SHEEP ADVANCE IN PRICE.

Wairarapa Age, 21 April 1927, Page 7

SHEEP ADVANCE IN PRICE.

ADDINGTON MARKET. | GOOD DEMAND THROUGHOUT. CHRISTCHURCH, April 20. i The yarding of stock at Addington showed a decrease in almost all departments as compared with the previous week, and there was a much smaller attendance. The entry of store sheep was the smallest for at least two months, and there was‘‘a very good demand throughout, ewes showing an advance of 1/- to 2/- and in cases up to 2/6 per head. There was also a fair demand for store lambs. Fat lambs were much fewer in numbers and met with a better sale, .especially for the heavier lambs. Fat sheep were also firmer, and good butchers’ wethers and ewes showed an advance of J/- to 2/per head. Fat cattle did not sell as freely as the previous week and there were several lots passed in. There was a poor yarding of store cattle, and a large entry of vcalers. Pigs of all classes were considerably down in price. Store Sheep.—The yarding of stere sheep was much smaller than for the past two months and few good lines were on offer. There was a good demand throughout and prices generally showed an improvement. Many of the ewes advanced by 1/- to £/-, and in cases to 2/6 per head. Lambs sold fairly well, though the majority were in low condition. The few pens of wethers offered showed the least improvement of any class. The range of prices was: Forward lambs 14/6 to 15/9 ordinary wether lambs 11/6 to 12/9 inferior lambs 10/- to 11/-, cull lambs 8/to 9/6, 4 ami 2-th halfbred ewes 26/-, cull 2-th halfbred ewes 20/-, 2-th crossbred ewes 20/- to 25/3, 6 and 8-th crossbred ewes 17/- to 20/6, f.m. crossbred ewes 11/- to 15/-, aged and inferior ewes 4/6 to 9/9, 2 and 4-th halfbred wethers 17/- to .17/5, 2-th wethers 14/to 15/-, 4 and 6-th crossbred wethers 15/- to 15/9.

Fat Lambs.—There was an entry of 1580 fat lambs as eomparcll with 2990 the previous week. The quality was rather better, and the sale was brisker, butchers and export buyers competing freely, and full schedule rates were paid for freezing lines. Extra prime heavy lambs sold to 28/7, prime lambs. 25/- to' 27/6, medium 22/- to 24/6, lioiit and unfinished 18/- to 21/-. Fat Sheep.—There were eleven races of fat sheep, a smaller yarding than the previous week. The quality of the offerings was much the same, there being a fair proportion of prime sheep, but ewes again comprised the chief part of the total yarding. The market opened better for the heavier sheep, butchers’ competition being greater than in the previous week, while freezing lines showed practically no change, though selling rather firmer. The demand kept up well throughout and butchers’ sheep advanced fully 1/- to 2/- per head. Extra prime wethers to 3°/4, prime 27/- to 29/-, medium 25/- to 26/6, light 18/- to 24/6, extra prime ewo to 31/10, prime 19/- to 23/6 medium 14/- to 18/-, light 9/7 to 13/6. Fat Cattle.—The yarding of fat cattle totalled 450 against 500 the previous week. There were some pens of prime handy weight steers and heifers, but a greater number than psual of heavy weight coarse steers. The balance of the yarding was made up chiefly of cows of the usual mixed quality. The market opened rather slack, but improved as it advanced and values were about on the same level as the previous week. Prime beef sold up to 35/- per 1001 b., handy weight well finished steers and heifers and other good steers and heifers made 28/- to 32/good cows 24/- to 28/- and rough sorts from 18/- upwards. The heavy weight rough steers sold at about 26/- to 27/per 1001 b. The demand afterwards eased off and sales became more difficult to make, and a number of lots were passed in. The primest line in the market was six well finished Herefords from' Mr. Donald MacDonald (Bdendale), which made top price, £l3 to^ ls . 7 / 6 - Extra prime steers to £l5 7/6, prime medium weight £l2 to £l3 17/6, heavy weight £8 10/- to £ll* 17/6, medium quality £8 to £ll, light and unfinished £6 2/6 to £7 10/-, extra prime heifers tfj £lO 12/6, prime £7 10/to £9, light £3 2/6 to £7 5/-, extra prime cows to £9,12/6, prime £5 10/- to £8 ordinary £4 to £5 5/-, rough £3 to £3

JVeaiers.—There was a full yarding of vealers, mostly well grown sorts up to two-year-olds. There was a good proportion of well-finished runners and a ■few small calves were included. In the entry was a line of 19 runners from Mr George Murray, Braemar, Mackenzie county, including some Highlanders, and the line made £2 10/- to £4 14/-. A line of 15 Hereford runner's from the New Zealand and Australian Land Company’s Estate, came m late and made £4 .1/- per. head. Large sorts to £5 5/-, prime vealers £4 to £4 10/-, medium 35/- to £3 15/-, small and inferior calves 10/. to 30/-. Store Cattle.—There was a fairly large entry of store cattle, which was aln-Zst entirely made up of cows, for which there was a poor demand. Best cows made £2 to £2 10/-, others 20/- to 35/-. bulls to £5 10/-. Dairy Cattle.—An entry of 51 head was mostly of an inferior class, and with a small attendance of buyers the sale was the poorest for some time,’ and prices declined considerably. Best second, third and fourth calvers £7'to £lO- - sorts £5 to £6 10/-, inferior sorts £3 10/- to £4 10/-, springing heifers £4 to £8 10/-, old cows in profit 30/to £2 10/-.

Fat Pigs.—A small yarding of fat pigs met with a quiet demand, and prices for both baconers and porkers ■were lower than for several weeks past Choppers £3 10/- to £6 12/6, light baconers £3 7/6 to £3 12/6, heavy baconers £3 15/- to £4 5/-, extra heavy baconers to £4 12/6 (equal to 5d to 6d per lb.), light porkers 44/- to 50/hcavy porkers 52/- to 55/- (equal"to 7d to 8d per lb).

Store Pigs.—There was a small entry o-f store pigs, and few buyers were present. Prices showed a moderate decline, weaners especially being difficult to dispose of. Weaners 7/- to 14/-, slips 15/- to 20/-, medium stores 22/- to 28/large stores 29/- to 33/-, extra large stores to £2 2/-, six months old large white boars 2|gns.—(P.A.)