COMMERCIAL

Grey River Argus, 3 February 1917, Page 3

COMMERCIAL

__ —^ ; ADDINGTON MARKET. The yarding of fat cattle was smaller than last week, but there were larger offering's of fat lambs and fat sheep. V Store sheep, of which the bulk were lambs, also found': a large yarding, and there was a good entry of store cattle. There was a fair attendance. Fat cattle opened . easier, but recovered towards the end of the sale, and the same course characterised the fat lamb market, which was down to is 6d per head at the commencement of the sale, but better at th_> close. Fat sheep also opened a little easier, but firmed up to, and in some cases beyond, last week's values. Store sheep met with a good sale for forward sorts, and for the t>etter classes of ewes, but backward ann inferior descriptions were easier. Store cattle pigs, and dairy cows sold well. Store Sheep. — Store sheep came rorward in large numbers, lambs comprising the bulk of the yarding, but there was a better proportion of «j\ves. the quality of which was generally good.' Lambs were of average duality, with some good forward lines The wethers were generally inferior. There was keen enquiry for all lines of good forward sheep, and particularly for ewes, but backward lines were dull of sale, and prices for these were lower. Passings at times were heavy, chiefly of good lines. West Coast and Southland were represented in the offering. The following was the rangre of prices: Mixed se:i^, lambs, 13s *a 235; ewe lambs, 15s 2d to iSs .\d\ wether lambs, 14s gd to 23s id; twotooth ewes, 23s 4d to 33s qcT; two and four-tooth ewes, 28s to 35s 8d ; four and six-tooth ewes. 26s od ; four, six. and eight-tooth ewes, 26s 6d to 33s 6d ; sound-mouth ewes, 27s id; twotooth wethers, 17s 5d to 25s nd; two and four-tooth wethers, 25s to 26s 3d: four and six-tooth wethers, 25s to 25s 6d ; two, four, and six-tooth wethers, 16s Qd to 30s; four-tooth wethers, 17s Od to 235; merino wethers, iis 7d to 15s id. Fat Lambs. — The yarding of fat lambs was larger than last week, totalling 4475 as against 3981, and tho quality was not as good, there being a large proportion of" light-weight and unfinished lots. The sale opened at prices about is to is 6d per head below last week's rates, but they recovered towards the end. Best lambs. 26s 6d to 30s od ; medium lambs, 22s 6d to 265; light and unfinished, 17s gd to 225. Fat. Sheep.— The yarding of fat sheep showed a good increase on last week, about nine races being- filled. Although there were some very prime lines of wethers the general quality was not equal to that of late, the sheep showing the effects of the continued dry weather. The market opened a little easier, but under keen competition from the exporters and butchers, prices soon firmed, and in some cases sales were made at higher rates than last week. Merino wethers 23s 5d to 255; prime ewes, 32s to 3SS 3d; medium ewes, 27s to 31s 6d; lighter ewes, 20s gd to 26s 6d. Fat Cattle.— The yarding of fat cattle was, smaller and totalled 31S head. The bulk of the entry consisted of light and inferior lots. A line of West Coast cattle was penned, and sold well. When the market opened the demand was slack, and prices showed an appreciable decline as compared with last week's rates, nv.t zie tone of the market soon improved, and lines were quickly cleared-r-this being facilitated by the offering of fewer single lots. Prices at the closp of the sale were 30s a head better than in the early stages, and the market closed firmer than last week. The following was the range of prices: — Extra prime steers, to £22 10s ; prime steers, £15 to ss; ordinary steers. £10 ios to £14 -15s; prime heifers, '£.11 to ,£l4; ordinary heifers, £6 15s to .£lO ios; prime cows, .£ll 15s to £15 7s 6d; ordinary cows, £8. to £11 ios. Vealers.— The yarding of vealers was up to the usual numbers, and among the stock penned was" a good proportion of well-finished catves. Small calves made from 14s to 20s. and prime vealers .£.£3, £4 io», and up to £6 15s/ Store Cattle. — The entry of storf cattle was remarkable for the large proportion of grown steers and dry cows, the former including .a consignment from the West Coast. There were also several pens of good eigh-teen-months to two-and-a-half-year-old cattle. There was a good demand. .. Dairy Cattle. — In the dairy caltl** section there was an average entry of stock, including some good-looking milch cattle in full profit or due to calve early. Aged and inferior r-^ s made £4 ios to £7, and gopd sc«U» \ £15 15s and £17 ss. • Pigs. — The entry of fat 'pigs was a small one, and the demand was keen. Prices ranged as follow-- Choppers, £3 12s to .£5 8s; extra heavy baconers, to ,£5 8s ; heavy baconers, £4 16s to £5; lighter baconers, ,£3 15s to £4 ios, equal to 7-H per pound; heavy porkers, 57s to 60s ; lighter porters, Sos to 555; equal to gd per pound (There was a large yarding of stores, ,with a keen demand. Prices ranged as follpwsj; Best stores, 52s to- f s7s; medium stores, 42s to 50s; light stores, 28s to 38s; weaners, igs to 245; sows in pig, £3 12s to £5 7s 6d.