FURTHER DROP IN LIVE STOCK PRICES AT ADDINGTON

Grey River Argus, 6 October 1949, Page 8

FURTHER DROP IN LIVE STOCK PRICES AT ADDINGTON

P.A. CHRISTCHURCH, October 5. Prices were again lower to-day at Addington Market for sheep and cattle, but pigs were mostly on a par with last week.

Store Sheep.—The entry included 703 hoggets, 2790 ewes and lambs, and 555 wethers —a total of 4048, as against 3467 last week. The big offering was a reflection of a growing uneasiness of farmers about feed prospects in the light of a recent prolonged dry spell. The sale was nevertheless a good one. Prices were down about one shilling a head.in all sections. Most of the big yarding was disposed of. In the hogget section the best price was 52s 6d for a line of half-bred ewe hoggets. Ordinary shorn ewe hoggets made 27s to 345. Shorn wether iioggets made 27s to 35s for medium to good sorts. Others were down to 20s. The ewe and lamb section was the largest of the season, consisting mainly of ewes down in the mouth, but of fair quality with good lambs. The best made to 29s 6d; medium from 22s to 265. Others were down to 13s. Among the wethers the best made 34s to 38s; ordinary were from 25s to 30s.

Spring Lambs.—The entry was 321, compared with 226 last week. Some line quality lambs were included. Over the whole sale, however, there was a decline in values of up to one shilling for best quality. Some light lines were not saleable. The best quality were 44s to 51s 7d, good 3Ss to 435, others 30s to 375.

Fat Hoggets.—The yarding was 807, against 1348 last week. The entry included many light and unfinished hoggets. Following the heavy yarding last week, the market showed a further easing of one to two shillings a head. Best shorn hoggets made 47s to 51s Id, good 38s to 465, medium and light 30s to 375.

Fat Sheep.—The entry • was 5800, against 6100 last week. It included a large proportion of plain and unfinished sorts. For the best sheep the demand was fairly steady. Prices were from par to two shillings a head lower' for wethers, and about on a par for ewes. Below the best grade, the prices were lower by up to two shillings a head for wethers, and about on e shilling for ewes. Over the final stages of the sale, the passings were frequent. Values were: Extra prime heavy wethers to 57s Id, prime heavy wethers 43s to 48s, prime medium-weight wethers 38s to 425, ordinary and light 32s to 375; extra prime heavy ewes to 45s Id, prime ewes 35s to 40s, prime mediumweight ewes 30s to 345, ordinary and light 24s to 295.

Fat Cattle.—The entry was 686, against 591 last week. Much of the entry was made up of plain sorts, not really ready for the market. The sale was generally dull. Prices were down 30s a head. In cases prices were down £2'. Best beef made to 80s per 1001 b, with some extra quality 2s 6d higher. Good beef made 52s 6d to 655, medium to 50s; best cow to 655; secondary cow to 38s. Values were: Extra prime heavy steers to £37 7s 6d, prime steers £24 10s to £2B, prime medium weight steers £lB tn £24, ordinary and light £l3 10s to £l7 10s; extra prime heifers to £3O 2s 6d, prime heifers £l3 10s to £l9, ordinary and light £8 to £l3; extra prime cows to £26 7s 6d, prime cows £ll to £lB, ordinary and plain £7 to £lO 10s. Pigs.—ln the fat pigs section there was a -"airly large entry of porkers. Competition was i'airly keen, with values about on a par with last week. The chopper entry was much larger than last week. Values were easier by about £1 a head. The baconer entry was similar to last week, and the market was firm at late rates. Values were: Light porkers £4 9s 6d to £4 16s 6d, medium porkers £4 19s 6d to £5 9s 6d, heavy porkers £5 14s 6d to £6 9s 6d; average price per lb 12d to 14d. Choppers were £5 18s 6d to £ll 8s 6d, light, baconers £6 12's 6d to £6 18s 6d, medium baconers £6 19s 6d to £7 4s 6d; heavy baconers £7 4s 6d to £7 9s 6d; average price per lb lOld to llld.