl (Springfield), 24 at $25.20 to $30.60; M. E. Carter (Hanmer Springs), 19 at $28.60 to $32; B. F. Hawkins (Springfield), 13 at $24.40 to $36; J. A. Francis (Darfield), 19 at $25.60 to $27.80. Prime sheep

A lack of interest from buyers in lighter ewes saw prices for these sheep fall by $1.50 to $2. This was balanced by a $2 rise in values for heavy ewes and twotooths.

P. R. and N. S. Aitken, of Hawarden, were paid up to $32.40 for ewes and R. M. Lilley, of Coopers Creek, sold ewes at $32.20.

The increase in price for heavier stock was helped by another small yarding of just 969, compared with 1090 last week. Values were: Heavy woolly ewes, $22 to $32.40. Heavy shorn ewes, $l7 to $22. Medium ewes, $l4 to $l6. Light ewes, $9 to $l3. Heavy woolly two-tooths, to $29.80. Heavy shorn two-tooths, to $25. Medium two-tooths, $2l to $22.50. Light two-tooths, $lB to $2O. Sales included: Old ewes: J. A. Francis (Darfield), 50 at $18.60 to $21.60; P. R. and N. S. Aitken (Hawarden), 43 at $27.20 to $32.40; D. T. Allen (Culverden) 23 at $20.20 to $21.40; Marble Point (Hanmer Springs), 53 at $17.80 to $2O; G. J. and B. J. Johnston (Springfield), 19 at $22 to $23; Kahautara Farm (Kirwee), 23 at $23 to $26; F. C. Ridgen and Company

(Greendale), 31 at $12.40 to $26; Morrish Farming Partnership (Broadfields), 51 at $14.80 to $19.80; R. M. Lilley (Coopers Creek), 79 at $14.40 to $32.20; Deans Brothers (Blyth Valley), 23 at $14.40 to $18.40; B. Rivers (Irwell), 28 at $l4 to $26.20. Two-tooths: G. and T. Robertson (Little River), 46 at $19.60 to $21.40; S. J. Bruce (Rakaia), 15 at $24.20 to $25; Deans Brothers (Cheviot), 35 at $23.40 to $27.20; D. K. Rutherford (Hawarden), 84 at $25.40 to $29.80; Pahau Pastures (Culverden), 59 at $23 to $25.20; W. D. and D. N. Coburn (Loburn), 34 at $28.80 to $29.40; J. R. Power (Swannanoa), 19 at $21.20 to $25; J. A. Francis (Darfield), 38 at $21.80 to $23. Prime cattle

Although the quality of the total yarding was mixed, the best animals had a very buoyant sale with prices remaining at last week’s . high levels.

The best of the prime cattle continued to sell at $3 a kilogram or more with lightweight finished cattle at $2.80 a kilogram and unfinished cattle selling at $2.60 to $2.70. The stronger export schedules, a lower New Zealand dollar and a shortage of good quality cattle were responsible for strong competition among buyers and the resulting good prices. A much bigger yarding of 339 cattle was offered, compared with 196 last week. Values were: Heavy steers, $BOO to $950 with exceptional sales to $llOO. Medium steers, $6BO to $750. Light steers, $550 to $640. Heavy heifer, $620 to $750 with exceptional sales at $BO2 and $lOO2. Medium heifers, $520 to $6OO. Light heifers, $440 to $5OO. Heavy cows, to $650. Medium cows, $4BO to $540. Light cows, $3BO to $430. Boner cows, $270 to $3OO. Sales included: - Steers: Thornycroft Farm (Leeston), 2 at $670 to $730; L. A. Buchan (Ashburton), 3 at $6BO to $880; P. K. and S. K. Herbert (Glenmark), 3 at $924 to $950; P. C. Nairn

(Leeston), 3 at $664 to $730; R. G. and J. G. S. Pearce (Hoon Hay), 3 at $B5O to $902; Living Spring Trust (Governors Bay), 8 at $772 to $848; T. Brocherie and Son (Duvauchelle), 10 at $672 to $722; D. A. Ross (Ashburton), 4 at $730 to $762; C. J. Barker (Brooklands), 5 at $1070; B. Rivers (Lincoln), 3 at $B2B to $870; A. W. and L. N. Davis (Amberley), 2 at $862 to $1130; J. A. Hart (Ashburton), 11 at $760 to $920; S. P. Hastings (Irwell), 4 at $590 to $895; D. N. Stevens (Ashburton), 7 at $B7O to $1000; B. R. Barclay (Irwell), 4 at $834 to $B6O. Heifers: P. K. and S. K. Herbert (Glenmark), 3 at $6OO to $802; C. V. Saunders, and Son (Ashburton), 1 at $1002; D. N. Stevens (Ashburton), 3 at $670; Rammone Farm (Greendale), 1 at $755; J. K. Fincham (Hawarden), 18 at $412 to $538; W. A. and A. W. Booker (Hawarden), 5 at $550 to $602; Island Holdings (Ashburton), 5 at $4lO to

$490; T. W. Gulliver (Sedgemere), 3 at $562. Cows: Davaar, Ltd (Greta Valley), 23 at $358 to $572; Flaxmere Farm (Ellesmere), 2 at $598 to $662; McKenzie Charitable Foundation (Ashburton), 5 at $528; G. J. and L. D. Miller (Kaiapoi), 1 at $622. Stores: J. K. Moir (Kaikoura), 13 Hereford heifers at $386; B. Allen (Blenheim), 19 Hereford heifer calves at $290. Bobby calves

A smaller yarding saw little change in prices from last week. Most Friesian . bulls sold at $BB to $120; with heifers at $6B to $120.-' Beef cross bulls sold at $B4 to $ll4 and heifers made $44 to $76. A total of 89 bobbies ■ was yarded. Store sheep The market for breeding ewes was relatively unchanged from, lastt week. Good woolly mated ewes made up to $3O, with medium ewes at $lB to $25 and light

.mated ewes from $l5. Several freezer ewes were yarded and sold at $lO to $l2 for good ewes, $7 to $lO for medium ewes, and from $5 for lighter ewes. Good autumn-shorn store / lambs sold at $l7 to $25, with mediums at $l2 to $l4 and light lambs from $7. A total of 940 adult sheep was yarded, and 440 lambs. Sales included: Adult sheep: Murray Christie (Springston), 70 Romneys at $27.25. Prime pigs A mixed quality yarding of prime pigs had a reasonble sale according to schedule rates. With export schedules discounting overfat pigs, buyers were not keen on this type of pig. The problem was largely confined to the baconer market. The few porkers offered had a good sale. A large yarding of good quality choppers also had a good sale and values improved on last week. A heavy

boar sold at $3OO. Values were: Heavy bacon, $l6O to $l7O. Light to medium bacon, $145 to $l6O. Pork, $l2O to $135 with occasional sales to $l4O. Heavy choppers, $220 to $240 with occasional sales to $3OO. Medium choppers, $l5O to $lBO. Light choppers, $lOO to $llO. Store pigs A small yarding of mixed quality store pigs had a sound sale and one pen of weaners reached $BO. A large yarding of breeding sows met little inquiry from buyers and only the good quality sows made $350. Some sows were difficult to sell. Values were: Good weaners, $5O to $7O with occasional sales to $BO. Small weaners, $3O to $45. Slips and small stores, $6O to $BO with exceptional sales to $9B.