SHARP ADVANCE FOR FAT SHEEP

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 78, 25 June 1943, Page 2

SHARP ADVANCE FOR FAT SHEEP

BEEF VALUES EASIER Christchurch, June 24. A belief that fat sheep are not plentiful in the province at present was supported by the very small mutton entry at Addington. Two small consecutive yardings resulted in the sharpest advance of tbe season. On an average values were about 4s a head better for all quality sheep. The few fat lambs on offer were eagerly snapped up by butchers at good prices, and breeding ewes were also in strong request, many buyers being unsupplied. Another heavy entry of fat cattle met with an easing except for the best quality. STORE SHEEP There was a slight increase in the store sheep entry, the total being 1490 as against 1186 last week. Ewes accounted for 1087 of the number, the decline being of lambs and wethers. Buying power was again strongly in evidence, everything offering meeting with keen competition from buyers representative of most districts. Prices as a result were very firm at the recently improved rates. FAT LAMBS With the end of the freezing season the fat lamb market has practically disappeared, and only 398 were penned, about half the number of last week. Lidding was very keen and prices showed a rise of up to 2s a head. Good lambs made from 33s lOd to 37s 4d, and some particularly prime weighty sorts to 44 f s 7d. Medium sorts realised from 26s 4d to 32s Id, and light from 23s lOd to 25s 4d. FAT SHEEP The penning of fat sheep was again a small one, the total being fewer than 3000 head. Values were as under:— Extra prime wethers, to 47s 10d. Prime wethers, 37s to 40s. Prime medium weight wethers, 33s 6d to 36s 6d. Ordinary wethers 30s *.o 335. Light wethers, to 295. Extra prime ewes, to 38s Id. Prime ewes, 31s 6d to 34a 6d. Prime medium-weight ewes, 27s to 30s. Ordinary ewes. 22s to 25s Light ewes, to 21s. FAT CATTLE There was again a heavy penning in the fat cattle section, the number being 600 as against 636 last week. Values were as under:— Extra prime steers to £2l 12s 6d. Prime steers, £l7 10s to £l9 ss. Prime medium-weight, £l4 5s to £l6 10s. Ordinary, £lO 15s to £l4. Light, to £lO 10s. Extra prime heifers, to £l4 12s 6d. Prime heifers, £lO 10s to £l2 10s. Medium heifers, £7 to £9 ss. Light heifers, to £7. Extra prime cows, to £l4 2s 6d. Prime cows, £9 to £lO 10s. Medium, £5 15s to £B. Light cows, to £5 10s. VEALERS An increased yarding of vealers held only a few quality runners, the balance being of definitely inferior class, but with a good attendance of local graziers these met a ready sale, prices improving by about 3s a head. Values were:— Best runners, to £ll 3s 6d; medium and good, £6 14s to £9. Best vealers, to £6 ss; average, £3 10s to £4 17s 6d. Large calves, to 555: medium to 42s 6d; small, down to 7s 6d. The store cattle market has lost its tone over recent weeks, and yesterday there was a small yarding which lacked cattle of any character. The best pen of two and a half year-old Hereford steers made £9 18s 6d and there were a number of lighter pens of Hereford cross steers, which made about £8 3s 6d. DAIRY CATTLE Poor class cows comprised the bulk of the dairy cattle entry of 77, and while there was a good sale for the few good cows close to profit or just calved, values for the inferior balance of the yarding could be marked down fully 50s a head on last week’s rates. An outstanding Friesian cross cow topped the market at £2O. Values were:— Good second and third calvers, £l2 to £ls; medium, £lO 10s to £ll 17s 6d; average, £7 10s to £9 10s; backward springers and inferior sorts, £4 10s to £6 10s; best heifers, to £lB 10s; good heifers, to £l2 10s; medium. £9 to £ll ss; small and backward, £5 10s to £B. FAT PIGS The slightly smaller entry of porkers at last week’s market was repeated again. All classes met with keen competition at schedule rates. Values were as under:— Light porkers, 39s 6d to 47s 6d; medium, 52s 6d to £3 2s 6d; heavy, £3 4s 6d to £3 14s 6d; average price per lb, Bd. Choppers, £4 5s to £8 8s 6d. Light baconers, £3 17s 6d to £4 7s 6d; medium, £4 8s 6d to £4 17s 6d; heavy, £4 19s 6d to £5 14s 6d; average price per lb, 8d to Bsd. STORE PIGS The store pig entry was again small, there being very little for buyers to choose from. The yarding was comprised practically all of medium and large stores. Values all round were from 2s to 3s a head better, as follows: Weaners, l4s to 17s. Small stores, 23s to 28s. Medium stores, 30s to 345. Large stores, to 39s 6d.