STOCK MARKET

Wairarapa Times-Age, 4 January 1940, Page 3

STOCK MARKET

ADDINGTON SALE. FAT LAMB AND SHEEP PRICES IMPROVE. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, January 3. The small yardings in most of the sections were a feature of today’s Addington stock market. A slight improvement in the fat lamb and fat sheep classes was evident. The very short cattle entry was ample for the requirements, the demand weakening as the sale went on. The fat sheep entry was one of the smallest on record —approximately 3000 head —but it also was ample for the requirements, the market being affected by the not weather and the absence of people on holiday. The market opened briskly and good ewes and wethers showed a decided improvement, being better by Is to Is 6d on the rates of a fortnight ago. There was some buying of light ewes at up to 13s a head, the sale concluding firmly for a truck of 74 wethers from Orari which averaged 31s 9d. Prime heavy wethers made from 30s to 325, medium to 29s 6d, light to 20s; prime heavy ewes to 27s 6d, medium to 23s 6d, light to 14s. Only 600 fat lambs were forward as compared with 3000 forward at the double market of a fortnight ago. The sale was keen and freezing works buyers were active, paying, more than schedule rates for grade lambs and buying freely. The trade paid Bld and more for light and medium prime sorts, and prices,.-were helped by the short entry. About 1500 head of store sheep were on offer. These comprised only lambs, and they met with good competition. One two-truck lot sold at 17s and another big line at 16s 3d. Medium sorts brought 13s 2d to 14s 5d and cull lambs to Ils. Medium two-tooth wethers made to 14s. Four hundred and thirty-two fat cat-1

tie were yarded. The market opened at the last sale's rates, but the demand weakened. On the average heavy steers were down by 20s a head and medium and mediocre cows by a good 15s a head. Mediumweight prime steers and heifers also receded by about 10s a head. The sale concluded soundly. Prime heavy steers made from £l5 to £l7. medium to £l5 15s and light steers to £9 ss; prime heifers from £lO to £l2, medium to £9 10s, light to £8; prime cows to £lO ss, light to £6 15s. A very small entry of porkers was forward at the opening of the fat pig section, and prices rose 3s to 4s. Later entries, however, brought prices back to a little better than export parity. Choppers met with a keen sale, and the sale was also good for baconers. Choppers made from £3 Is 6d to £6 Is; heavy porkers from £2 9s 6d to £2 14s Gd; light baconers to £3 8s 6d, heavy to £4 7s 6d. The average price a lb for porkers was 6jfd to 7.’,d and for baconers 64d to 6Jd.