ADDINGTON MARKET

Greymouth Evening Star, 4 October 1945, Page 8

ADDINGTON MARKET

MUTTON PRICES SOAR

With only 3,000 penned after several light entries, fat sheep values at yesterday’s Addington market soared to a level unknown at the market. Wether's of best quality made from 65/- to 83/1, and best ewes from 56/to 70/-. The advance averaged 5/- a head. Fat cattle recovered a drop of 20/- made last week. The market was sound for all classes of store sheep and prices did not show any change on those of last week. The highest price for ewe hoggets was 39/- for a pen of 70 Rom-ney-cross and another pen of 74 of similar breed made 36/9, while 60 sold for 35/6. A pen of 28 Down wethei’ hoggets made 28/3, and other sales included: 76 at 27/3, 65 at 27/3, 70 at 25/6, 63 at 25/6, and 62 at 23/9. There was also a satisfactory sale for ewes and lambs. One pen of 50 ewes and 30 lambs sold for 19/3, all counted.

The entry of Spring lambs was 90 and included some well finished lots. There was keen demand and high prices recorded. A draft of 24 sold from 32/1 to 45/1, and the best price was 52/1. There were some prime sheep in the fat hoggets section, and prices reached 61/1, the highest for the season. Values were: Extra prime hoggets, 54/1 to 61/1. Medium-weight hoggets, 26/7 to 31/1. Light and unfinished, 22/4 to 26/7. There was a sensational increase in the already peak prices in the fat sheep section, and as butchers were either out or short of supplies there was a general scramble for all grades. There was an overall increase of 4/or 5/-, but some sheep advanced 8/-. The highest price for a wether was 83/I—a record. Values were:—Extra prime wethers, to 83/1. Prime wethers, 70/7 to 75/1. Prime mediym-

weight wethers, 49/7 to 57/1. Light wethers, to 43/-. Extra prime young ewes, to 70/1. Extra prime aged ewes, to 59/-. Prime ewes, 46/1 to 52/7. Medium ewes, 33/7 to 37/7. i Light ewes, 25/- to 28/1. There was a good showing of prime l ; finished steers in the fat cattle sec- ■ tion, the percentage of the best grade . being the highest for some time. Competition was keen and last week’s ' drop of 20/- was recovered and there were other improvements. Values were: Extra prime steers, £24 to £2B/17/6. Prime steers, £2l to £23 10/-. Prime medium-weight steers, £l7/10/- to- £2O/10/-. Ordinary steers, £l4/10/-to £ 16. Extra prime heifers, to £2l/2/6. Prime heifers, ■ £l4 to £l6. Medium heifers, £ll 15/- to £l3/10/-. Extra prime cows, • to £lB/12/6. Prime cows, £l2 to : £l4/5/-. Medium cows. £9 to £ll 10/-. ' I

The entry of vealers was again small and of mixed quality, but there was a keen sale, prices increasing by 5/- a head. Large vealers made from £B/16/- to £lO/13/6, others £5 16/- to £B/3/6; best suckers, £5/6/to £7/1/-, medium £3/18/6 to £5 3/6; large calves 55/- to 75/-, medium 36/- to 53/-, and small and rough 4/- to 34/-. Little in the store cattle section ap- I pealed, but these were competed for. There was minor interest for the predominance of cows. The dairy cattle section included a | better showing and values, easier at | the outset, firmed as the sale progressed to the extent of 15/- to 20/a head. Best second, third and fourth calvers made from £l2 to £l6/10/-;

good average sorts,' £9 to £ll/10/-; others, including aged, inferior, low conditioned, and unattractive sorts, £4 to £B/5/-. Best heifers, £ll to £l4; medium to good sorts, £B/10/-, to £lO/10/-; others, £5/10/- to £7 15/-. The porker entry was small, but the demad was keen and values were 2/- or 3/- better 4han last week. The chopper sale was excellent, last) week’s rates being maintained. The market for baconers was erratic, good quality sorts selling well. Values were: Light porkers. 58/6 to £3/6/6; medium, £3/7/6 to £3/12/6; heavy, £3/14/6 to £4/8/6; choppers, £5; 8/6 to £l9/18/6. Light baconers, £4 9/6 to £4/17/6; medium, £4/19/6 to £5/9/6: heavy, £5/14/6 to £6/2/6;' extra heavy, £6/4/6 to £"6/14/6. i Average price per lb 9d. I The store pig market, which in-; eluded some good sorts, improved by'2/- to 3/-. Values were: Small wean- ; ers, 28/- to 34/-; best, 38/- to 42/;: S slips, 43/- to 46/-; small stores, 48/- P

to 52/-; medium, 54/- to 56/-; larp"., 58/- to 64/-.