ADVANCE IN VALUES

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 19894, 23 March 1939, Page 6

ADVANCE IN VALUES

FAT SHEEP AND CATTLE PIG PRICES HIGHER ADDINGTON MARKET (Per Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, this day. With a smaller yarding of fat stock at Addington yesterday, an increase was shown in the prices for fat sheep and fat cattle. About 18,000 store sheep were penned, this being slightly- smaller than the offering last week. Fewer lambs came forward, and for rape lambs there was a firm sale, but ordinary and cull sorts were weaker. Good rape lambs made 13s to 14s lOd, medium 9s 5d to 10s 7d, and culls 3s to 4s 6d. The ewe entry contained few attractive lines, most of the twotooths being small and most of the older sheep failing-mouthed. Values were erratic, but generally the market failed by a small extent to maintain the improved level of last week’s sale line. Romney cross Chatham Island two-tooths sold at 34% but very few lines of local two-tooths reached 255. Tile best four-year sheep made to Us 6d, and a good pen of five-year | made the same figure. Older ewes failed to make prices similar to sheep at more recent fairs. Fat lambs had almost as keen a sale a s last week. The entry totalled about 1850, compared with 1500 a week ago. The quality showed a considerable improvement, with a better proportion of butchers’ sorts. Freezing buyers paid more than the schedule rate for many pens and, altogether, the sale for this class was the best for some time. The schedule of 7d per lb. for 361 b. and under for lambs remained unchanged. With more quality pens for butchers to choose from, the sale was not quite as firm as last week. The entry of fat sheep was the smallest for some time, comprising about 4000 head, and, following a small entry last week, there was another keen sale. Though some good lines came forward, a substantial proportion was on the light and unfinished side. The market opened at the full rates ruling last week, and as the sale continued there was a firming. Good ewes were better than last week by 2s a head, and wethers by Is 6d a head. Medium wethers and ordinary class ewes showed very little if any improvement on the level of last week. Extra prime heavy wethers made to 26s lOd, prime heavy 22s 6d to 25e, prime medium 19s to 225, and light to 14s; extra prime heavy ewes to 24s Id, prime heavy 16s 6d to 19s 6d, prime medium 11s 6d to 15s, and light to Bs. The fat cattle entry totalled 415, being 30 less than a week ago. Most of the entry was of ordinary quality. For a small proportion of good steers there was an advance of up to 15s a head. Good cows and heifers firmed by about 10s a head. There was little change in the price of ordinary cattle. Extra prime heavy steers made to £ls 17s 6d, prime heavy £l3 10s to £l4 15s, prime medium £ll 15s to £l3 10s, and light to £9; extra prime heifers to £l2 12s 6d, prime £8 10s to £9 15s, medium £6 10s to £B, and light to £6 ss; extra prime cows to £9 12s 6d, prime £7 to £8 15s, medium £5 5s to £6 10s, and light to £5. The porker entry in the fat pig section was a good deal larger than last week. However, all the best quality pigs met with a good sale at slightly lower than last week’s level. Plain and unfinished sorts were easier by 2s to 3s a head. Choppers were in medium supply and sold well at last week’s level. Baconers came forward in smaller numbers and the sale was excellent throughout, the best quality pigs being 2s to 3s a head firmer than a week ago. Choppers made 53s 6d to £6 Is, and porkers 39s 6d to 56s 6d, the average price being 6£d to 7£d per lb. Baconers made from 57s 6d to £5 Is 6d, the average being 6d to 6£d per lb.