ADDINGTON STOCK MARKET.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLIII, Issue 222, 16 September 1909, Page 7

ADDINGTON STOCK MARKET.

[PBESS ASSOCIATION.!

| CHRISTCHURCH, Sept. 15. At the Addington yards to-day there were medium entries of stock and a good attendance of buyers. Despite the advance in fat sheep, the yarding was smaller than last week, barely 2000 being offered, and consequently prices showed a marked advance". Lambs were offered in greater numbers than last week, and prices showed a decline. Fat cattle maintained late rates, and good pigs met with a ready sale.

There was keen demand for store sheep and prices for hoggets and wethers represented an advance of Is 3d to Is 6d. About 500 store sheep were yarded. The entry comprised a few pens of aged ewes with lambs, a pen each of wethers and wether hoggets and ewe hoggets, and two pens of hoggets of mixed sexes. No doubt on account of improved feed prospects, due to recent rain, there was a keen demand, and the sale was particularly brisk. For hoggets and wethers prices realised represented an advance of from Is t 3d to Is 6d per head as compared with prices ruling for the same class of sheep at the previous sale. Buyers did not bid so keenly for aged ,ewes with lambs, and this class sold at late rates. Wethers brought 14s 7d, or fully Is 6d above recent values; half bred wether hoggets made 12s Id, ewe hoggets (medium) 13s, medium lines of mixed sexes 10s lid, and small and inferior sorts 8s la. A line of inferior crossbred ewes and lambs made 4s 7d, and a rather better line 7s, all counted., ... . .

The yarding of this season's fat lambs was much larger than at any previous sale, and the supply was more than sufficient to meet all requirements. Prices consequently showed a decline amounting to 2s per head. Lambs, according to age and condition, sold at from 10s 6d to 18s. Owing to short supply the aemand for fat sheep was very keen, and resulted in an almost phenomenal advance in values, prices as compared with the previous week showing an appreciation equal to about 4s per head. It must also be remembered that last week's prices were equivalent to an advance of from 2s 6d to 35,, compared with those ruling on September Ist. As regards quality the general average of the sheep offered was about on a par with those entered at the two previous sales, arid the 'enhanced values of to-day's sale are attributed entirely to short supply. An opinion* was expressed at the yards that a full market would result in bringing values back to what they were at the beginning of the month. All lines were keenly competed for, and in some instances sheep which a fortnight ago would have realised 14s to 15s changed hands to-day at prices up to 245. The range of prices was: Prime wethers 19s to 275, extra to 345; ewes-15s 6d to 22s 8d; merino wethers 14s Id to 20s 7d; hoggets 15s 6d to 17s 9d. ,

The yarding of fat cattle, numbering 239 head, included some very good animals, but the demand for the lighter class of beef was scarcely up to that of last week, although there was no appreciable fall in values. For heavier fats recent rates were maintained. Steers made from £6 10s to £10 17s 6d, extra to £12 ss; heifers £5 17s 6d to £9 17s 6d, and dry cows £4 17s 6d to £8 15s. Best steer beef realised, 20s 6d to 22s 6d, medium 18s 6d to 20s, and cow and inferior beef 16s 6d to 18s. V

Fat veal calves were well represented iii numbers, but the quality was indifferent, the greater part of the yarding being very small in size. The demand was good, and prices ranged from 4s 6d to 545.

There was a medium yarding of store cattle, the bulk being from Southland. The quality throughout was indifferent, and the demand weak, particularly for cattle from outside Canterbury. Yearlings made £1 2s, fifteen to eighteen months sorts £1 14s to £2, two-year steers £3 2s 6d to £3 3s 6d, two-year heifers £2 os to £2 10s, tfiree-year steers £6 Is, three-year heifers £4 2s, dry cows £1 Is to £3 11s.

Dairy cows: The entry comprised a mixed lot of only fair quality. There was a good demand for best quality, but poorer sorts were neglected. Prices ranged from £3 10s to £8 7s 6d.

Fat pigs were yarded in comparatively small numbers, but there was a very full yarding of stores. Th© demand for fats was good, and little difficulty was experienced in ■ placing lines. Choppers realised, to 80s, heavy baconers 58s to 655, and lighter 48a to 575, equivalent to 4|d per lb. Heavy porkers made 40s to 475, a>nd fighter from 35s to 39s< equal to from s£d to sjd per lb. Considering the large entry stores sold very well, but the demand for smaller sorts was not so keen as at the previous sale. Good stores made 28s to 34s and medium 22s to 275; small weaners made 12s and good sorts to 21s.