Higher Values At Addington

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26848, 12 August 1948, Page 4

Higher Values At Addington

p.A, CHRISTCHURCH, Aug. 11. Prices for fat wethers and ewes (except show stock) at Addington market to-day were the highest on recordwethers selling to 119 s Id and ewes to 99s Id. After the exceptional sale last week, when wethers sold up to 114 s 7d and ewes up to 87s Id, it was thought that the peak had been reached. There are few fat sheep about and it appears that there will be several more short yardings and that prices may rise further.

Stock agents from Rakaia and Ellesmere districts, two of the main fattening areas, said to-day that they had very few more fat sheep to bring forward. The supply of ewes to-day was very small and inadequate for requirements. Until lambing is finished and farmers know how many dry ewes they have, it is doubtful if the supply will improve. About the middle of March, when the winter feed prospects were doubtful, a number of farmers who fatten wethers for winter markets changed over to breeding ewes. The entry of fat sheep to-day was only about 2150, smaller than last week’s short yarding. After a slow start at prices about last weeks’ levels, ewes rose about 5s and met a steady' demand throughout at higher prices. The wether market was inclined to be erratic, but overall values were about 2s higher. Some wethers were about 10s dearer and others did not reach last week’s levels. Until the sale last week, wethers at no stage this year had realised the price old ewes made to-day.