MUTTON VALUES EASE

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 19883, 9 March 1939, Page 15

MUTTON VALUES EASE

STORE SHEEP DEMAND BEEF PRICES RISE ADDINGTON MA UKET (Pur Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, this day. The absence of export buyers at the weekly stock market at Addington yesterday was mostly felt in the mutton pens. The entry in the store sheep section was about the same as that last week. There was again a free demand, caused largely, no doubt, by the light rain which fell during the progress of the sale. Decently-conditioned lambs made 10s Od to 13s, ordinary 7s to 9s, and culls down to 3s 6d. The penning of ewes included a big proportion of aged sorts, but some pens from the fairs were included and there were some good-sized lines offered. hA line of tjvo-toots sold offered. A line of two-tooths sold Chatham Islands sold at 335. Several pens of sound-mouthed improved to 10s, and ewes bought at one of the northern fairs showed an increase of about 4s a head. With the export schedule reduced from 7. I ,d to 7d per lb. for 3G’s and under, the fat lamb section had a poorer sale. The shortage of feed has' caused a rush of lambs to the works, and competition from the export trade was much reduced. The butchers had the market largely to themselves, and the bulk of the heavy lambs went at below schedule rates, and lighter sorts barely made export prices. The entry totalled about 1300, compared with 1500 last week. There was again an entry of about 5000 fat sheep, the quality being fair. As there was no competition from the exporters, and as the yarding was too large for the local trade, there was an easing in the earlier stages. Good wethers sold well, but butchers ewes were down Is Od a head, with all moderately-finished sheep down Is to Is 6d. Good wethers were only a little cheaper in the early stages. The easing developed to some extent as the sale progressed for all but the 'best wethers, primer pens making values approaching those of last week. Over the last two races there was a sharp recovery and prices of butchers sheep were practically at opening values. Extra prime heavy wethers made to 26s lOd, prime heavy 19s Od to 225, prime medium 10s 9d to 19s 3d, light to 13s Od; extra prime heavy ewes to 19s Id, prime heavy 12s Od to 15s Od, prime medium 10s to 12s, and light to 0s Od. The entry of fat cattle was smaller than for some sales, the total being 415 compared with 445 last week, there being comparatively few derelict cows. The general quality was better than usual. The market: opened at an improvement of up to 20s a head for the best medium-weight steers, and to 10s for good heifers and cows, but under-grade sorts showed only a minor improvement. The sale concluded firmly. Extra heavy steers made to £ls 12s Od, prime heavy £l3 •5s to £l4 10s, prime medium £ll to £l3 10s, and light to £8 15s; extra prime heifers to £l3 2s 6d, prime £8 10s to £9 15s, medium £6 15s to £8 ss, and light to £6 10s; extra prime cows to £ll 17s Gd, prime £6 15s to £8 10s. medium £5 5s to £6 ss, and light and aged to £4 15s. In the fat pig section porkers came forward in smaller numbers than last week, and the sale was a good dca l better than the closing rates last week. Prices remained firm until the last race, when an easing of from 2s to 3s a head occurred. Choppers were in good supply and met with an excellent demand. The bacon entry was one of the smallest so far this season. The quality generally was poor and the sale was a lifeless one. Values if anything were a shade easier. Choppers made from 56s to £5 15s, and porkers from 42s Gd to 55s Od, the average price being 6.,d to 6i!d per lb. Baconers made from 54s 6d to £4, the average price being 51 d to Gd per lb.