ADDINGTON MARKET

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22515, 24 September 1938, Page 13

ADDINGTON MARKET

SLOW SHEEP DEMAND SHORT ENTRY. OF BEEF Although the market at Addington on Wednesday was steady at recent values, with a shade of improvement for the primer ewes, the competition was slow, and there were more passings than usual for a normal entry. More sheep, are coming forward than expected. The number of wethers that ranged from 23s to 26s was large. They carried skins which a year or more ago would have been worth double to-day’s price. Undoubtedly, compared with beef, mutton is cheap at the present time, but whilst the market continues to be over-supplied, though only by a small extent, the position does not appear as if it will alter much. A big proportion of the wethers novv being offered, in a normal season, would be carried along for a little more finishing, but it is understood that supplies are numerous in some districts. Prime heavy wethers were making in the vicinity of 30s on Wednesday, with tops another few shillings. One fattener bought forward wethers in April and May at 245, and after feeding them on turnips and oatsheaf chaff, turned them over a fortnight ago at a shilling to Is 6d more. A moderate profit would have been 10s to 12s. The following is a comparison with the prices ruling at the corresponding sale 12 months ago.

The sharp advance in the value of hoggets at the preceding sale was not maintained on Wednesday, and the market otherwise showed no improvement. One or two sales of ewes and lambs looked good, but the ewes were young-and of a good class, and naturally carried a good fleece. Old ewes and lambs are meeting with a poor sale. One fairly good-sized line did not reach the 8s mark. Wethers have slipped back in price, there being cases of lines bought in the autumn near 18s failing to reach 13s 6d.

Fortunately for vendors on Wednesday, there was a small penning, and the sharpest advance of the season for prime beef resulted. The' individual sales published in Thursday’s paper - show a bigger number of steers at near £lB than at any sale 1 this year except the National. Very little quality beef failed to reach 40s per 1001 b, and most of the prime quality was from 3s to 5s more. The South Westland cattle were an outstanding lot, as can be judged from the fact that few of them realised less than £l7 10s, whilst one pen went to £2O 12s 6d, and a line of eight heifers averaged £ls 7s. It is unlikely that Wednesday’s prices will be retained now that the warmer weather is coming on, and there is no acute shortage of beef in the fattening districts.

Sept. 22, Sept. 21, 1937. 1938. Wethers— S. s. S. S. Ex. prime heavy to 492 to 342 Prime heavy Prime medium41 to 45 21h td 30i weight 36 to 40 24 to 27 Ordinary 30 to 35 21 to 23 Light Ewes— to 29 to 20J Ex. prime heavy to 504 to 28J Prime heavy Prime medium34 to 38 21 to 23J weight 29 to 33 16J to 20 Ordinary 24 to 28 13$ to 16 Light to 23 to 13 Store Sheep

Hoggets— to 28 Ex. good wether 15 Good wether 21 to 23 Medium wether 17 to 20 12 to 14 Good ewe 30 to 33 Medium ewe 23 to 26 Ewes and lambs— Ex. good to 151 Good 15 to 162 12 to 131 Medium 121 to 141 to 11 Fat Cattle

£ £ £ £ Steers— 20 i Ex. prime heavy to 213 163 to Prime heavy 15i to 18i to 18J Prime medium16J weight 133 to 15i 143 to Ordinary 10 to 13 Hi to 14 Light to 93 to 11 Heifers — Ex. prime to 13i to 14i Prime 10 to 123 113 to 121 Medium n to 93 9i to 103 Light to 73 to 93 Cows— Ex. prime to 14i to 153 Prime ai to 10i 103 to Hi Medium 6 1 to 8 7i to 93 Light to 63 to 73