Dispute keeps prime stock away

Press, 12 February 1986, Page 30

Dispute keeps prime stock away

Prime stock numbers at the Addington market yesterday were severely reduced because of the dispute that has closed freezing works. Only 129 beef cattle were offered, slightly more than a third of last week’s total. The small yarding was sufficient to fill the requirements of local butchers and prices were on a par with last week’s. However, the value of old ewes and light lambs declined because of the lack of buying power. A feature of the market was the first appearance at Addington of an auctioneering team from Elders Pastoral, Ltd. This brings to four the number of stock and station firms working at Addington. The first sales by Elders involved prime lambs. Prime lambs Prices of good quality butchers’ lambs held up well, but poorer quality stock and light lambs were difficult to sell. Buyers were not interested in some lines of small lambs.

Most lambs sold between $l6 and $l9 and top butchers’ lambs were $2O to $24, with odd sales slightly higher. A line of heavy shorn lambs reached $27.80.

The yarding was 1100 compared with 1230 last week. Values were:— Heavy lambs, to $25, with some sales to $27.80. Medium lambs, $15.60 to $lB. Light lambs, $l3 to $14.60. Sales included:— A. H. Topp (Amberley), 71 at $l5 to $25; Inverloch Farm (Amberley), 37 at $13.60 to $14.60; R. and K. Johnston (Halswell), 18 at $l9 to $25.40; Malbon Farm (Oxford), 85 shorn at $13.60 to $19.20; D. L. and R. D. Parkinson (Tai Tapu), 76 at $14.40 to $2O; G. J. Mason (Springston), 29 shorn at $lB to $27.80; E. M. Skurr (Oxford), 138 at $14.20 to $19.20; R. Williams (Halkett), 17 at $14.20 to $19.80; Burrows Brothers (Halswell), 44 at $14.80 to $19.20; E. A. Chapman and Son (Tai Tapu), 22 shorn at $13.80 to $16.80; M. A. Heaps (Weedons) 27 at $20.20 to $25.20.

Prime sheep The adult sheep market was unable to sustain recent prices for a yarding of about 1200 prime sheep and values of old ewes eased $1 per head. Last week’s yarding was 1535. The bulk of the old ewe yarding fetched $6 to $7.50 and light ewes were down to $2.50. Better quality ewes and those carrying more wool occasionally reached $lO. The hogget market was more encouraging and prices firmed slightly. Good hoggets sold at $lB to $2O and were keenly sought by local butchers. Values were:— Best old ewes, to $lO. Medium old ewes, $6 to $7. Light old ewes, $3 to $5. Good hoggets, to $2O. Sales included:— Old ewes: R. A. West (Weedons), 59 at $7.80 to $8.60; E. J. Lloyd (Christchurch), 38 at $3 to $7; Lansdown Partnership (Hawarden), 46 at $7.60 to $10; P. Stott (Charing Cross), 100 at $7.40 to $9.60; J. P. and B. J. O’Carroll (Hawarden), 26 at $7 to $9.80. Hoggets: J. S. M. Kyle (Templeton), 33 at $l7 to $2O. Prime cattle

Good demand from local butchers and a wholesaler kept beef prices steady in spite of the dispute at freezing works. Most steer and heifer beef sold between 205 c and 220 c a kilogram. The yarding totalled only 129 (compared with 351 last week) which was sufficient for the needs of the local market. Some boner cows were bought by freezing company buyers.

A Hereford-Friesian steer from M. Coppard (Leithfleld) topped the market at $B2O. Two heifers from Cravendale Partnership (Ashburton) made $562 and a cow from T. Thomson (Masons Flat) sold at $530. Prime steers and heifers to 220 kg sold between 205 c and 215 c a kilogram; from 220 kg to 270 kg, 205 c and 215 c; and over 270 kg, to 215 c.

Values were:— Prime heavy steers, to $820; prime medium steers, $6OO to $710; prime light steers, $520 to $590; prime heavy heifers, to $562; prime medium heifers, $460 to $510; prime light heifers, $3BO to $450; prime heavy cows, to $530; prime

medium cows, $420 to $470; prime light cows, $3BO to $4lO. Sales included:— Steers: M. Coppard (Leithfield), 1 at $820; J. Plaskett (Fernside), 16 at $628 to $800; R. J. Turpin (Little River), 9 at $666 to $732; T. W. and A. W. Baxter (Omlhi), 9 at $558 to $588; A. D. Moore (Okains Bay), 3 at $602; J. R. Russell (Oxford), 2 at $730; I. C. Stanbury (Little River), 12 at $660 to $738. Heifers: R. Perkins (Irwell), 2 at $458; Colin Smith (Greenpark), 2 at $466 and $490; N. M. Blunden (Port Levy), 14 at $4lO to $460; Cravendale Partnership (Ashburton), 2 at $562. Cows: T. Thomson (Masons Flat), 1 at $530; G. A. Bunz (Ladbrooks), 1 at $480; Cravendale Partnership (Ashburton), 2 at $486; Mt Torlesse Station (Springfield), 15 at $434 to $516. Bobby calves A very good quality yarding of bobby calves had an improved sale. The market was supported by a Southland buyer. Most good Friesian bull calves sold between $92 and $l4O, Friesian heifers $5O and $74, beef cross bulls $l3O and $136, and beef cross heifers $B6 and $132. Dairy cows Eight Friesians were included in a very good quality yarding of dairy cows. Four springing heifers sold to $550, an in-milk house cow made $3BO and a cow and calf sold at $540. Prime pigs A small yarding of prime pigs had a strong sale and all types were in demand. Best baconers sold to $135 and pork reached $95. The keen demand carried over to the chopper section where good cutting pigs sold to $llO. Values were:— Light pork, $75 to $B5; medium to heavy pork, $B7 to $95; light to medium bacon, $97 to $112; heavy bacon, to $136; light choppers, $7O to $9O; heavy choppers, to $llO. Store pigs The quality of a small yarding of store pigs was generally very good. With the assistance of outside buying power, prices were much stronger than recent sales and the bett'r weaners reached $3O and the best stores $6O.

No breeding stock was offered. Values were:— small weaners, $lB to $25; good weaners, $26 to $32; slips and small stores, $35 to $45; large stores, to $6O.