Increase in Beef Prices

Greymouth Evening Star, 1 August 1946, Page 4

Increase in Beef Prices

Yesterday’s Addington

Market

There was a sharp rise in beef prices at yesterday’s Addington market and 70/- and more was paid per 1001 b for best beef. Store ewes again sold well, but fat sheep were back by 1/- to 1/6 a head. Store Sheep.— The nest price foi hoggets was 31/—. Wether hoggets made to 24/3 for the best, with good from 19/- to 22/-. The best price lor ewes was 36/9 for 57 Romney halfbred four-year-olds. Two other lines of halfbreds made 33/- and 30/-. Good ewes made 26/9 to 28/~ and wethers sold to 23/6. Fat Lambs—Last week’s values were maintained, though the offering vzas too large for butchers’ requirements. Values were: Extra prime lambs, to 45/7; prime lambs, 36/- to 39/-; good lambs, 30/- to 35/-; medium and light lambs, 24/- to 28/-. Fat Sheep.— The quality of the offering was less attractive this week ,and towards the end of the sale interest was non-existent. Prices dropped an average of 1/- to 1/6 a head. Values were: Extra prime heavy wethers, to 58/1; extra prime wethers, 35/6 to 41/6; prime med-ium-weight wethers, 30/- to 35/-; ordinary and light wethers, 21/6 to 28/6; extra prime maiden ewes, to 48/1; extra prime ewes, 21/- to 44/1; prime ewes, 18/- to 26/-; medium and light ewes, 12/- to 17/6. Fat Cattle.— The yarding was too small for the demand and of high quality. Values opened at £2 a head better than last week and some extra prime steers improved by £3. There was no slackening in demand throughout the sale. Best beef made to 67/6 per 1001 b, with some sales at more than 70/-; good beef, 50/- to 57/6; medium beef, 40/- to 47/6; best cow beef, to 50/-; secondary cow beef, to 35/-. Values were: Extra prime heavy steers, to £33/2/6; prime steers, £2l to £25/10/-; prime medium-weight steers, £lB to £2O/10/-; extra prime heifers, to £24/7/6; prime heifers, £l5/10/- to £l7; medium heifers, £ll/10/- to £l5; ordinary heifers, £9/10/- to £11; extra prime cows, to £l9/12/6; prime cows, £ll/10/- to £l3; medium and light cows, £B/10/- to £ll. Vealers. —The quality of the offering was slightly better than last week’s. Values were: Large vealers, £B/3/6 to £ll/1/-; others, £6/1/to £7/18/6; best suckers, £5/18/6 to £7/11/-; medium suckers, £4/3/6 to £5/16/-; large calves, 65/- to 82/-; small and rough, 22/- to 45/-. Store Cattle. — There was a keen demand for all classes. Some Polled Angus steers made £l2/13/6 to £l3 2/-. The calves made £4/10/- to £5, with poorer-conditioned sorts at £3/10/-. The best of the cows made £6/1/- to £7/18/6, and cows suitable for fattening £3/13/6 to £5 16/-, according to condition. Dairy Cattle. — Over the later stages of the sale there was a slight easing in values for all classes. Best second, third, and fourth calvers made from £l4 to £l9, good average sorts £9/10/- to £l3, and low conditioned and late calvers £6 to £B/10/-. Best heifers made £l2 to £l5, medium to good £9/10/- to £ll/10/-, and others £7 to £9/5/-. Fat Pigs.—Large pigs were keenly sought, but Lighter sorts showed little change in values. Values were: Light porkers, £3/2/6 to £3/12/6; medium porkers, £3/14/6 to £3/19/6; heavy porkers, £4/2/6 to £4/9/6; choppers, £9/18/6 to £l7/11/-; light baconers, £4/19/6 to £5/7/6; medium baconers, £5/9/6 to £5/17/6; heavy baconers, £6/4/6 to £6/19/6; extra heavy baconers, £7/3/6 to £9 4/6. Average price per lb, 91d to 10;}d. . , Store Pigs.— Values showed little change. Values were: 'Small weaners, 27/- to 32/-; best weaners, 34/to 38/-; slips, 39/- to 42/-; small stores, 44/- to 48/-; medium stores, 50/- to 56/-; large stores, 58/- to 66/-.