ADDINGTON MARKET

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 79, 13 January 1944, Page 1

ADDINGTON MARKET

RANGE OF PRICES ’’ Christchurch, Jan. 12. At the Addington market there I was an all-round decrease in entries , to-day. A moderate supply of good . quality beef caused an improvement in the fat cattle section, an advance - of up to 30s a head being recorded 5 for best steers and heifers. Ewes again predominated in the fat sheep yarding. Best young sheep showed a rise and good young wethers also s shared in the increase. i The store sheep entry comprised mostly lambs, and these attracted a ' large attendance of buyers, includ- [ ing visitors from South Canterbury, [ Otago and Southland. In spite of adverse conditions, these lambs sold at satisfactory prices. Because of the large yarding, prices in the fat pig section showed 5 a slight easing. The fat sheep entry was about 4000, against 4300 last week, and it : again comprised mostly ewes, there being a scarcity of young wethers. The quality generally showed an improvement, but there was still a big proportion of unfinished ewes. Any good wethers met a strong demand, and the average rise was 2s ’ a head on last week. Good quality ewes showed a similar increase and freezing lines sold well up to schedule. Freezing buyers were not operating freely, and apparently had buying limits, but nevertheless there was a satisfactory clearance in all 1 grades. The store sheep entry increased from 3070 last week to 8900 to-day, store lambs totalling 8040, the bulk of the entry. There was an exceptionally large attendance of buyers, and in spite of the continued dry weather the sale was good. A temporary opening drop of Is 6d a head was soon recovered, and the price was maintained or slightly advanced on last week’s values. Fat cattle: Two-thirds of the yarding of 538 fat cattle were cows, the highest proportion recalled by many old identities of the market. The drop from last week’s total of 690 and also the moderate supply of good quality stock caused an improvement in values for these classes. There was not much alteration in prices for the best heavy steers, but other prime lines appreciated by up to 30s a head. On good handy sizes the improvement was about £i, but on all other lines the market was steady. There were not many pens of heavy bullocks and the supply of nice handy weights was barely sufficient for butchers’ requirements. The abnormally dry weather and deteriorating in the feed position was given as the reason for the early and heavy culling of cows beef made from 51s to 55s a 1001 b: good, 45s to 475; medium, 40s to 445; and ordinary, to 38s. • F ?u pigs: There was a large entry m the porker section, but the sale was dull, very few buyers operating this was caused by the shortage of labour and the large numbers wait•ng to be killed at the works. The easing all round would average 3s to 5s a head. Choppers were in medium supply and the sale was firmer values being better by 10 s a head Ihe bacon entry was also large, ano here again competition was anything but keen, with a drop of 4s to 5s throughout. —P.A.