FAT SHEEP PRICES DECLINE AT YARDS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18548, 23 August 1928, Page 11

FAT SHEEP PRICES DECLINE AT YARDS.

FAT CATTLE ARE ALSO EASIER, BUT SELL WELL.

Fat sheep showed a considerable casing in price at the weekly stock sale at Addington j'esterday. There was also an easing in the price of fat cattle, though the} r sold well. Goodclass store ewes met with a satisfactory demand.

The yarding of fat cattle totalled 560, as compared with GOS at the Grand National sale. There was a fair proportion of prime steers, and, on the other hand, there were a number of big steers that lacked finish. The bulk of the yarding consisted of cows and heifers, the latter being rather more numerous than usual. Considering the time of the 3 r ear, the condition of the

cattle as a whole was very good. Outside consignments included an exceptionally good line of steers from Hawke’s Bay, the tops of which were very prime. The West Coast was well represented by a number of lines, and there was one consignment from South Canterbury. There was a good demand throughout the sale, as butchers were short of supplies. It is difficult to compare the market with the Grand National sale, when many special lots were oil offer, but prices on the whole were rather better than those realised on August 1. Choice beef of handy weight touched 50s per 1001 b, and in some cases a little over, but the general range of prime beef was about 45s to 48s, medium 41s to 445, plain 35s to 40s and rough down to 30s per 1001 b. There was an entry of fat sheep which filled thirteen and a half races, which was a race and a half less than at the Grand National sale. The qual-

, itv of the sheep was somewhat lower l than at recent ordinary sales, there ; being a considerable proportion of unfinished sheep. The sale was slower in progress than has been usual this season, showing that competition was not so keen. There was an easier tone in the market, and values were down on 1 late rates by Is 6d to 2s a head. Some j passings were made. There was only a small entry of store sheep. The demand for hoggets was slack, but adult sheep, especially thef good sorts, sold well. Cows formed the bulk of the store j cattle entry. No lines of steers or heif ! ers were forward. Good cows mad from £4 to £6 6s. and others from £2 \ £3 los. Bulls made £5 11s to £8 R 6d. Dairy cattle were entered in lari, numbers. The sale was well attende and there was a good demand for tl. better sorts. Vealers were again van ed in small numbers, the entry bein much below requirements, with the n suit that all killable sorts sold at hig. prices. Porkers, which were penned in larg numbers, were cheaper, but. baconci sold firmly at late rates. The yartlin of baconers was small. A very larg entry of store pigs was made up chief) of small and medium stores. There tv a. a decline all round on late rates. Following are ranges of values; —- FAT CATTLE. Extra prime steers £22 17s Gd to £25 17n GelPrime steers £lB 2s 6d 1o £2l 7s fir) Prime medium weight steers £ls 17. Gd to £lB. Medium steers £l3 to £ls 10s. Ordinary steers £ll 2s 6d to £l2 10s. Extra prime heifers to £lB 7s 6d. Prime heifers £l3 12s Gd to £ls 12s Gd Lighter heil’ers £7 17s 6d to £9 i os. Extra prime cows to £lB 17s Gd. Prime cows £l3 to £IG 12s Gd. Medium cows £9 to £l2 10s. Others £6 10s to £S 10s.

DAIRY CATTLE. Best second and third cal vers, £f) to 1 £l4. Medium second and third ealvcrs £K : to £8 10s. Best heifers, £7 to £lO 10s. Others, £4 10s to £6 10s. Aged cows, in profit, £3 to £C 10s. VEALERS. Twelve to eigTiteen-months-old sorts 1 to £ll Ss 6d. Good vealers £6 to £8 10s. Medium vealers £3 5s to £5 10s. Small calves 20s to £2. FAT SHEEP. Extra prime wethers, to 5 4s. Prime heavy wethers, 42s to 455. | Prime medium-weight wethers, 38s t., , 4 Is. Medium quality wethers, 33s to 375. Light wethers, 31s Id to 32s fid. Extra prime ewes, to 4is lOd. Prime ewes. 34s to 38s. Medium ewes. 20s to 335. Aged ewes. 26s 4d to 28s. Prime hoggets, to 36s 4d. Others, 24s 4tl to 30s. STOKE SHEEP. Extra good four, six and eight-tooth cross-bred ewes to 43s 6d. Best four, six and eight-tooth three-quarter-bred ewes to 365. Ordinary four, six and eight-tooth three-quarter-bred ewes to 26s Gd. Best two-tooth half-bred ewes to 35a Bd. Ordinary four, six and eight-tooth half-bred ewes to 2Gs Id. Best half-bred wethers 33s to 35s 6d. Ordinary half-bred wethers to 26s 6d. Best cross-bred wethers 34s to 355. Extra good cross-bred ewe hoggets to 38s. Good cross-bred ewe hoggets to 295. Good three-quarter-bred owe hoggets 28s to 30s 6d. Best half-bred owe hoggets to 3 2s. Good cross-bred wether hoggets to 27® 6d. • Ordinary crose-brcd wether hoggets to 24s 6d. Ordinary threo-quarter-bred wether hoggets to 2 4s. Ordinary half-bred wether hoggets 23s 3d to 25s 3d. PIGS. Choppers £3 to £5 16s. LJtffiU baconers £3 7s to £4. Heavy baconers £4 10® to £4 l»s 6d. Average price per lb Cd to 7d. Light porkers 35s to 455. Heavy porkers 50s to 58s 6d. Average price per lb fid to 7<i.