MUTTON UP AGAIN.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16943, 18 January 1923, Page 7

MUTTON UP AGAIN.

SUMMARY OF YESTERDAY’S STOCK SALE. There was a very small yarding of fat sheep at the metropolitan weekly market at Addington yesterday and. as a result, prices showed a sharp advance on late rates. Last week’s values for beef and lamb were fully maintained. The entry of fat cattle totalled 40-5 head, compared with 353 last week. Very prime steers were again in short supply, the bulk of the entry consisting of unfinished steers and medium cows. Old cattle were not so numerous as at some recent sales, and so very low prices were not so frequent. The sal© was a brisk one throughout, ! and. in spite of the larger yarding,_ last week’s improved prices were fully maintained. Probably the better demand for beef was due to the short yarding of mutton and the high price of lamb, j Well finished beef made from 30s 6d to 33s per 1001 b. medium from 27s to 30s, unfinished from 23s to 265, and old cow beef from 17s 6d to 21s. The entry of fat sheep consisted of only seven lightly filled races, the smallest yarding seen at Addington for a long time. No sheep were forward from places outsiide Canterbury. Prime sheep formed a fair proportion of the entry. On account of the short yarding there was a pronounced rise in values, opening prices being from 2s to 3s per head above late rates. This improvement was maintained until the last race was reached, when values eased, particularly for ewes and light wethers. Prime wethers were in very short supply and some big prices were obtained for them. Only a very small proportion of the yarding went to the freezing buyers, the prices ruling being generally above their limits. Wether mutton made from GJd to 7d per lb and ewe from 6d to 6ld. The yarding of fat la«*’r»s totalled 6160 head, compared with 3430 last week. The entry included a larger proportion of light lambs than usual. A number of station drafts were forward from North Canterbury and Banks Peninsula. The export buyers operated freely and secured the bulk, of the yarding at prices fully s equal to tho.se of last week. The per lb price paid by the freezers ranged from to 10Jd. whilst butchers paid a fraction more for lambs. Tbe yarding of store cattle was a small one. Tt consisted chiefly of cows and bulls, very few big steers or good heifers being forwnr<v Not many yearling animals were offered either. All classes met with a good demand and the sale was the best for some time. Bulls showed a big rise on late rates, making up to £7 per head. Fiftyseven dairy cattle were yarded, compared with seventy-five last week. Within limits the demand was firm for good cows and heifers and as the sale progressed prices for these showed a tendency to harden. Inferior stuff was not in demand. A good ( entry of fat pigs was forward and there was a decidedly better demand for baconers, but an over supply of porkers sent pork values down. The entry of store pigs was not a large one and there was a keen demand, with the result that prices rose well above recent rates. The demand for weaners was particularly brisk. Following are ranges of values: PAT CATTLE. Extra prime steers, £l4 10s to £l6 15s. Prime steers. £ll 15s to £l4. Medium steers, £9 10h to £ll 10s. Light and unfinished steers, £7 10s to £9 ss. Prime heifers, £7 17s Gd to £9 12s 6d. Ordinary heifers, £.4 5s to £7 10s. Extra prime cows. £S 15s to £lO ss. Prime cows. £6 10s to £8 10s. Ordinary cows. £5 to £6 7s 6d. Old cows. £3 15e to £4 17s 6d. FAT SHEEP. Extra prime wethers 87s 6d to 425, a few special to 465. Prime wethers 33s to 87s. Medium wethers 31s to 33s 3d. Eight wethers 270 3d to 30s 9d. Extra prime ewes 33s to 355, a few special to 375. Prime ewes 30s 6d to 32s 9d. Medium ewes 27s 3d to 30s. Light ewes 24s 6d to 275. Old ewes 20a to 23s 6d. FAT EA MBS. Extra prime lambs. 33s 3d to 35s 6d. Prime iambs, 29a 6d to 335. Medium lambs, 26s 6d to ‘29s. Light and unfinished lambs, 23s 6d to 26s 3d. STORE CATTLE. Three-year-old steers £5 ss. Two-year-old steers -£3 10s. Eighteen-months to two-year-old heifers '£2 10s to £3 ss. Good hulls £4 to £7. Small hulls to £3 10s. Good cows to £2 10s. Medium cows £1 10s to £2. Inferior and old cows 15s to £1 ss. DAIRY CATTLE. Extra good second, third and fourth cal vers, springing, to £lO. Medium to good second, third and fourth calvers, springing, £4 10s to £B. Extra good springing heifers to £lO 10s. Medium to good springing neifers £4 10s to £B* Aged and inferior cows to £2 15s. PIGS. Choppers £2 10s to £4. Light hrconers £2 17s to £3 ss. Heavy baconers £3 10s to £3 15s. Extra heavy baconers to £4. Average price per lb s*d to 6d. Light porkers £2 to £2 4s. Heavy porkers £2 fis to £2 10s. Average price per lb Hd to Td. Large stores 38s to 41s. Medium stores 28s to 355. Small stores IBs to 265. Good weaners 16s to 21s. Other weaners 11s to 15s. Sows in pig to £3 19s.