High prices for beef

Press, 6 July 1983, Page 23

High prices for beef

High beef prices were the main tallking point at the Addington market yesterday. The improving demand for beef coupled with a shortage of good quality steers and heifers forced both export and local buyers to bid strongly. Several experienced observers said that it was the strongest prime cattle sale they had seen at Addington. Prices often exceeded 200 c a kilogram and some sales were made at more than 220 c. Prime lambs

Although prices for good lambs were on a par with last week’s market, the yarding included too many overfat lambs which sold at discounted prices. Good light to medium lambs sold well.

Fewer poor condition lambs were offered compared with last week. The yarding was 1286 (2242 last week).

Values were:— Heavy lambs, to $30.60. Medium lambs, $21.80 to $25. Light lambs, $lB to $2l. Sales included:—

R. E. Oakley and Sons (Hororata), 72 at $23.40 to $30.60; Estate J. M. Duncan (Darfield), 55 at $21.60 to $23.60; A. E. Elliott (Cheviot), 22 at $24 to $25.20; L. C. Warren (Prebbleton), 28 at $24.60 to $24.80; A. G. Hurst (Ashburton), 60 at $22 to $23; Chator Holdings (Leeston), 82 at $2l to $24; J. F. Ridge (Methven), 127 at $23 to $25.40; R. B. Maw (Methven), 36 at $3O to $30.60; L. G. and G. E. Rennie (Leeston), 27 at $24.20 to $25; T. F. Davison (Culverden), 74 at $23 to $26; M. J. O. Dixon (Kaiapoi), 24 at $24 to $26.80; Kincaple Farm (Ashley), 16 at $28.40 to $30.60; M. W. Gilbert (Rakaia), 15 at $26 to $3l; G. J. Mangin (Metbven), 90 at $23 to $26.60; Maw Brothers (Methven), 24 at $23 to $27; Hitchen Hills (Hawarden), 41 at $22 to $26.60. Prime sheep

Light to medium hoggets had the best of the prime sheep section. With the help of outside competition, hogget prices started the sale about $1 ahead of last week’s market, but later slipped back to previous rates.

Old ewes had a similar sale to last week’s good market with some i nterest from outside buyers. The yarding of prime sheep was 1217 compared with 1586 last week. Values were:— Best hoggets, to $24. Medium hoggets, $17.20 to $19.80. Light hoggets, $l5 to $l7. Best old ewes, to $21.80. Mdium old ewes, $11.40 to $14.80. Light old ewes, $8 to $ll. Sales included:— Hoggests: R. E. Oakley (Hororata), 13 at $20.40 to $21.20; B. J. Woods (Springston), 20 at $lB.BO to $19.20; Bradley Holding (Kirwee), 25 at $2O to $20.60; M. R. Hunt (Cheviot), 34 at $l9 to $19.20; Golden Acre Farm (Dunsandel), 70 wethers at $lB.BO to $19.40; River Farm (Cheviot), 25 wethers at $17.20 to $l9; Timpendean Farm, Ltd (Waikari), 34 wethers at $20.40 to $2l; Estate E. W. Pawsey (Hawarden), 22 wethers at $l9 to $2O.

Old ewes: P. K. O’Malley (Ikamatua), 35 at $15.20 to $15.40; M. G. Johns (Culverden), 40 at $16.60 to $18.80; Camside Developments (Kaiapoi), 35 at $15.80 to $17.20; Mrs F. Pavella (Oxford), 19 at $l3 to $l7; Haldon Pastures (Hororata), 34 at $13.60 to $14.20; Timpendean Farm, Ltd (Waikari), 93 at $l2 to $18.40; Estate C. B. Thacker (Okains Bay), 38 at $l9 to

$21.80; P. J. Cropp (Christchurch), 35 at $l5 to $15.60; E. J. and T. A. Barclay (Yaldhurst), 42 at $l3 to $14.80. Prime cattle Keen demand from meat export companies ensured another buoyant sale for prime cattle. The market started at a tremendous rate with prices for most steers and heifers well over 200 c a kilogram. As the sale progressed the demand steadied although good quality steers and heifers were still strongly sought after. A Hereford steer from B. T. Pawsey (Methven) topped the market at $7BO and an AgnusHereford cross heifer from T. F. Hight (Methven), made $516. W. Allan Gray (Teddington) received $464 for an Angus cow. The cattle yarding totalled 276 compared with 301 last week. Steers and heifers to 220 kg sold between 190 c and 200 c a kilogram; from 220 kg to 270 kg, 195 c, to 210 c; and over 270 kg, to 220 e. Values were:— Prime heavy steers, to $7BO. Prime medium steers, $428 to $498. Prime light steers, $314 to $4lO. Prime heavy heifers, to $516. Prime medium heifers, $320 to $390. Prime light heifers, $222 to $312. Prime heavy cows, to $464. Prime medium cows, $290 to $330. Prime light cows, $lBO to $2BO. Sales included:— Steers: W, Allan Gray (Teddington), 7 at $6OO to $702; B. K. McFarlane (Parnassus), 10 at $572 to $590; N. G. Harnett (Kaikoura), 12 at $412 to $430; Estate M. A. Haslett (Rakaia), 3 at $404 to $434; Henderson Brothers (Rotherham), 2 at $572 and $702; C. I. Peter (Sefton), 3 at $620; R. L. Parkinson (Reefton), 1 at $522; D. Florance (Christchurch). 1 at $626; 11. J. and T. M. Gardner (Lakeside), 6 at $384 to $580; Newton Brothers (Little River), 33 at $460 to $590; L. S. and V. R. O’Neill (Wainui), 14 at $526 to $656; T. F. Hight (Hororata), 2 at $546 to $622; T. J. Brocherie and Son (Duvaucbelle), 11 at $458 to $462; O. W. Evans (Hawarden), 1 at $410; B. T. Pawsey (Methven), 10 at $402 to $780; Estate F. A. and R. F. Pamment (Whataroa), 5 at $458 to $748; D. W. Smith (Sheffield), 8 at $602 to $620;- B. D. and T. Childs

