KEEN DEMAND FOR FAT LAMBS AT YARDS

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18642, 20 December 1928, Page 5

KEEN DEMAND FOR FAT LAMBS AT YARDS

PRICES OF FAT CATTLE IMPROVE A LOT

The demand for fat lambs at the Addington yards yesterday was very keen, butchers making extensive purchases for the Christmas trade. There was a marked advance in the price of fat cattle, but the demand for fat sheep was.not particularly active, and prices were, if anything, inclined to be easier. For the time of the year there was a large offering of store sheep. Wethers, which formed the bulk of the. yarding, were a bit cheaper. There was another heavy entry of fat cattle comprising 595 head, compared with 640 last week. Quality, however, was not up to the standard of the preceding Wednesday. A big proportion of the steers were on the light side, and cows formed a heavier percentage than a week ago. Outside entries included a few good truck lots from the West Coast and South Canterburv. Due to the distance ahead of the next market, butchers were keen to secure supplies and a keen sale was experienced from the outset. \\ ellfinished weighty steers and the bulk of the better-class heifer and medium steer beef showed an* advance on last week of 30s per head, secondary cattle about 20s. The good tone was maintained throughout and the drop recorded last week*was practically recovered. A few pens passed in on that occasion made from 30s to 40s a head more yesterday. Best ox beef made in cases up to 48s per 1001 b. good steer and heifer beef 43s (id to 465, heavy steers 38s to 42s 6d, medium quality 36s to 40s, medium cow 3os to 38s, and rough down to 30s per 1001 b. There was an average entry of fat sheep, comprising eleven races. It was on the small side for a double market. However, the big purchase pf lambs reduced requirements of mutton for the trade. Generally, it was a moderate entrv. A few good drafts of wethers were to hand, but the bulk of the entry was comprised of light wethers and medium class ewes. Outside entries were from the Chatham Islands, Nelson and the West Coast. Exporters were practically out of the market except for one operator with a local supply trade. Generally, the values of last week were scarcely maintained for wethers, but ewes showed an advance, the average prices being on a par with last week. The yarding of fat lambs was a large one. totalling 3300 head. Many excellently finished lambs were forward, ideally suited for the Christmas trade. The demand from the butchers was keen throughout, and the bulk of the offering went to them. Best lambs made to lid & lb. For the time of the year there was a very large offering, of'Store sheep. Wethers constituted the bulk of the entry, with a fair number of dry ewes and ewes with lambs. The demand was fairly good, though irregular, and there was a tendency for prices to ease, especially in the case of wethers. However, there was no quotable change in values. Store cattle were yarded in small numbers. The demand was good and all lots sold at late rates. Only thirty-nine head of dairy cattle came forward. They. too. sold under keen competition. For a double market there was a small yarding of vealers. All good sorts sold at late rates.

Porkers were very much in oversupply. with the result that prices dropped sharply. Baconers were inclined to be easier in price. Prices for all classes of store pigs showed an improvement in the early stages of the sale, but declined towards the finish. The entry of store pigs was a very heavy one. Following are ranges of values: — FAT CATTLE. Extra prime heavy steers to £22 17s 6d. Prime heavy steers £11) to £2l. Prime medium-weight steers £l6 10s to £lB 10s. Medium-quality steers £l3 to £36. Eight steers £1) to £l2. Extra prime heifers £l9 17s 6d. Prime heifers £l2 15s to £ls. Medium heifers £lO 10s to £l2 10s. Eight heifers £8 5s to £lO ss. Extra prime cows to £l6 2s 6d. Prime cows £l2 to £l4. Medium cows £9 15s to £3 3 15s. Eight and aged cows £7 10s to £9 10s. STORE CATTLE. | Medium cows. Inferior cows, 39s to .lu.n. Bulls, Hlo £9. , Two-vear-old steers, £B. DAIRY CATTLE. Best second, third and fourth cal vers, £l Medlmn'sorts, £8 10s to £lO 10s. Inferior sorts, £6 10s to £B. Good heifers. £lO 30s to £i«s 10s. Others, £7 5s to i.lO. . • Backward calvei s. £ i to ti l. VEALERS. Twelve-months sorts, to £B. Good vealers. £6 to £7 ss. ' Medium vealers, £3 12s 6d to £o 11 s Gd. e{ . , Small calves, 3os to £1 l os. FAT SHEEP. Show wethers, to 46s 4d. Extra prime wethers, 34s 6d to 36s 6d. Prime wethers. 32s to 345. Medium wethers, 29s to 31s 6d. Eight wethers, 25s to 28s. Extra prime ewes, to 35s lOd. Prime ewes. 30s to 32s 6d. Medium ewes, 26s 6d to 29s Cd. Light ewes, 24s to 265. Aged ewes, 16s 6d to 235. FAT LAMBS. The range of prices was:- — Extra prime lambs, to .ws 3d. Prime lambs, 32s to 345. Medium lambs, 29s to 31s Cd. Light lambs, 26s to 2Ss? 6d. STORE SHEEP. Good* S half-bred ewes and lambs 21s 6d to 235. Ordinary ewes and lambs 18s 6d to 21s. Inferior ewes and lambs 36s to 3 Bs. Good two-tooth half-bred ewes to 28s. Good four, six and eight-tooth halfbred ewes 27s 6d to 30s 6d. Inferior cross-bred ewes to 18s 6d. Good four, six and eight-tooth crossbred wethers 27s to 29s 6d. Ordinary four, six and eight-tooth half-bred wethers 24s to 26s 6d. Ordinary two-tooth half-bred wethers 22s to 255. flood four, six and eight-tooth three-quarter-bred wethers to 2fis 7d. Good four, six and eight-tooth cx*ossbred wethers 25s to 275. Ordinary four, six and eight-tooth half-bred wethers to 225. PIGS. Choppers, 20s to £3 ISs 6d. Light baconers, o2s Cd to 60s. Heavy baconers, £3 5s to £3 14s Cd. Average price per lb. s id to Cd. Light porkers, 30s to 355. Heavy porkers, 37s Cd to 47s Cd. Average price per lb, 5d to Cid. In the store pig section there was a record yarding, the bulk of the entry comprising sucking pigs and small stores. Prices for all classes showed an improvement, but declined in the closing stages of the market. Values were:— Small weaners, 7s to 11s. Good sucking pigs, 12s to 15s. Small stores, 12s 6d to 15s. Medium stores, 16s 6d to 23s . Large stores, to 2Ss 6d. NEXT SALE. There will be no sale at Addington between Christmas and New Year. The next market at Addington will be held on Thursday, January 3.