ADDINGTON MARKET

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXII, 26 January 1939, Page 14

ADDINGTON MARKET

(United Press Association! CHRISTCHURCH, 25th January, j With the approach of autumn and j the height of the freezing season having been reachen, entries at the weekly ; stock market at Addington are increasing rapidliy. To-day there were about 24,500 store and fat sheep and fat lambs. The store sheep entry was the largest of the season, comprising about 14,500, lambs numbered about 11,000. and wethers were more numerous than uiual. For forward and average rape lambs there was a brighter sale al about 6d a head dearer and a number of moderately sized pens made 16s 9d to 19s lOd, these being bought by companies for freezing. Rape lambs made 12s 6d to 14s lOd, but there was little change for the 10s to 12s class and this also was the case for small and backward sheep. The wether market was lifeless and most of the entry was passed in. A few ewes forward were unattractive and sold accordingly. A line of wether lambs brought 10s lOd, another 19s Id, and a third 18s 4d, a pen of first cross two-tooth ewes sold at 14s. and one of four-five year ewes at 10s 3d. The fat lamb entry totalled about 3700 as against 3200 last week. The quality ranged from very good to light and the demand was unexpectedly keen, the majority making above the export schedule rate of 7Jd a lb for first grade. Exporters as well as butchers participated, a keener market for freezing purchases showing an advance of 6d to Is, and lambs for trade made slightly more than Is in some cases. About 5750 fat sheep were penned, an increase of about 750 on last week. The quality was fair considering the large entry and heavier wethers showed an easing as the sale progressed and declined on an average of about Is a head. Bigger ewes maintained late values and all light wethers and ewes showed little change, export ewes actually being a shade firmer. Up to 11s was paid for these by the export trade and to 19s for wethers, extra prime heavy wethers making to 24s lOd, prime heavy 21s to 23s 6d, prime medium 19s to 20s 6d, light to 16s, extra prime heavy ewes to 18s lOd, prime heavy 10s to 17s 6d, prime medium 13s 9d to 15s 9d, light to 10s. The entry of fat cattle was far in excess of requirements, comprising 585 as compared with 428 last week. There was a decline in quality, the proportion of medium and inferior cows dominating the entry. Steers eased 10s and good heifers also sold at a slight decline. The excess of cows met with the greatest decline, averaging fully 15s. The slip was no more than could be expected for such a heavy penning of this class and the sale petered out at the finish. Price for cattle are:— Extra prime heavy steers to £l6 17s Gd. prime heavy £l4 to £ls ss, prime medium £l2 15s to £l3 15s, light to £9 ss, extra prime heifers to £l4 2s Gd. prime £9 10s to £lO 10s, medium £7 to £9, light £lO to £6 15s, extra prime cows to £l2 12s 6d, prime £7 10s to £9 ss, medium £5 10s to £7, light and aged to £5 ss. The yarding of fat pigs in the pork section was very heavy though the quality of much of the entry was poor. Good quality porkers remained on a par with last week but second grade and inferior were easier by 3s to 4s. came forward in medium numbers, and again met an excellent sale considering the period of the year. The baconers penned were small in number, and in spite of a drop of another id a lb in the export schedule, prices showed little change, porkers making 33s 6d to 57s Gd, an average price a 1b of 6{d to 6sd. Baconers sold at 57s Od to £4 9s 6d, an average price oj Gd to 6.',d. Choppers brought £3 3s Gd to £4 13s 6d. J