COMMERCIAL

Grey River Argus, 14 April 1916, Page 4

COMMERCIAL

ADDINGTON STOCK MARKET. ! There were again . large entries of sheep, especially storesi and there was also an increase in fat cattle. There was a good attendance. Fat .cattle sold at last week's rates for l.rime, and other descriptions were ry.ll ci easier. Prime fat lambs maintained their value, and light sorts were cic.wn slower of sale, and passings were about 6d per head. Store shrep were more frequent. Fat sheep barely r< ach ed last week's prices. Store cattle were rather slow of sale, and \--gi. were in good demand. Store Sheep. — The yarding of sion sheep was an extremely large c ne, occupying almost ever}' available pen. Ewes of all grades again formed the greater part of the yarding, the balance being made up of a fair wirier of lambs, including some vry forward lines, and a relatively • mall proportion of wethers. The demand, owing no doubt to many buyers having already secured all the sheep th ,v require for the current reason, was scarcely as good as last week, competition showing less briskness. These remarks apply to all classes of sheep., but more especially to ewes, the allround quality of which was better for some time past. On account of Mr. A. W. Rutherford, sen., (Meudip. Hills), a noticeably fine line of 124 four and six-tooth ewes, realised 25* Bd. The range of prices was :—Forward lambs', 13s to 15s Gd ; ordinary lambs, us 6d to 12s gd; cull lambs. 5s gd to its; wether lambs, us id tc us 2d; two-tooth ewes, 15s gd ; fou? and six-tooth ewes, 20s 6d to 25s Sd : six and eight-tooth ewes, 13s 6d to 14^ 3d; four ,six and eight-tooth ewes, 1 5t 8d; six-tooth ewes, 13s gd to 245: four and six-tooth ewes, 17s to igr gd ; two-tooth wethers, 15s Sd to 16s 4d ;four and six-tooth wethers, tSs yd to 20s gd. Fat Lambs. — There was a somewhat larger yai'ding of. fat lambs, the total being 5408, and the quality rangjed from pi-ime to light-conditioned sorts that were practically only for- ] I ward stores. The demand was gooc ! for prime lambs, and unfinished were; down a little. The range of prices was: — Extra prime lambs, to 25s 6d ; prime lambs, 21s to 24s gd; others. 15s 4d to 20s 6d. Fat Sheep. — There were about nine races filled with fat' sheep. Although there w.as a good demand, prices, especially for anything not quite prime., were barely equal to those of last week Several expert buyers were operating. The range of prices was : Extra prime wethers, to 31s 6d ; prime wetheis, 24s to 27s i.id; others, 15s lod to 23s 6d ;extra prime ewes, to 27s gd ; prime ewes, 23s to 26s 3d ;medium, 1 8s to 22s 6d; others, us 4d to 17s 6d.. . Fat Cattle. — The entries in the fat cattle section were of fairly large proportions, the yarding aggregating 327 head, against 251 last- week, 327 on March .29th, .245 on March 22nd, 231 on March 15th and 350 on March Sth. Quality, taking the yarding- e.s ? whole, was exceptionally well-grown and well-iinished bullocks, whilst on the other hand, there was a smallei proportion of secondary quality. Thfe demand for prime beef was fairly keen, the prices showing no change compared with the rates current at last week's sale, but competition foi secondary quality showed an all-round casing tendency. Quotations ne:— Extra prime steers, to .£2O ss ; ordinary steers, £iS 17s 6d to ,£l2 10s: extra prime heifers, to 15s; ordinary heifers, £7 to £ii; e:\tra prime cows, to £17 15s; ordinary cows, £7 to £10. Vealers.— Veal calves were excellent-, ly represented as far as numbers were concerned, all descriptions being pen ned. The competition showed no material change from recent sales, and values remained largely, unchanged. Representative prices were from Ss to 60s, extra to 85s. Store Cattle. — There was a fail yarding of store, cattle, and beyond z few good lines the quality being large ly indifferent, cows forming a large proportion of the yarding. The de inand, except for the best sorts, w'a: spiritless. Quotations are:— Fifteer to 18-month steers, £$ ; two-year heifers, £3 7s 6d to £4 ss; two and ahalf .year steers, £6 iSs; three-yea' steers, £8 2s 6d; three-year heifers £5 5s to £$ 12s 6d ; four and five-yeai '.steers (West Coast), £i); dry cows, 30^ io'£6'''iss'. -■ .. J

Dairy Cows.— A fairly large number of dairy cows came forward, the bulk being of inferior quality, with a small proportion of nice cows. There was a good demand for the best sorts, but the poorer sorts were neglected. Prices ranged from ,£3 10s to .£9 for ordinary sorts,, extra realising to £15 ss. Pigs. — Fat pigs were represented by a laitfe entry. The quality was good, unfinished pig's being- less numerous ■ban usual. There was a good all round demand, and prices showed an improvement. Quotations arc : — Chop pers, sos to J3OS; extra heavy bacon-' ers, to 105s ; heavy baconers, 75s to 90s ; light baconers, SS.S to 70s ; price per lb, 6£d to 6^d ; heavy porkers, 46s to 525 ; light porkers, 38s to 425 ; price per lb, 7^d to Bd. Store pigs were represented by an entry of medium proportions, but the sale, "owing in a measure to the absence of a southern buyer, who was a large purchaser at recent sales, was decidedly weak. Some very large stores were penned. Quotations are: — Extra large stores, to 535; large stores, 37s to 425; medium stores, 2Ss to 355; small stores, 16s to 265; weaners, 6s to 12s.