SATISFACTORY PRICES ARE RECEIVED FOR FAT SHEEP AND LAMBS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18407, 8 March 1928, Page 12

SATISFACTORY PRICES ARE RECEIVED FOR FAT SHEEP AND LAMBS.

STORE SHEEP ALSO SELL WELL AT ADDINGTON. Satisfactory prices were obtained for fat sheep and fat lambs at the weekly stock sale at Addington yesterday, and store sheep also sold well, but the market for fat cattle was dull, and, except for the best sorts, they showed a tendency to ease in price. The entry of fat cattle totalled 4/5 head, compared with just under 500 last week. The general quality was indifferent. the bulk of the offering consisting of aged and inferior cows and unfinished steers. For the greater part of the sale good beef sold at about late rates, but for medium and inferior stuff there was an easing tendency. In the closing stages there was an allround slackening in the demand, even the best sorts being affected. Prices a 1001 b were:—Primest beef 35s to 3Ss 6d, medium quality 32s 6d to 34s 6d, heavy-weight 30s to 335, medium cow beef 26s 6d to 29s 6d, secondary 24s to 265, and rough down to 22s 6d. Only between eight and nine races of fat sheep came forward, an unusually small entry. There were a few pens of really prime wethers and ewes, but most of the sheep were of medium quality downwards. As a result of the small entry the sale was a bright one throughout. It was an improving market, and, on the average, prices were better than those ruling last week by Is 6d to 2s a head for all decently finished sheep. The exporters bought some of the lighter sheep, and in most cases paid above schedule rates for them. The offering of fat lambs was small, only 2300 head being penned. The sale was a keen one throughout, late rates being fully maintained. Prime handyweight, lambs made more than schedule. Store sheep were again yarded in very large numbers, and darkness had fallen before this section of the sale was over. There was a large attendance of buyers, who were evidently on the lookout for serviceable ewes. Ewes at prices ranging from 22s to 25s were snapped up very readily, and two-tooths from the North Island also sold well. One line of North Island two-tooth ewes made 395, and there were several other sales at above 375. Good store lambs were also in demand, and, on the whole, the sale was a satisfactory one from the point of view of vendors. Store cattle met with a good demand, though one or two lines of steers were passed on account of the fact that the reserves placed on them were above buyers' ideas of values. The entry of dairy cattle totalled 70 head. Most cf | the dairies had not much in the way j of milking qualifications to recommend.i them, and they did not sell at all readily. Good sorts, however, sold readily at satisfactory prices. The number of vealers penned was not sufficient for requirements, and a considerable advance in prices was recorded. The yarding of fat pigs was of medium size. For the greater part of the sale baconers sold at late rates, but the demand went off towards the end. There was a firm demand for porkers throughout. A marked advance was recorded in the price of large store pigs, while smaller sorts sold readily on a par with last week's prices. Following are ranges of values:— FAT CATTLE. Prime heavy steers £ls 10s to £l6 17s 6d. Medium weight prime steers £l2 10s to £ls. Light and medium quality steers £7 10s to £l2. prime heifers £l3 12s 6d. FTime heifers £0 to £ll. Medium heifers £7 10s to £3 15s. Light heifers £5 to £7. Extra prime cows £l2 7s fid. Prime cows £3 10s to £lO 10s. Medium cows £6 5s to £3 ss. Light cows £4 7s 6d to £6. STORE CATTLE. Four and five-year-old station steers £8 to £9 17s 6d. Good cows £3 15s to £5. Medium cows £2 5s to £3 10s. Inferior cows £1 to £2. Bulls £3 to £B. DAIRY CATTLE. Medium sorts £6 10s to £B. Inferior and backward sorts £3 to £6. Best heifers £8 10s to £l3 15s. Others £5 to £B. Old cows in profit 30s to £4 10s. VEALERS. Twelve to eighteen months-old sorts to £9 11s. Good vealers £5 to £6' 15s. Medium vealers £3 10s to £4 15s. Others 25s to £2 15s. Calves 7s to 15s. FAT SHEEP. Exti*a prime wethers. 37s to 41s 4d. Prime wethers, 32s 6d to 365. Medium wethers, 29s to 325. Light wethers, 23s to 28s. Extra prime ewes, 29s to 35s 3d. Prime ewes, 24s to 28s. Medium ewes, 19s fid to 23s 6d. Light ewes, 17s 6d to 19s. Aged ewes, 15s to 17s. FAT LAMBS. Prime lambs, 29s 6d to 335. Medium lambs, 26s 6d to 29s 3d. Light lambs, 24s 6d to 26s 3d. Store lambs. 22s to 245. The following were the principal sales: STORE SHEEP. Two-toothed half-bred ewes 34s to 395. Extra good two-toothed Romney cros# ewes 3Ss to 39s 6d. Good two-toothed Romney cross ewes 34s 6d to 37s fid. Cull and inferior two-toothed Romney ewes 25s fid to 27s 6d. Four, six and eight-toothed crossbred ewes 25s 6d to 295. Good four and six-toothed cross-bred ewes 34s 6d. Inferior and low conditions four, six and eight-toothed cross-bred ewes 18s to 225. Soun and failing mouthed cross-bred ewes 17s to 21s 6d. Sound and failing mouthed half-bred ewes 16s 4d to 23s 6d. Aged ewes 6s to 14s 6d. Forward lambs 21s to 245. Forward half-bred wether lambs 21s to 23s 6d. Medium half-bred wether lambs 16s 6d to 18s 6d. Small and inferior lambs 13s to 15s 9d. Cull lambs 10s to 12s 6d. Two-toothed half-bred wethers 21s 3d to 235. Four, six and eight-toothed half-bred wethers 22s 6d to 235. Four, six and eight-toothed cross-bred wethers 19s Id to 20s 9d: PIGS. Choppers £2 to £7 18s 6d. Light baconers £2 15s to £3 ss. Heavy baconers £3 10s to £4. Extra heavy baconers to £4 15s. Average price per lb 5d to 6d. Light porkers 38s to 445. Heavy porkers 46s to 525. Average price pe-r lb 6£d to 7&d. There was a fairly large entry of Small weaners 7s to 9s 6d. Good weaners 10s to 14s. Slips 15s to 18s 6d. Medium stores 19s to 235. Large stores 26s to 325. Extra large to 3 95.-