(Cheviot), 7 at $582 to $638; L. Harrison (Styx), 3 at $498.

Heifers: Estate M. A. Haslett (Rakaia), 2 at $424 to $456; B. K. McFarlane (Parnassus), 3 at $342; A. H. Wilkinson (Ashburton), 5 at $340; W. R. Hudson (Styx), 2 at $4OO and $506; Costello Farm (Cheviot), 1 at $442; D. Florance (Christchurch), 1 at $470; H. G. Grigg (Cheviot), 6 at $440; E. V. Murray Children’s Trust, (Scargill), 5 at $4OO to $486; I. L. Williams (Parnassus), 6 at $396; Hidden Hills Trust (Parnassus), 6 at $364 to $382; M. C. Feary and Son (Oxford), 5 at $348 to $414; T. F. Hight (Hororata), 1 at $516; B. T. Pawsey (Methven), 2 at $350; B. D. and T. Childs (Cheviot), 1 at $500; Estate F. A. and R. F. Pamment (Whataroa), 1 at $466. Cows: W. Allan Gray (Teddington), 3 at $464; S. G. Holland (Cheviot), 3 at $3BO to $452; K. R. Taylor (Springston), 2 at $400; B. Free (Ashburton), 1 at $444; E. V. Murray Children’s Trust (Scargill), 5 at $344 to $450; Newton Brothers (Little River), 7 at $270 to $370; T. F. Hight (Hororata), 2 at $384; J. R. Russell (Oxford), 3 at $364 to $382. Dairy cows Two dairy cows were yarded compared with seven last week. An in-calf Friesian heifer sold for $450 and a fourth-calver Jersey with calf at foot made $370. Vealers The veal market showed a similar trend to the prime cattle section with values fully firm. A top calf sold for $306, top heifers made to $290, and medium heifers were $240 to $270. The yarding of vealers was 35 compared with 44 last week. In the bobby calf section, Hereford cross heifers sold mainly from $2O to $3O, Hereford cross bulls, $l6 to $32, and Friesian bulls were $l2 to $22. Store cattle

Forward condition cattle had another strong sale in the store cattle section. Local buyers provided most of the competition. A line of excellent quality 20-month steers sold to $440, although many sales of 18month steers were made from $250 to $2BO and heifers were $2OO to $240. Sales of medium calves included steers at $l5O to $l7O and heifers at $l3O to $l5O. Sales included:—

M. S. and J. Blue (Halswell), 15 20-month Luing-Angus cross steers at $4lB to $440; O. W. Evans (Hawarden), 13 Here-

ford steers at $368, and 18 Hereford cows at $194 to $220.

Store sheep

Light to medium mated ewes in the store sheep section sold from about $l2 to $l6, with the better two-tooths making to $2O and poor stock selling down to $6. A line of capital stock mated four-year-old Romneys in heavy wool sold at $23, and another pen of mated mixedage Romneys sold at $16.20. Little demand was shown for store lambs and many were in poor condition. Top wether lambs exceeded $lB. Sales included:—

Maitland Partnership (Port Levy), 31 Romney lambs at $18.20; I. C. Stanbury (Little River), 183 4-year mated Romneys at $23, 45 Romney ewe lambs at $23.10; P. H. Montgomery (Southbridge), 167 wether lambs at $17.40.

Fat pigs Many pigs in a mediumsized yarding of fat pigs were unsuitable for the retail trade and as a result good quality pigs were in short supply. However fatteners held the market to a firm level.

Heavy baconers sold very well and choppers bad an excellent sale, with only the lightest pigs selling for less than $l2O. A big proportion of good-cutting heavy choppers sold over $lBO. Values were:—

Light pork, $B5 to $93. Medium to heavy pork, $9B to $ll2.

Light to medium bacon, $ll5 to $126. Heavy bacon, to $146. Light choppers, $l2O to $l6O. Heavy choppers, $l7O to $206.

Store pigs With strong demand from both local and outide buyers, prices for a medium-sized yarding of store pigs were buoyant.

A shortage of stores and weaners in recent weeks has resulted in prices increasing by $lO to $l2. Good weaners are making to $6O and small stores are selling for more than $75. A feature of the market was an unfinished porker which made $9B. Breeding stock had another weak sale with in-pig sows making slightly more than their killing value. Values were:—

Small weaners, $43 to $5O. Good weaners, $5O to $6O. Slips and small stores, $65 to $75.

Large stores, to $B3. Unfinished pork, to $9B.