ADDINGTON YARDS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17755, 27 January 1926, Page 8

ADDINGTON YARDS.

TO-DAY’S SALE. As a result of the renewal of the trouble at the freezing works, the demand for fat lambs at the weekly stqck sale at Addington to-day was by no means active, and, compared with late rates, a considerable decline in prices was recorded. One of the largest firms -was not operating at all and competition from others was limited, arid this naturally had an adverse effect on the market. There was a large offering of lambs, farmers no doubt having sent their stuff forward expecting that the sale would be held under normal conditions. The offering of fat sheep was larger than has been the case for two or three weeks. H? comprised ten races, one more than last week. The freezing trouble also had an effect on the store sheep sale. At the start store lambs were down on last week to the extent of 2s 6d a. head. But later on prices showed a slight tendency to improve. Forward store wethers were also cheaper than at the previous sale. STORE SHEEP. There was a very large entry of store sheep, including consignments from many parts of the country. The first drafts of the season from the Gisborne district were forward, and a considerable number from the West Coast. A large proportion of the entry consisted of lambs. There was a. good attendance at the sale, hut the uncertainty in the freezing industry was reflected 1n the sale, buyers operating very cautiously with the result that prices of lambs fell to the extent of 2s 6d a head. Later on, however, prices for lambs showed a slight tendency to improve. Odd lots of good class ewes were offered and these sold fairly well. A line of four and five-year-old ewes from North Canterbury made 2Ss 6d. The North Island sheep met with a. fair sale 1n the early stages of the market. Forward sorts of wethers were back considerably on late rates, but the easing was not so pronounced in the case of backward two-tooths. FAT LAMBS. * A heavy yarding of over 5000 head, most of them gdod prime sorts. With two of the principal export firms being affected by the gb-slow tactics and the others hourly uncertain of what might happen, the market was very sluggish The export repreaentatiyesjtiought sparingly, but butchers bought their full proportion whilst, graziers competed, freely for the light©? conditioned sorts. The heavy entry was absorbed by all the various buying elements, but at a definite drop in values, particularly for over-weights and light-conditioned sorts. Heavy lambs averaged from 7Jd to 8d per pound, practically three farthings per pound under schedule, but the ‘firsts” quality stuff showed a smaller drop than this. Generally values were from 2s to 2s 6d per head cheaper. Values were:— Extra prime lambs. 31s to 35s Prime lambs, 28s to 30s. Medium lambs, 25s 9d to 27s Pd LJgTTt. lambs, 23s 9d to 25s 6d. Store lambs, 21s lOd to 23s 6d. FAT CATTLE. A slightly smaller entry, and generally the quality was mediocre. Cows l predominated. For this c.la,ss there was : an easing, hut good steer beef sold at little tllfferer.ee to last week, there being a good sale of this class.